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He took a step closer and wrapped his hand around my neck. “You chose this life, Mia. When you chose me.”
My eyes swept up to meet his. “I know that, Colt.” I sighed. “But I’m allowed to push back. It helps me process.”
I reached up to cover his hand caressing my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. If that’s what you’re worried about. But that doesn’t mean I can turn a blind eye without saying something. That money will be used to take care of our family. That money will send Cam and Lily to the college of their choice. But in taking care of our family, who do we hurt in the process, you know?”
“I know,” he murmured. He paused for a moment. “You still love me? Knowing what you know?”
I smiled slightly. “Yeah, I still love you. I just have to reconcile it, okay? And this wasn’t me busting your ass or naively saying, ‘Oh, just do something else for money. Something legitimate.’ I just don’t want to be a raging hypocrite, enjoying the comfort the money will bring without at least broaching the topic of what my comfort will mean for others.”
“This event is because of the Blue Angels. All under wraps, mind you, because we don’t want to make people uncomfortable. We give back to our town, and maybe that’s all anyone can ever hope to do, you know?”
He squeezed the back of my neck and then let go. “Can we be done talking about this now?”
“Yeah, we can be done.”
He smirked. “Can we talk about when we can get out of here?”
“Not for a while yet. Oh, and when all this stuff is sorted with the Iron Horsemen, I told Darcy we’d take her kids for the weekend.”
“Why would you do a thing like that?” he demanded.
I grinned. “So she and Gray can remember what it’s like to be childless for a couple of days. And then I can give you an idea of what our life is gonna be like when we finally decide to go that route.”
“You think you’re gonna scare me away from it, but ten bucks says it backfires. You’re gonna see how hot I look caring for kids and you’re gonna beg me to—”
I jumped into his arms and sealed his lips with mine. Partly so he wouldn’t say anything dirty in public and partly just so I could kiss him.
After we got our hotdogs and burgers, we took them to a spot on the grass. Lily finished her hot dog in record time and then asked for ice cream instead of a cotton candy.
“Let’s wait a minute,” I suggested, not wanting to deal with an upset stomach if I let her gorge too fast.
“But—”
“Listen to Mia,” Colt commanded gently but firmly. Lily closed her mouth and crossed her arms over her chest. Then she widened her eyes and gazed at Colt.
“Don’t look at me that way,” he said, his voice losing some of his gruffness. “I’m immune to manipulation.”
Lily dropped the act and frowned. “What’s immune mean?”
“It means that look you use on your parents won’t work on Colt,” I answered.
“Rats,” Lily said.
“Ten minutes,” Colt relented. “Then you and Cam can have your dessert.”
Cam and Lily high-fived. “Can I go play with my friend Brock?” Cam asked.
“Where’s Brock?” I asked.
Cam pointed out a dark-haired boy. Something about Brock looked familiar.
“Okay,” I said. “But you have to stay where I can see you.”
Cam scrambled up from the grass and dashed after his friend.
“What about you, Lily Burger?” I teased. “You want to go play with them, too?”
She shook her head. “They don’t like it when I tag along.”
