“They really do,” Maddy says. “Pepperoni and black olive, please.”
“Well, duh,” I say with a smile.
Wylder snakes his arm around me, and he doesn’t hesitate to kiss my cheek in front of the girls. “See you tonight. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Anything for the girls.” I love spending time with all three of them. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was more than a little excited to have some time alone with Wylder without the girls around, too. “And you can think of a creative way to thank me later,” I whisper so only he can hear me.
We’re still new. Wylder and I are still feeling each other out, trying to decide whether this is right for us and for his kids. I wouldn’t even say we were a couple. We haven’t spoken the words to each other yet, and no promises have been made. There’s still a part of me that keeps setting off warning bells not to jump in feetfirst and get ahead of myself. Wylder’s been alone since Katie, the skanky ex-wife, walked away from him and the girls.
Wylder gives me a wink before he and the girls walk out of the shop without leaving me a cupcake. They’re not even gone sixty seconds when Tilly walks out of her bakery and hauls ass across the street. She always looks stunning and so put-together. Even with three kids at home, she never set foot outside with a hair out of place.
Tilly meets my eyes as I watch her through the giant window at the front of my shop, and she waves.
I’m at the door when her hand touches the handle. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.
She gives me a sweet smile, the same one she always has on her face. I swear she never has a bad mood. “Nothing, honey. I just talked to Wylder and heard the girls are heading out of town.”
“Yeah,” I draw out, confused.
“That’ll make for an exciting summer for you.”
My belly does a little flip. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Maybe?” She touches my cheek, and somehow her palm is cool even though it’s hot as hell outside. It’s a late spring heatwave. “Honey, you’ll finally get some time alone. Take this from someone who dated a single father, time alone is precious, especially this early in a relationship.”
I small pang of guilt washes over me. It couldn’t have been easy for her and Dad, even though we loved her from the moment she came into our lives. They never had much time alone except when my grandparents took us for a few weekends here and there. “I suppose so.”
“I like Wylder. Lord knows he’s better than Rowdy—but then again, almost anyone is.” She chuckles as she drops her hand from my face. “I see the way you look at Wylder. You’re smitten, baby.”
“Smitten has gotten me in trouble in the past, Ma.” I collapse into a waiting room chair and blow out a long breath. “I don’t want to make that mistake again.”
“We all make mistakes when it comes to love,” she says as she takes the seat next to me, covering my hand with hers. “But if you find the right person, all the mistakes before them will be worth it.”
“My last one almost got me killed. I’m pretty sure nothing was worth losing my life.”
“Rowdy didn’t lead a normal life, kid. He was surrounded by the worst kind of trouble, and you got yourself wrapped up in it too. That’s not Wylder.”
I lean over, placing my head to rest on her shoulder. “Were you worried about getting involved with a single dad?”
“Of course. I didn’t want to fall in love with you and Brax if the relationship wasn’t going to work out. But I didn’t let my fear and possible heartache stop me, and I’m glad I didn’t. I have three beautiful children and a husband who still makes my toes curl.”
“Ma. Please.”
Tilly giggles. “Although, at my age, when my toes curl, it often leads to the worst muscle cramp ever.”
“Ugh,” I groan.
“Anyway,” she continues like she wasn’t just talking about her and my dad having sex, “I think you should let your guard down and see where the summer takes you. You’ll have some time without the girls around to figure out if you’re the right fit.”
“Two months isn’t very long.”
She turns to me and stares straight into my eyes. “It’s long enough to know if he’s your forever, baby girl.”
2
TATE
Hazel wipesat a tear that’s sliding down her cheek, nearly breaking my heart. I kneel in front of her, grabbing ahold of her arms to comfort her.
