Page 25 of Winter Memories

“I’ll get it,” Macklin’s little voice yells out and I can’t help but chuckle. When he swings the door open, he launches himself at me and shrieks, “Fletcher, Hi!”

I catch him easily and give into the need to hold him close. As he wraps his small arms around my neck, he steals another pieceof my heart. As much as I hate the fact that he’s not biologically mine, he sure as hell feels like mine while he’s in my arms.

“Hi, bud. How was your day?”

He pulls back and presses his small hands against my cheeks, his face very serious. “It was good. I got to help Gramps with the cows, but I missed you.”

And I melt for this little boy completely. I’m not even a little bit ashamed to be wrapped around his finger.

“I missed you too,” I admit softly.

Eden steps into the doorway with a soft smile on her face. “How about we let Fletcher come in, Mack?”

He dramatically goes boneless in my arms and giggles, “Carry me, Fletch.”

I bark out a laugh as I step into the house. Eden grins at me and then freezes when she notices the candy bouquet. Her hands cover her mouth, and her eyes fill with unshed tears. I know they’re not sad tears because of the joy shining back at me, but I don’t like her happy tears any more than her sad ones.

With a kiss to Macklin’s head, I put him down and take a step closer to my woman. “Shooting Star,” I murmur and wrap an arm around her waist and pull her closer to me, “you know I don’t like your tears, even happy ones.”

She blinks a few times, something like awe written all over her face, “Is that a candy bouquet?”

I hold it between us with a flourish and wink at her, “It is. I came to ask you out on a date,” I flash her a sheepish grin.

“And you knew this was the way to get me to say yes?”

“I might remember a thing or two,” I tease her and soak up the smile she grants me in return. As she nibbles on her bottom lip and glances at Mack, I know exactly what she’s thinking. “Don’t worry, I already asked Walter and Edith to hang with little man for the night.”

Eden’s eyes go wide as she looks up at me, disbelief coloring her words, “You did?”

“Of course. I can’t take you out without making sure Macklin is taken care of.”

Edith walks into the room, her eyes warm and filled with excitement. “Are you ready to hang out with Gramps and me tonight, Mack?”

“Oh,” he exclaims, but then he looks over at me and Eden and frowns slightly, “I’m not going with Mama and Fletch?”

I slowly let go of Eden after kissing her temple and crouch down in front of Macklin. “You know I love spending time with you, right?” He nods, but the movement is tentative. “Well, I’ll tell you something, you are one of my favorite people on this planet, Mack, and I look forward to spending time with you every day. But we both know your Mama always puts you first and does so much to make sure you’re happy, right?” His eyes light up and I know he’s remembering the conversation we had that first morning. “Tonight, I’m taking your Mama out for a date, is that cool with you?”

Macklin nods and points at me, “Make Mama happy.”

I chuckle and hold my hand out for him to shake. “Promise.“

He turns to Edith, his face serious, “Guess it’s you, me, and Gramps tonight then.”

Edith chuckles and Eden makes a sound in the back of her throat with the effort of keeping her laughter at bay. I stand up, grip Eden’s shoulders, and turn her toward her room. “Go and get changed, Shooting Star.”

She snatches the bouquet from my hands before taking it with her. The wink she sends me when she looks over her shoulder, has me grinning at her. Do I check out her ass? You better fucking believe it.

I hang out with Macklin and Edith until Eden’s ready. After say goodnight, and giving out some goodnight kisses, I lead my woman out to my truck. When I help her in and her eyes widen, I’m sure I look smug as hell.

“The seat is warm already,” she sounds surprised as I reach across her and buckle her in.

As I look into her eyes, I assure her, “I’ll always take care of you, Eden.”

Her hands are small as she cups my jaw and murmurs, “I know.”

Even though I want to kiss her until we’re breathless, I settle for a soft press of our lips before stepping back and closing the door. The drive is pretty short to get into town. When we arrive at The Range Bar and Grill, Eden is looking at it with wide eyes.

“Wow,” she breathes, “this was not here before.”

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