He watches us for a moment then chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I appreciate the offer—more than you know. But that’s a lot of stairs for an old man like me.”
“I’ll build you a room down here,” I offer without a second thought. It’s not just for Ellie. We could take care of him.
“Thank you, Dallas.” He stands. “But y’all are newlyweds. Probably thinkin’ about growing your family soon. Getting a puppy or whatnot. That’s a lot of excitement for someone who turns in around seven p.m.”
I stand and squeeze his shoulders. “Our door is always open to you. And the offer will still stand if you change your mind.” I clear my throat. “With everything that’s happened, Cole .?.?. Your message didn’t go unheard. Maya and Ellie were all you had. And I never want you feeling like you’ve lost your granddaughter. Not after you brought her into my life.” I swallow, thinking how much my life’s changed since he came looking for me during my darkest days. “Not when I owe you everything.”
He gives me a small smile. Then reaches for Ellie’s hand. “Suppose I need to call Glenda tomorrow. Make this all official.”
I shake my head. “Please don’t call that woman. Noah will take care of it.”
Ellie squeezes my leg. “See you tomorrow, Daddy.”
I bend down to give her a tight hug. “Love you, baby. Now you make sure Grandpa gets to bed on time. It’s about an hour before your bedtime.” I wink up at him and he chuckles.
“See you tomorrow,” Cole calls back as we walk them out.
Willow and I watch as they drive away. My heart is still in my throat, fearing I might wake up any second and tonight—Ellie’s pick-up—would be playing out entirely differently. And when I wake up—he’d be taking her for good.
Life can’t be that cruel.
Willow leans into me, trembling. “Did that just really happen?”
I wrap my arm around her, feeling her heartbeat against my chest. “Think it did.”
She nods, a sob escaping. “And she’s coming back tomorrow.”
I turn her fully to me, brushing her hair out of her face. “Told you he just needed time.”
She shakes her head. “What did you say to him?”
I roll my eyes sideways. “Hell if I can remember. I walked out of that courtroom seeing red. Found him and got in his face for attacking you. I could sit there and take all the shit they want to throw at me. The fire, my heartbreak, the bar fights—but draggingyouthrough the dirt? That’s crossing a line.”
She slips her arms around my waist, shivering.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
Willow and I finish cleaning the kitchen together—after deciding to wait to tell the others about Cole and Ellie. Still needing time to sit with it ourselves. I could say it out loud all I want, that I knew Cole would come around. That it was the grief talking and, deep inside, he knows what’s best for Ellie.
But it still feels unreal.
“We should call Noah,” Willow suggests.
“I’ll give him a ring tomorrow. The guy lost my case, think it’d do him good to let him simmer for a bit.”
She rolls her eyes, running the towel over the last crumb on the counter, leaving it spotless. I can tell she’s still tense, and all I want is to quiet every storm brewing in her.
Because as hard as it might be to believe, we won. We all won.
I lean into her from behind, swiping my fingers up her bare thigh. Her head falls back with a moan.
“Sunset. You see that?”
“What?”
“That counter’s looking like the perfect spot to find out just how loud my wife can scream my name.” I give her a sharp spank under her skirt and she shrieks, flipping to face me, cheeks flushed, brown eyes filled with a little misbelief and a lot of desire.
“Lie back.”
