Page 96 of The Last Thing
“I sure am.”
“In Daddy’s bed?”
We glance at each other, and I jump in with the answer. “Yeah. Is that okay with you?”
“Well, yeah. It would be silly if you made her sleep on the couch. You told me when you date someone, they’re like your best friend. Why wouldn’t you share your bed with your best friend? That would be mean.”
Oh, kids. Thank God she hasn’t lost her innocence yet. She also didn’t ask where babies come from, but I’m expecting that one at some point over the next six months.
“It sure would,” Hallie says. “Good thing your dadreallylikes me.”
Sophia beams at that, then yawns again as she looks up at Hallie. “You’re going to be my stepmommy someday.” But this time it’s not a question. It’s a fact in her eyes. Damn, I hope she’s right about that.
“It’s time for you to get some sleep,” I whisper, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Then Hallie does the same. “Goodnight.”
“Night.” Sophia grabs her big bear and pulls her covers up as she rolls over.
I wrap my arm around Hallie and guide her toward the door.
“I love you,” Sophia calls after us.
Before I can respond, Hallie looks over her shoulder, smiling warmly. “We love you too,” she says, cracking my heart open with her words.
The second we’re outside of Sophia’s room, I pin Hallie to the wall and kiss her like I’ll never get enough of her. Because I won’t. With my dying breath I’ll be begging for more of my little hellion.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
HALLIE
“I can’t believeyou didn’t tell me you were getting a new car,” Wilson grumps from beside me in the passenger seat of my new-to-me Jeep Renegade.
I brought him lunch so we could spend his break together and I could show him the car. We’re parked at a scenic overlook about ten minutes from his job site.
“Why? Would you have insisted on going with me? Beingthe man? Because honestly, Patio, I can live without that kind of toxic masculinity.”
He grumbles, and I laugh. It’s always fun to poke his buttons. Especially because eventually it helps get that cranky attitude out so we can make way for the fun.
“Still doing the name thing? I thought we were past that.”
He takes another bite of his sandwich, and it’s cute how he fights showing that he’s enjoying it. When he gets grumpy, he really commits.
“I’m reserving the use of silly names for when you go back to being curmudgeonDeckinstead of the man I know you actually are. Now tell me why you’re grumpy.”
“It’s my job to take care of stuff like this,” he growls.
“Do you think I can’t handle it? Trust me, I got a great deal. I know when to bat my lashes and when to give a withering glare. You, of all people, should know I’m anything but a pushover.”
“I know you can handle it. You’re a badass and God help anyone who tries to play you. I’m grumpy because getting you a car is supposed to be my job. I’m your partner. I take care of you.”
I blink at him because I wasn’t expecting that. Not that level, at least.
Running my hand up his thigh, I draw his gaze to me.
“Hey, I appreciate that, but I’m still my own person. Despite how quickly we’ve moved, we haven’t known each other that long. It’s not your job to do all this for me.”
“But I want to. You talk about the man underneath the curmudgeon? This is me. I don’t take care of you because I have to. I do it because I want to. I like it. That’s how my dad was with my mom, and I always admired that. The way he loved her was profound, and he made sure she had everything she could ever need or want. Simply because he liked to do it. For his own peace of mind and to see her smile. I want to do that for you too.”
