That’s right.She’s mine.Spread that around to every eligible man in the tri-state area.
“What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?”I ask her as I turn her down the dessert aisle.
“Rocky road.”
“Yum.That sounds perfect.”I scan down the selections until I spot rocky road ice cream.
As I open the freezer, a voice behind me says, “Reagan?”
Reagan squeezes my hand tighter as she responds.“Oh, hi, Greg.I haven’t seen you in a while.How’re Tammy and the kids?”Her voice is syrupy.She’s rubbing this in more than me.
When I turn around, I tuck the ice cream under my arm and reach out my free hand.“Hi, I’m Tiago Wilde.I don’t think we’ve met yet.”
Greg is several inches shorter than me.He also needs to go to the gym.He’s twenty-six and has totally let himself go.“Greg,” he mutters.
I release his hand and wrap an arm around my girl before leaning in to kiss her temple.“Did you need anything else, baby?”
“I don’t think so,” she responds.
I chuckle as I look at Greg and shrug.“When a woman gets a craving for rocky road, what can you do?”
All the color leaves Greg’s face as he stares at us.It’s not very polite of me to gloat, but I can’t help myself.I won the girl.
“Tell Tammy I said hello,” Reagan says as she leans into me.
Greg doesn’t say a word as we leave him standing in the aisle with his jaw on the floor.I feel rather smug, but I think Reagan does, too.
Yep, she’s mine.The entire town will know before we even reach the estate gates.
“What did you do?”Claire asks as soon as we step into the kitchen through the back door.She glares at me before turning to Reagan.“Hi, Reagan.What did this neanderthal do?”
Reagan sighs.“I guess you heard about our appearance at the grocery store.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Claire responds.
“He’s twelve.”She elbows me in the gut.
I umph and pretend to be injured as I set her bag by the back stairs and head toward the freezer with the ice cream.
Claire laughs.“Tell me about it.So is his brother.”
Gretchen is cutting vegetables at the island.Her lips are pursed, and her eyes are dancing.I know she loves it that more and more people are filling this monstrosity.She was bored and lonely before my grandfather died and we all started showing up.
Gretchen looks toward Reagan.“Nice to see you, Reagan.Can I get you anything, dear?”
“No, thank you,” Reagan says softly.
Claire is sitting on one of the barstools at the island across from Gretchen.I’m certain she’s put herself there intentionally so she could harass me the moment I walked in the door with Reagan.
Claire pats the stool next to her.“Join me.I want to hear all about the grocery incident.”
I come behind Claire and pull her braid, making her tip her head back.I give her a pointed look.“Mischievous girl, where is your keeper?”
She rolls her eyes.“Myhusbandis in your office looking for something.”
Reagan comes to the stool beside Claire.I pull it out for her, help her up, and scoot it in.She blushes adorably when I kiss her neck from behind.“You need water.You haven’t had enough to drink since our hike.”
“Fine, master.”