“You know I’d do anything to make you happy.”
The feelings I had for him were impossible to keep inside, and I knew I’d fallen for him.“I love you.”I tipped my head back and his mouth met mine, taking my content state to blissful.
“Mommy, can we go swimming?”
Addy sounded much too close, and Vance straightened up, whispering against my lips, “I love you too.”
Elana was the first to race into the room, waving a swimsuit over her head.“I’m ready.”
Addy followed shortly after.“Can we go?Please, please, please.”
Vance took my hand, getting my attention.“I’m happy to go in with them.”
That was good, because my swimsuit was still at the apartment.“Are you sure?They can get quite wild.And you’ll have to watch Elana constantly.She thinks she can swim but really can’t.”
“I have one of those foam thingies she can put around her middle.And a swim vest if you prefer.”
Elana jumped up and down, and we all leaned back to dodge the bathing suit whipping in a circle around her.“Say we can, say we can, say we can.I know how to swim.I’ll show you.”
Knowing defeat when I saw it, I gave in.“Okay, why not.Go get changed, and I’ll grab some towels.”
I looked at Vance, since I had no idea where the towels were, and he grinned at me.“They’re in the pool house.”
Of course.How could I forget about the pool house?
The girls were back in record time dressed in their swimsuits, and we all went outside.
Vance spent hours in the pool with them, only interrupted by a short break when I made them all eat and drink something.
And the whole time, I sat on a lounge chair, relaxing and watching Vance play with Addy and Elana.There was no worry about what Cockalorum might do.No thoughts of all the things I should have done but didn’t.The only things that existed were the girls’ giggles and Vance’s deep chuckles.His attention was on them, but he still regularly checked to make sure I was okay.And for once, I didn’t have to fake being okay.Because in that moment, I truly was.
Dinner was quick, and the girls nearly fell asleep in their stew.Vance apparently had a housekeeper as of this morning, and there was a selection of healthy meals in his fridge that only needed to be heated up.Heaven.
Elana insisted on Vance putting her to bed, something he didn’t seem to mind doing.He picked her up and carried her to her room right after she’d asked.I was sure Addy would have protested and insisted he do the same for her if she hadn’t been so tired.She barely lasted three pages of her book before she was breathing softly, her eyes closed.
When I checked on Elana, she was fast asleep.It hadn’t taken her long to move around, already lying sideways in her bed.I covered her up again before I went to find Vance.
He was on the couch in the living room, the demon cat curled up next to him.He looked up from his phone when I joined him, his face soft, his eyes warm.He lifted his arm and I curled up against him, making sure no part of me was anywhere near Winston.
Vance kissed the top of my head.“They both asleep?”
I yawned, then snuggled closer.“They are.Thanks for carrying Elana to bed.”
His arm tightened around me.“Any time.”He took my hand in his, and thankfully Winston stayed asleep so nobody had to fear for their lives.“Now that you’ve seen the house, have you thought about my proposition?”
“Vance.Don’t you think we should see where this goes first?I come with two little girls.”At least I hoped I would.But that wasn’t a thought for tonight.“If we don’t work out, they’d be devastated.And after everything they’ve already gone through, another heartbreak is the last thing I want for them.”
And me.Because I had a feeling losing Vance would hurt.A lot.
“I trust my gut.It’s rarely ever steered me wrong.And it’s never been as insistent that I pursue anything as it is about you.But I can give you time to get used to the idea that I’m here to stay.”
“But what you’re saying is that ithassteered you wrong before.”
I wasn’t sure why I was still trying to convince him that we might not work out.I loved him.I wanted to be with him.
“I see I need stronger arguments to convince you.”He turned us so I was on my back and he was on his side, grinning down at me.“You should know I have a great memory.Which means I remember every sound you make when I touch you.So I know you love it when I do this.”He trailed kisses along my jawline, making me shudder, then placed a too-brief kiss on my lips.“And this.”His mouth traveled along my throat, and I arched up to give him better access.
He also remembered all the other things I liked.And by the time he was done, I was happy he could carry me, because he picked me up off the couch and took me upstairs, where we showered and collapsed into bed—or maybe that was just me.
