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“But we should! I want to swim in the lake.”
I spoke up. “Well, let’s enjoy the pool for now. We can always talk about camping later.”
West mouthed, “Thank you,” right before Avery replied, “I suppose. I might need new goggles by then, though. Mine are getting all stretched out.”
I stood and put an arm around Avery’s shoulder. “I have a few pairs you can try out. So let’s get changed and head over to my place. By the time we get there, it might finally be warm enough to go swimming.”
“Come on, Wyatt! Let’s hurry!”
The pair dashed off, their steps thundering on the stairs.
West pulled me against his side and kissed my forehead. “If you ever get overwhelmed, let me know.”
“I will. But even if I’ve never been a parent before, I’ve had to deal with kids of my clients. Or watch how the parents deal with them. Your kids are angels compared to some.”
“You say that now. But if Avery gets tired, she gets cranky. Wyatt will also get defiant if he’s hungry and often wants the opposite just because. So prepare yourself.”
I raised my face toward his. “Consider me prepared. For now, let’s just enjoy this day.”
Because the battle with his in-laws would intrude soon enough, was left unsaid.
West kissed me gently, and then we went to help the kids get ready.
* * *
It was after the kids had gone to bed that West and I sat out on the veranda that surrounded the Wolfe house, me in his lap, as we looked up at the stars. It was chilly, but we’d needed some peace and quiet. Besides, between the warm man around me and the blanket we shared, it was nice and toasty.
He played with my hair, his body tense. Now that his kids were asleep, he was probably thinking of the battle with his in-laws.
I’d been thinking about it too, off and on, all day. And while I had thought of something that might help, I didn’t know if West would balk at my offer.
I would just have to get the conversation started and see what he thought. “Given everything you’ve told me, you’re going to need really good lawyers. And they’ll be expensive.”
“I know.”
I bit my lip, hesitating. Men and their pride were a fragile thing, and yet I couldn’t not offer. “I want us to use the money Rafe gave me to fight your in-laws.”
After he gently turned my head until he could see my eyes, he said, “I don’t want to take your money, Emmy.”
“It’s not taking if I offer it. Besides, I wouldn’t touch it if it wasn’t important. And your kids are pretty damn important, West.”
He fell quiet, and I tried to read his expression but failed. This was the man I rarely saw anymore, the one who hid everything behind a stony facade.
And I didn’t like it.
I turned, straddling his legs, and took his face between my hands. “I want to do this for us, for your kids, for the future. I still don’t know why Rafe gave me the money, but if I was going to use it for anything, it would be for our future. Please, let me help you, West. Let me help your kids.”
He took a deep breath, searching my eyes, and finally let it out. “Are you sure? I’ll find a way to pay you back eventually. I promise, Emmy.”
“If we’re to be in an equal relationship, then we shouldn’t need to keep score like that.” The stubborn man grunted, but I pushed on. “Look, I know how little your in-laws paid you while you ran and expanded their ranch. They took advantage of your distractions and guilt and who the hell knows what else. I can’t go back and make them be fair people, but I can do this.”
He still looked unsure, but I had one more card to play. “Besides, I want you to help me start up a small ranch on my property again. If you agree to do that, then we’ll both be helping each other, right?”
He blinked. “You want me to do what?”
“Help me set up the ranch again.”
West searched my gaze. “Of course I’ll help you, but why do you want to bring it back now?”
