Jaxon helps her feed him another one, and then he smooths her hand down Atticus’s neck. “Don’t pull, Gracie Mae. Long soft strokes in the direction of his fur. Like this.”
With her hand beneath his, they pet Atticus until the big baby rolls onto his back in complete submission.
“He likes belly rubs, too,” I say.
Jaxon’s gaze snaps to mine. The air grows heavy andcharged as his blinding smile is now directed squarely at me. “I didn’t hear you come in,” he says, his voice low and resonant.
“I’m not surprised. You were a bit busy playing tickle monster.”
Atticus impatiently nudges at Gracie’s hand. She flattens her palm along his belly in strokes just like Jaxon taught her.
“You just made a new best friend,” I tell her. “He’s never gonna let you go now.”
Gracie smiles shyly. She’s a little slower to open up to me than Emmy was. In her defense, she’s often napping when I’m around.
Emmy skips across the room and cranes her neck to look up at me. “I like your big kitty.”
I squat down to her level and smile. “Yeah? You can come visit him any time you want.”
“Yay!” She throws her arms around my neck, knocking me on my ass.
“Boundaries, Emmy Lou,” Jaxon says. “You need to ask before you give hugs.”
“That’s the rule for strangers, but Miss Callie’s not a stranger. She’s your girl.”
Hisgirl. Where did she come up with that? Did he say something?
Emmy releases me from her grip, and I stand, straightening my clothes. I’m not sure what to say, so I wait for Jaxon to correct her.
When it becomes clear he’ll be doing no such thing, I interject. “Your uncle Jax and I are just friends.”
“Nuh uh. You’re Uncle Jaxy’s girl.” She whirls around to face him. “Right?”
Jaxon’s eyes flick to me, and his lips tip up at one side. The way he’s looking at me sends a flood of warmth from the tips of my toes all the way up to my cheeks. I’m sure I look like a ripened tomato.
“I’d like her to be,” he says.
I can’t decide if I should be mad that he’s using his nieces to manipulate the situation, or excited by the prospect of finally belonging to someone. I’ve never been anyone’s anything before. Never thought it was something I wanted until this very moment.
“What do you say, Bluebird? Should we make this official?”
Jaxon
I swear I didn’t coach Emmy into anything, but fuck if I’m not thrilled she instigated this. Never thought I’d be excited at the prospect of calling someone my girlfriend. I feel like a damn teenager again. I’d much rather skip to the husband and wife titles, but I promised I’d take things slow.
Callie’s mouth quirks up at one side. “What’s in it for me?”
“The unique privilege of calling me your boyfriend.”
She scrunches her nose, and I can tell there’s a sassy retort on the tip of her tongue. Before she can get it out, I charge at her. She darts away laughing, but not fast enough.
I catch her around the waist and pull her against me. “Here’s the problem. You already feel like mine, and if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I don’t give up until I get what I want.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she lets out an unsteady breath. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I melt. Being touched by Callie Cooper is a real privilege.
“And whatdoyou want?” she asks.
My heart beats erratically in my chest as I bring my lips next to her ear. “It’s a lot. You really wanna know?”
