Page 82 of Little Sunshine

“If you pick something, you can eat in the backyard.” Her eyes lit, and I piled on. “It’s even nicer than the front.”

“I’ll reheat some of the pasta,” she tried.

“I got it.”

“I’ll go wash up then.”

She returned as the microwave beeped, and I handed her the plate with a potholder under it.

“This isn’t mine,” she said.

“Pretty sure I’m giving it to you, so yes, it is.”

She shook her head. “Ash, this is more than I eat in an entire day.”

“And you heard what the doctor said about that.”

“I don’t need to rectify it in one meal.”

“Eat what you want and toss the rest.”

Mila’s lips curved in a horrified grimace. “I am not wasting all this food.”

“Then put it in the fridge.”

With your yogurt and leftover sandwich.

She opened her mouth to argue before closing it. With a soft inhale, she forced a small smile. “Thanks for making this.”

“Mila—”

“Backyard?”

I held her gaze for a few seconds before she broke the contact and looked to the side. She grabbed the book she’d set down and waited expectantly while avoiding my face.

I turned and walked to the back door, sliding it open and stepping out of her way. I was glad I did when I got the profile view of her reaction.

“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed.

It was the reason I’d bought the house in the first place. After the large deck—complete with grill and built-in pizza oven—the rest of the expansive yard was nothing but nature.

When the real estate agent had suggested tearing it up to put in a pool, I’d nearly fired her. If I wanted to swim, I could do it at Maximo’s or one of the resorts. There was no reason to destroy natural beauty—beauty that included a damn creek—for convenience.

I walked to the edge of the deck to point out the chair one of my nephews had dragged out. “There’s a creek over there.”

Mila didn’t need to be told twice. With another murmured thanks, she carried her book and lunch to the chair.

I wanted to stand there and watch her. I wanted to do a fuck of a lot more than that.

I didn’t.

Forcing myself into the office, I watched her on the exterior security camera until she came inside.

When the credits of another episode rolled, I clicked off the TV.

With her feet to the couch and her head resting on her bent knees, Mila turned just enough to look at me. I wasn’t even sure she could lift her head if she wanted to.

“Bed, sunshine.”

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