Page 560 of One More Kiss

Mick

Giggles pierced the air,and I couldn’t help but smile at their infectious melody.

“Faster, faster!” Maddie shrieked from her spot on the merry-go-round.

I grabbed a bar as it whirled by and gave another soft push. “That’s as fast as it goes, kiddo.”

“No, it’s not!” Her voice grew fainter then got louder again as she circled back toward me.

I threw a look at Andrea, who grinned and gave a little shrug. “She’s resilient.”

I turned my attention back to the little girl clinging tightly to the rail as she whirled around and around. She looked so tiny, so fragile. I couldn’t bear to see something happen to her. We’d had these exact same things as kids, and although we’d never gotten hurt, there was always that one chance…

“Faster, Mick!”

I got no help but Andrea, who just grinned. “All right,” I warned Maddie. “Here goes.”

I pushed Maddie around and around until finally, nearly ten minutes later, Andrea called for a halt. “Okay, little miss. Time for dinner.”

“Aww, mom,” Maddie complained good-naturedly. Nevertheless, she did exactly as she was told and hopped off the merry-go-round. But instead of going to Andrea, she made a beeline straight for me and slipped her tiny palm into mine. The simple gesture knocked the breath from my lungs and caused my chest to constrict.

Maddie appeared completely oblivious to my turmoil. “Come on, Mick, we're having macaroni and cheese tonight.”

Andrea fell into step beside me and threw an apologetic glance my way. “Sorry,” she mouthed.

I smiled and turned my attention back to Maddie, giving her hand a squeeze. “I love mac and cheese.”

Her bright blue eyes sparkled up at me. “Really?”

“Really.”

Maddie skipped happily along next to me, and I turned to Andrea on my right. I extended my hand to her and, without hesitation, she intertwined her fingers with mine. A strange sensation settled over me in that moment. Walking home from the park, one beautiful girl on each side of me, we felt almost like… a family. I wondered if Andrea felt it, too. Sliding a look at her from the corners of my eyes, I saw a slight blush tinting her cheeks. I gave her hand a little squeeze, and she leaned into me as we made our way home.

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