Page 136 of Mended Hearts

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“Counting on it,” I chuckled, before finding my girl in the kitchen, where her sisters were all cooing and peppering her in questions.

“Excuse me, ladies, but I’d love to steal a moment with Leighton, if she’ll humor me?”Please say yes.

Luckily for me, she nodded, a sheepish smile on her face as she snatched my hand and led me out into the yard and over to a raised deck. To my immense relief, she turned to face me, wrapping my hands in hers.

“I’m so sorry,” we breathed in unison.

“What the hell do you have to be sorry for?” I scoffed, reaching up to cup her cheeks in my hands. Her palms found their way to my chest, her thumb brushing just beneath my jaw.

“Leaving. I should’ve stayed with you?—”

I ghosted my lips over hers, relief sluicing through me when she raised on her tiptoes to capture the teasing touch with a kiss that sent that addictive electricity flaring between us.

“Baby, this one is on me.” I shook my head. “Ilost it.”

“Of all the times not to have Guawkward the emotional support avocado.”

“Honestly.” I snorted.

“After everything you went through with Carly, I should’ve tried to be more empathetic.”

“You’re growing a person. You’re doing enough.”

She gave a watery little laugh, and I captured the sound with my mouth. “You came after me,” she breathed.

“Of course I came.” My fingers slipped under the hem of her shirt, palm pressing to her side—just to feel her.

“Thank you. I missed you so much.”

“You have no idea.”

“I think I might. Wait. Where are the kids?”

“With Grey and Alice at the hotel. They had no complaints about Christmas in Florida. I thought I’d take them to Orlando before we head home.”

“Beau will love that.”

“Believe it or not, Mattie loves Disney.”

“With the crowds?”

“She wears headphones a lot, but she loves all the magic of it enough to deal. She just needs a little extra sleep afterward.”

“I love that for her,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. My god, pregnancy made my girl a crier. How hadn’t I seen it sooner? Her next question sent them spilling over the rim. “You’re not done with me?”

“What?” I would’ve staggered if I wasn’t holding onto her. My hand found her waist, slipping under the hem just to feel her smooth skin. The other dropped to squeeze her ribs, my thumb grazing under the edge of her breast, body humming with the need to memorize every inch of this woman.

“You’re not done with me? After I left like that? I can’t imagine it brought up any good memories for you. I swear, I never considered what that would feel like for you. I just wanted to be home and talk to Mom.”

I shut her up with another kiss, shaking my head, our noses brushing against each other a beat before I lifted my chin to kiss her forehead. “I wasn’t sure you’d even talk to me again. Much less still want anything to do with me. I’d understand if you wanted child support and to put as much distance between us as physically possible.”

Her breath caught, and her eyes shimmered. “Don’t say shit like that,” she whispered fiercely.

“I came here to beg for your forgiveness, Trouble. To ask you to please give me a chance. I was in shock, that was all.”

“That makes two of us.”

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