Page 47 of Daddy's Heart

Beau’s face stays gruff, but his hand lands gently on the top of Legend’s head. “You’re welcome, kid.”

“Will you teach me to fix cars someday?”

“If your mama says it’s okay.”

Legend turns to me with that look, the one that combines big eyes, soft voice, and emotional manipulation no adult is immune to.

“Can he, Mama?”

I sigh, already defeated. “We’ll see,” I say, which is universal mom-speak foryeah, eventually.

Legend’s in the backseat as we drive home, still chattering away. He’s now naming everyone in Colt’s family like he’s trying to memorize them for a school test. Colt’s driving with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh like he’s claiming me quietly, without needing to say a word.

“So,” I murmur, glancing at him. “That went well.”

“Told you they’d love you.”

“Loveus,” I correct.

He nods. “Yeah. They do.”

“Your brother Beau—”

“Is a big softie under all that gruff,” Colt says. “Kid’s already got him wrapped around his finger. Hell, me too.”

“And Jack and Delaney—”

“Rock solid. She keeps him grounded.”

“Like Marley does with Cade?”

“Exactly,” he says, eyes on the road. “Likeyoudo with me.”

That pulls something tight in my chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby girl. Both of you.”

From the backseat, a small voice chimes in. “Are we gonna live with Daddy Colt now?”

Colt and I exchange a look. We haven’t had that conversation yet. Not out loud, anyway. But I guess if he’s at the proposal stage then he must be at the living together stage too.

“Would you want that?” I ask my son.

“Yes!” Legend says instantly. “Then we’d be a real family.”

Colt doesn’t even hesitate. “Wearea real family, buddy. Doesn’t matter where we live.”

“But if wealllived together, it would be evenbetter.”

I glance at Colt. He’s smiling slightly, already running the logistics in his head.

I reach back and squeeze Legend’s little foot. “We’ll figure it out.”

And we will.

It’s notifanymore.

It’s justwhen.

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