Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Does that mean you kiss?” Hayden asks.
“Wike Anna and Kwistoff?” Harlow adds.
Grayson chuckles next to me. “Yes, something like that.”
“Can we make bwonies again?” Hayden asks. This time her eyes are on me.
“As long as Daddy says it’s okay, we can make them whenever you want.” I need to make sure there is a clear line drawn that Grayson is their father, and it’s still ultimately up to him. I don’t really know if that’s the right thing to do, but it feels like it is.
“I was thinking that Laken could start spending more time at our house with us,” Grayson tells them casually.
“Oh! Can we have a sweepover?” Harlow asks.
“Pwease, Daddy,” Hayden joins her.
“I don’t know.” He taps his index finger against his chin. “Where would she sleep?”
“Wif you. You have a bed dis big.” Hayden holds her arms out wide.
Grayson looks at me, mischief dancing in his eyes. “What do you think, Laken? You think you could share a bed with me?”
I can feel my cheeks heat from the content of the conversation. Heat pools between my thighs at the thought of “sleeping” in his bed. “Do you snore?”
“Not as woud as Pap,” Hayden answers for him.
“There you have it.” Grayson smiles.
“I guess I could do that.” I try to make it sound like an inconvenience.
“Tonight?” the girls ask in tandem.
“I don’t know—” I start, but Grayson stops me.
“I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“Yay!” the girls cheer just as our breadsticks arrive.
Grayson and I help them put a breadstick and some sauce on their plate. The girls chatter about me staying over and how I can help their daddy make pancakes for breakfast. The entire time, Grayson has his hand on my thigh. He eats with one hand, and every time I look over at him, he’s smiling.
“Daddy, can we pway games?” Hayden asks.
“Not yet, sweetheart. We have to eat our pizza first.”
As if him saying it summoned our waitress, our pizza arrives, and we all dig in. The girls talk our heads off about anything and everything. They jump from one topic to another, and their smiles and giggles wrap around my heart. I know without a doubt it’s going to be impossible to keep my heart from carving out a permanent spot for these two little girls and their daddy.
Grayson isn’t a man to play the field. He never has been. I’m also aware I’m the first person he’s dated since losing his wife, his high school sweetheart, so there is a chance that I could be a rebound, even though it’s been three years. I know that, but I don’t care.
I refuse to give the three of them any less than all of me. If things don’t work out, then they don’t work out. It’s going to hurt, but heartbreak is supposed to hurt. I would much rather love them while I can and have those memories if our time together ends. Life is about risks and taking chances, and I’ve done very little of that until now.
I’m all in, and if I’m being honest, my heart is already invested with all three of them.
“Now?” Harlow asks.
“You each need to take one more bite, and we can go play a few games.”
The girls waste no time shoving another bite of pizza into their mouths and slide out of the booth while they’re still chewing, making both Grayson and me laugh at their antics.
He slides out of the booth and offers me his hand to help me out. I take it and slide out. I expect him to let go, but he doesn’t. He keeps ahold of my hand as we follow the girls to a small section of arcade games. Grayson digs into his pocket for some quarters that I know he must have placed there on purpose. No man walks around with a handful of quarters in his pocket.
“I always come prepared,” he says, seeing the question in my eyes.
“You’re a great father, Grayson Davis.”
I’m surprised when he leans down and places a quick kiss on the corner of my mouth. “Thank you. It’s a guessing game on most days.”
“Well, your guesses are good. They’re beautiful, healthy, happy little girls. That’s all on you.”
He gives my hand a squeeze and turns his attention back to his daughters. They play round after round, and the entire time, Grayson holds my hand in his.
From the outside looking in, we’re the perfect family. My heart squeezes at the thought of Holly missing out on her daughters growing up. I don’t know where this is headed. I hope this is leading toward something lasting and permanent. I make a silent vow to make sure Harlow and Hayden know how kind and beautiful their mother was. I’ll also make sure they know how much she loved them.
The drive home is quiet, and it’s obvious the girls are exhausted. They’re asleep before we’re outside of the corporation limits of Billings.