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“I’ll give you a hand,” Sav offered, picking up Bella’s bag of toys.
“Thanks for coming,” Toth said to Cole, when the room was empty besides them.
Cole nodded. “It was nice. I don’t usually do gatherings.” He glanced at Bella’s cherubic cheeks. “Kinda have to now.”
It was weird seeing the guy who’d been such an asshole step into dad mode. But from the moment he’d shown up at the door with Bella, Cole had been a doting stepdad and uncle.
“Listen,” Cole said. His gaze flicked to the door that Sav and Sophia had exited. “Dare told me you—you see her. Our mom.”
Toth’s throat tightened. He’d called their mother earlier to wish her a happy Thanksgiving, but he hadn’t told Cole that. “Yeah, that’s right.”
He cleared his throat. “Does—Does she know about us? I mean, that you found us?”
Toth scratched the back of his head. “Nah, I didn’t tell her. I was going to, but...” He shrugged.
Several seconds passed as Cole rocked Bella in his arms. “Well, if you do, I’d maybe—” He stopped, clearly struggling with the words.
“You wanna see her?” Toth didn’t hide his surprise.
Cole lifted a shoulder. “Bella asks about my parents. I don’t have the heart to tell her the real story.” He rocked his jaw. “Not even sure I’d be able to look at her, to be honest.” His nostrils flared, and then some of the tension left his face. “But maybe I could try.”
Toth fought the urge to grab his brother’s shoulder. Cole looked ready to bolt, and if he weren’t holding Bella, he’d probably do just that.
“I think she’d like that.”
Interest appeared on Cole’s face but quickly vanished. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I think you’ll be surprised by how much you might like her. You kinda remind me of her.”
His eyebrows drew together and amusement lit his eyes. “In what way?”
“She’s a hard-ass.”
Cole chortled. “Guess I had to get it from somewhere, and it sure as hell didn’t come from that coward of a man.”
Rather than fuel any anger inside his brother, he just shrugged at the mention of their deadbeat dad. “Honestly, I think she’ll be really happy. I’ll call you next week and if you still want me to reach out, I will.”
“Cole.” Sophia’s hoarse whisper-call from the front door got his attention.
“Gotta go.” He gave one sharp nod and carried Bella outside.
Savannah entered a minute later. “That was a nice visit.”
He caught her hips in his palms and inhaled her sweet jasmine scent. “Mmm. Kinda glad they’re gone though.”
She chuckled and ran her hand from his shoulder to his belt buckle. “Why’s that? Eager to get to bed so we can leave early for the cabin tomorrow?”
He dipped his head to nibble beneath her ear. “’Cause I’m going to get you naked and lick you until you scream.”
They spent most weekends at the cabin. Since their time hiding out there months ago, he’d had the place thoroughly cleaned and had increased security. There was nothing better than enjoying their nights in the hot tub, under the stars, draped over each other.
Her body turned to liquid in his arms. “Sounds like a plan.”
He laughed and lifted her so her legs wrapped around his waist. “I could do this with you every day, you know that?”
It was true. Sharing his life with Savannah had turned out to be everything he needed. Having coffee with her on his back porch every morning and curling up with her to watch movies at night completed him. Not to mention afternoon and morning sex—two things he’d never gotten to indulge in with the one-night stands that had barely taken the edge off.
Savannah filled him in every way. He’d never need or want for another connection as long as he lived.
