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“We just got here.”
“Sweets, we’ve been here for over two hours.”
“No.” She shakes her head, then turns to glance at the clock on the wall. “Oh.”
“I’m going to put these little guys up while you say goodbye.”
“Tuck, I’ve gotta go, buddy. They’re closing up soon, and we have a birthday party to go to.”
I chuckle when I hear her talking to the puppy like he actually understands everything she’s saying. Hell, maybe he does. The way he’s looking up at her almost makes me believe that he does.
“We’ll come back.”
“But what if he’s not here?” Her lips jut out in a pout, and I lean in for a kiss.
“That means he’s found a good, loving home.”
“What if they don’t love him like he deserves to be loved?”
I can see it in her eyes. She’s worried that Tucker will end up with a family like hers. “Dorothy has a very rigorous process, and they have to pass background checks.”
The look she gives me tells me that she knows that doesn’t mean Tucker will end up in a good home. “How about we come back next weekend to check in on him?”
Her eyes light up. “Hear that, buddy? I’ll be back next weekend to see you.” She kisses his fuzzy head and hands him to me to put him back in his cage.
“Be good, Tuck,” I tell the pup. He moves to the corner and tucks himself into a tight ball and closes his eyes. It’s damn good to already be making plans for our future. If all goes according to plan, next weekend my girl will be a resident of Willow River.
We stop at the counter to say goodbye to Dorothy, telling her we’ll be back next weekend, and then I lead my girl to my truck and head toward my parents’ place for a birthday party.
Caden, Rushton’s son, turned one last week, and Beckham, Declan’s son, turned one this week. Crosby and Kennedy decided to combine their parties. I’m stoked that Jordyn gets to be here for this. She hasn’t stopped smiling since I walked through the door last night.
“You keep smiling like that your face might crack,” Deacon says. He stops next to me and takes a sip of his punch.
Birthday party punch is the best. It brings out the kid in me, and from the looks of the close-to-empty punchbowl that I know for a fact has been refilled a few times, I’m not the only one.
“Thank you for all that you’ve done with the PI. You and Ramsey. I appreciate the help you’ve given us.”
Deacon nods. “You’re family. I’m glad you didn’t fight her on it. You know my wife will do anything for the people she loves.”
“Yeah, they’re all like that.”
“It’s a Kincaid thing.” He chuckles. “Maybe we should get T-shirts.”
“Shh. Don’t say that in front of Maverick. He’ll make it happen.”
Deacon’s deep laugh tells me he knows I’m right.
“What are you doing after this?” I ask.
“No plans. Bryn is going to be exhausted, so bath time and then bed. You know, dad life.”
“You love it.” Deacon, just like my brothers who are now dads, love the hell out of being a father. He couldn’t wait for Ramsey to tell him she was ready to start trying.
“I want more. Bryn is almost a year old.”
“Does your wife know about this?”
“Yep. I told her so the day we brought Brynlee home from the hospital.”
“Dude, give the woman some time to recover.”
“Yeah.” He grins. “We’re thinking after her first birthday, we’ll start trying again.”
“Why don’t you let me and Jordyn watch her tonight? You can have a night with your wife.”
“Man, you don’t have to do that. Your time with Jordyn is limited as it is.”
“Not anymore. After next weekend, she’ll be living with me. Come on. Let us take her.”
“Take who, where?” Ramsey asks, slipping her arm around her husband. Deacon pulls her into his chest and presses a kiss to her temple.
“I was just telling Deacon that you two should go have a night out. Let me and Jordyn have Brynlee tonight.”
“You two barely see each other.”
“Not after next week.”
Ramsey nods. “How about this? How about you all come over to our place, and I’ll get this one to take me out for a drink, oh, or ice cream? We won’t stay out long, and that way you get your girl all to yourself tonight.”
“Either way.”
Jordyn joins us with Brynlee in her arms. “She is such a sweetheart.”
“She loves to snuggle.”
“I’ll take all of your snuggles,” Jordyn says, swaying a little as if she’s rocking Brynlee to sleep.
“Did you ask Jordyn about your plan?”
“No, but she’s not going to care.”
“Care about what?” Jordyn asks.
“I told these two to go out after this for some adult time and that we’d watch her.”
“Yes,” is her immediate reply.
We all laugh.
