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That vice grip around my chest intensifies, and I swear it’s getting hard to inhale.
Kaylee blinks as she just stares at me, a serious look on her face. For a second, I worry that she might burst into tears, which is the last thing I need considering the kid’s mom hates me as it is, but instead, a smile flashes on her face, a loud giggle coming out of her little lungs.
“Charming them young, I see,” Penelope chuckles as she leans forward, her lips pressing against her niece’s neck and blowing raspberries into her skin. “He’s taken, little lady. You’ll have to find your own boyfriend.”
“Hell to the no,” Emmett yells loudly from the kitchen. “She’s not dating until she’s fifty.”
“You can only wish.”
“No wishes, what I say goes. C’mon, you guys, dinner’s ready.”
Getting to my feet, I help Penelope stand up, all while carrying the baby in her arms.
The dinner goes relatively smoothly. I listen to Emmett and Kate fill Penelope in on all things that happened recently in their small town and on the ranch—Penelope talks about Blairwood, and her classes, sharing stories about her friends.
By the time the dessert is done, I’m full.
“You’ve been quiet,” Kate comments as she starts gathering the plates.
“I just realized that I know a bunch of stuff about people I’ve never met.”
Emmett gets to his feet. “Don’t worry. You’ll get a chance to meet some of them tomorrow at the ranch. Mom loves to host a big Thanksgiving dinner and invites a ton of people.” He shoves Kate’s hands away just as the baby starts crying. “I’ll clean up. You take the baby?”
Kate nods and walks to pick up her daughter from the high chair. “Breakfast in the town in the morning? I was thinking we could go toReading Nook.”
“Sure thing. I haven’t seen Becky in a while,” Penelope agrees. “Night.”
We help Emmett clean up, and then he joins his girls, and Penelope pulls me out to the back porch.
The sun has already set, and there is a chill in the air, but nothing nearly as close as the cold in New England.
Still, as we sit on the swing, I grab a blanket and pull it over our laps.
Penelope lets out a content sigh as she leans against my shoulder.
“You happy?” I ask, sliding my hand around her shoulders and pulling her to me.
“Yeah.” She looks up at me, and as always, I’m dumbstruck by the love I see shining in her eyes. “I know it’s not glamorous, but it’s home. It’s the first place that felt like home in my life, and it’s nice to know I can always come back to it if I need to.”
“I can see the appeal of it.”
It was so quiet out here, so… peaceful.
A man could easily get used to it.
“Thank you for coming with me. I know this wasn’t easy for you.”
No, it wasn’t.
Cupping her face, I let my thumb skim over her cheekbone.
“Don’t you know by now, Birdy? There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.” I lean down, pressing my mouth against hers.
The kiss starts slow, just a gentle brush of my mouth over hers, but then she lets out that soft moan, her fingers clenching my shirt.
Damn.
I love hearing those little noises she makes. I love knowing that I’m the one responsible for bringing her pleasure like that.
