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His eyes strayed to Brayleigh before sliding back to me, his challenge clear.
I smiled easily, unaffected. “Brayleigh would be blessed to have her.” I took a swig of my beer and laughed. “She’s not much of a wingman. Keeps trying to steal her for herself.”
Gus lifted his beer. “I’ll be your wingman.”
Vander assessed me. I looked steadily back at him, wondering at the source of his mistrust. Finally, he sighed. “You got me, too.”
“Well, don’t be too enthusiastic,” I grinned.
“She’s special,” he retorted.
“I know,” I clapped back, some of my good humor dissipating. “I appreciate your care for her. Don’t make yourself an obstacle.”
The corner of Vander’s mouth tipped up in a half smile, then he leaned forward and tapped the neck of his bottle against mine. “Cheers.”
I didn’t need them to have my back.
But it couldn’t hurt.
Minty
Waking up curled up against Lucky’s heat quickly became my favorite thing, and it wasn’t because he kept his house unfathomably cool at night. It didn’t matter, he was better than any electric blanket.
Just as I rolled into him, watching the smile grow on his face as I slipped my fingers over his abdomen, Brayleigh announced her intentions for the day.
“Da? Da! Park, Da?”
He groaned and tucked me underneath him. “You’re not leaving this bed.”
“Hm, somebody has to get out of the bed and get her. Do you want to do it?”
He rolled off me immediately. “Who am I to stand in your way?”
I laughed. “I’m bringing her to you then I’m getting in the shower.”
His arm shot out and he wrapped his hand around my wrist. “Bring her here and get back in.”
I went to shake my head, but he shook my arm lightly. “She’s cuddly in the morning. You’ll love it. Come on,” he urged.
I thought about the brief space of time I held her between her room and Lucky’s, the sweetness of her tiny body curled around mine. It would be nice to cuddle in the bed. Lucky would be there. It would be safe.
I smiled down at him, noting the change in his face at my acquiescence.
“Good,” he grunted as he lay back down. “Hurry up. I miss you already.”
He sang a different tune when I got back in with Brayleigh and she ditched him in favor of cuddling with me. So warm, so sweet, her little head fragrant still from her lavender bath the night before.
“Huh,” he grunted. “The least you could do for stealing all the snuggles is take over diaper duty.”
Touch her.
I smiled serenely.
“Not a chance.”
He touched a finger to my cheek then folded his arm behind his head, his chest spread out like a gift. If Brayleigh wasn’t there, I’d give in to the urge to lick the dark nipple that beaded so close to my face.
“What does that smile mean?”
