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I drop to my knees. “I do. I love going to the park.”
“Daddy. Waken wikes the park,” Harlow tells Grayson.
“I’m Trace. What’s your name?” My nephew inserts himself into my conversation.
“My name Hayden,” Hayden tells him.
“I’m Hawow. We’s twins,” she explains.
“Dat means we wook awike,” Hayden offers helpfully.
“Daddy, can we go to the park?” Harlow asks Grayson.
“Looks like you have things handled here.” Jackie smiles at her son. “Laken, I’ll see you next week. Bye, ladies.” She waves to Jasmine and Lenora before rushing out the door.
I give Grayson a questioning look, and he smiles. “Set-up.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah, apparently Mom has been indulging in the MC Scoop lately, and she’s on board with… this.” He waves between us.
“I happen to agree with her,” Lenora chimes in.
“Daddy. The park?” Hayden asks.
“What do you say, ladies? You think you could use some company at the park?” Grayson asks, but his eyes are on mine.
“Actually, I just remembered I need to do… something. Can you watch Trace for me?” Lenora asks. She bends to Trace’s level. “Hey, buddy. Mommy forgot about a… meeting. Is it okay if you go to the park with Aunt Laken and your new friends, Harlow and Hayden?”
“Yeah!” Trace cheers.
“Perfect. Laken, call me later, and I’ll meet up with you. Have fun.” She waves over her shoulder and is out the door.
I bend at the waist, placing my hands on my knees to be closer to the kids’ faces. “Why don’t the three of you go grab a book and hang out in the reading corner for a few minutes?” I suggest.
“Okay!” They all three race off to find a book to read.
“Grayson, I’m so sorry.” I can’t believe my sister did that. She could have at least been subtle about it.
He chuckles a deep throaty sound that fills my store and heightens my desire for him. This is not the time for me to be feeling… that. Not with my nephew, his daughters, and my employee here for the show.
“It’s fine, Laken. My mom wasn’t exactly subtle. She called me and said she had errands to run that the girls couldn’t do with her. I know for a fact that it was a lie, but I didn’t mind. You know why?”
“Why?” I ask as he steps closer to me.
“Because five days is way too damn long to not set my eyes on you.” His voice is low, only for me, but I still glance over my shoulder to see Jasmine has moved to the front of the store, working on the display that I gave her full creativity for when she arrived earlier today.
“Sounds like you missed me, Davis.” I go for playful. I hope he doesn’t see how much I missed him too. I’m not even going to try and decipher why I miss him so much. The rapid beat of my heart tells me all I need to know.
“You wanna know what else I missed?”
“What’s that?” I ask, gazing up at him.
“Holding you close—the feel of your lips against mine. I’ve been replaying our last weekend in my mind. But seeing you… it’s like a kick in the gut… my need for you.” He takes a step closer. “When can I see you again?”
“You tell me.”
“Tonight.”
“The girls?”
“Come over after they’re in bed.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Nine. They’re usually in bed by eight, but that gives some wiggle room in case they are fighting sleep.” He steps closer, putting us to toe to toe.
“What should I bring?”
“Just you, Laken. I just need you.”
“Okay.” I nod.
“Now, about the park. Are you able to go now?”
“You want to go with us?” I ask him.
“I do.”
“Here? In Mason Creek?” I raise an eyebrow in question, but there is a smile tilting my lips. We’ve tried to keep our dates on the down low, even though Tate always seems to find out.
“I have nothing to hide. Besides, it’s not like people in town don’t know we’re dating. The cat’s already out of the bag.” He shrugs like it’s no big thing.
“Yeah, I can go now. It’s almost closing time, so we’ll lock up fifteen minutes early.”
“No. Don’t do that. I’ll go hang out with the kids. You do what you have to do, and when you close, we’ll head to the park.”
“Thank you. I just don’t like to leave Jasmine here on her own. I know our town is safe, but I just would feel better if she’s not left alone.”
“That heart of yours, it’s bigger than the state of Montana.” He winks and heads to the back corner of the store to sit with the kids. He also leaves me swooning, wishing for time to speed up.
Twenty minutes later, Grayson and I are on foot, headed a block over to the park at the town square. The girls wanted to hold my hand, and in turn, Trace decided the boys would stick together and reached for Grayson’s.
