Page 47 of Grumpy Ex's Secret Baby

If we were out on a walk, Trinity had to stop and look at every bug to make sure it was okay. More than once, I had watched her pick up a little garter snake and move it back into the bushes where she was sure it would be safe.

Now, I was getting ready to head back to the city after being in New York for a couple of days. Haley had no clue why I was going—I had made a point of telling her that it was for business—but in reality, I had taken Leigh with me and gone ring shopping.

Though we weren’t together again yet, I knew that we would be. I wasn’t going to let her go ever again.

***

“You’re back!” Haley said as she got out of her car only moments after I had parked my truck in my driveway. She had pulled into the driveway only moments after I had.

In that moment, I was glad that the ring I purchased for her was hidden deep in my briefcase, where she wouldn’t be able to find it immediately.

“That almost sounds like you missed me,” I said, closing the distance between us in a few steps before pulling her into a tight hug.

“I might have,” she said, pulling back slightly.

I kissed her softly, running my hands along her body as my cock hardened and strained against my jeans. She pushed her hips closer to mine, and I had half a mind to throw her over my shoulder and march inside with her.

“I missed you too.”

“I didn’t realize how hard things were going to be without you around. Even with Trinity calling you every night, she was still looking for you at dinner. Hell, I was looking for you after dinner. I’ve gotten used to having someone around to help me put Trinity to bed.”

I laughed and kissed her forehead, hugging her tighter. “So, where is our beautiful daughter?”

“She’s with her grandparents for the night. I was thinking that you and I could use a little time alone together.”

“Oh, were you?” I asked, my tone teasing as I peppered her cheeks with kisses. She was laughing and leaning away from me, her hands on my chest.

“I was.”

“Great. Why don’t you go inside and pour us some wine while I go throw my bags in the closet?”

I wanted to hide the ring before I did something dumb, like show it to her before I was ready to propose. I wasn’t going to risk scaring her off.

“Sure,” she said, kissing me quickly before wiggling her way out of my embrace.

She grabbed my keys and went inside as I took the bags from the back of my truck.

Haley was busy pouring wine as I went to the bedroom and dropped the bags in the corner. I reached into my briefcase and pulled out the little ring box, hiding it high on the closet shelf toward the back.

“Are you ready yet?” she called from the kitchen. “I have some pictures from Trinity at the park with Corey’s son.”

I scowled at the mention of Corey. I had called him again while I was away, and he still had no updates. It didn’t even sound like he was looking. Sooner or later, I was going to stop being nice and start getting things done the way I wanted them done.

There was no excuse for him to be toying around with my family like this, and I wasn’t about to keep putting up with it.

“Come on,” Haley said as she appeared in the doorway with a glass of wine. “Come relax. I’ve missed you, and I could use some adult time.”

I laughed and slipped out of my suit, pulling on a pair of shorts instead. Haley’s eyes dragged down my naked torso before she looked at me with a small smirk. I grinned and took the glass of wine from her, taking a sip.

“I’m glad you decided to come over and see me,” I said before kissing her quickly. “Now, how about you show me the pictures of our daughter, and I call her to say goodnight.”

Even on the evenings I didn’t put her to bed, I still made an effort to call her and tell her goodnight. After that, Haley and I would sit on the phone together for far longer than we needed to. It was the best part of my day.

“No new letters while I was gone?” I asked as we sat down on the couch together. Haley nestled into my side, tucking her legs up and leaning against me.

“Nothing new.”

“Good.”

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