“What?”
“Mommy Aug has a date.Again.”
Cal’s attention sharpened, he started looking for his woman.Fast.He couldn’t have someone else scooping her up and away from him.
“Does she?”Claudia asked.“And who with?”
“That man named Jack.I heard him say ‘It’s a date’ then.”
“I see.”
Nope.Not going to happen.Good thing Cal was here—he had his woman to capture again, apparently.There were poachers in a small country church?He never would have guessed it.
Cal looked toward the man in question.Jack Masterson.They’d gone to school together.And now that jerk, once Cal’s good friend, was hovering over Auggie like he had the right.Laughing at the baby in her arms.
He reminded himself he was in church.He wasn’t about to make a scene with one of his close friends.He was better than that.Maybe.
Still, it took every bit of control not to release the growl he wanted to.
“Hi Mither Cow-way…” Tobi looked at him and grinned.She was adorable, no denying that.The hair was Auggie all over again.“Are you being good?Mommy said you really know how to misbehave...Junie says a kiss or two probably made it all better.”
It took a moment, but he deciphered what she meant.“I see.Did she?You look very pretty in that dress.”
“We have Sunday School today.”She lisped even more than usual.He thought one tooth may be loose now.Just in a couple of days.“With our friends and cousins.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It is.I am going with Nova and Evie.They are my cousins.”She just kept jabbering at him.Somehow, he ended up carrying her deeper into the church.Then he dutifully put her on her feet and she took off after two other little girls near her age.
The ribs only twinged a tiny bit.He was making progress.
Then Auggie was there, her beautiful baby-sized mini-me drooling down her shoulder.“Hello, Calloway Ellis.Praying for redemption from your sins?”
“Something like that.Being chauffeur, actually.And when I heard you were going to be here…well…where else would I be?Since you are the love of my life and all.”
Why hide his intentions?She’d catch on eventually, Cal was sure.He held out his hands.Maeya came to him, babbling something incomprehensible.
Auggie just watched him intently, a considering look in her eyes.“Claudia has been invited to lunch with us at Gil and Sage’s.”
“I am Claudia’s ride, my love.I was recruited this morning.”
“I know.The invite extends to you, too.If you promise to behave yourself.I take it you can remember how to get there?”
“I think I’ll manage.”He shot her a wicked look.She looked so pretty today.It was that soccer mom look, again.No wonder Jack had been a little drooly.“Heard you have a date with Masterson there.Should I break his head?It seems that boy is poaching.”
“Behave yourself.And it’s not a date—it’s an appointment, with Gil along, you doofus.”
“That’s all that’s keeping me from dumping him in the river.”
“Oh?”Blue eyes were watching him—with challenge.She liked to challenge him.He loved to meet that challenge right back.
“You are mine, woman.Time you accepted that.”
“Feeling…possessive, are we?”
“No, ma’am.I just know what I want from my life now.”
“What is that?”
