He tilts his chin up with a casual shrug. "I actually came for a slice of New York pizza. You're just an added bonus."
My heart is racing, so overjoyed at the unexpected hit of double goodness, that I can't help but laugh. "I was just about to call you."
"You were?"
"Yeah. I wanted to ask if you'd mind throwing in my whites with yours."
He laughs, tapping his fingers against my stomach in a playful nudge. "Shut up."
"Make me."
His eyes twinkle knowingly. "Oh, I think I have a way."
We race back to the hotel room, and he was right, he does have a way. He spends the rest of the day, and well into the night, shutting me the hell up.
EPILOGUE
Two months later…
Tex
TD is in the water with his three beautiful girls, Jade, Sabra, and Minnie, splashing around and having fun. I'm loungingby the pool. Bean walks over and hands me a light beer, his gaze drifting to the pool as he settles into the deck chair next to me. "Cheers."
I clink my bottle against his. "Cheers."
"So, how's it going with the girls?"
"It's going well," I reply, and Bean being Bean, he immediately picks up on the cautious note in my voice.
"Say more."
"It's all been an adjustment," I begin. Since winning custody two months ago, TD has moved into a house since he needed a family-friendly place, which my tiny apartment isn't. The girls visit from New York every second weekend. "I think they're all doing well, though."
"How are the girls toward you?"
"They're okay. Jade and I get along great, but that could be because she's the youngest and at eight, maybe doesn't understand the complex adult dynamics going on around her. Sabra and Minnie are coming around though. Minnie thinks working with dead people is super cool and asked me if I'd show her a dead body.
Bean lets out a surprised cough. "And what did you say?"
"I didn't know what to say, so I kept it vague with 'Maybe someday,' and I’m going to pray she forgets."
Bean laughs. "Welcome to the wonderful world ofparenting."
I smile, even though I'm quickly learning just how tough that world really is. TD is an awesome dad, and he's doing such a great job healing the hurt with his girls. He's fun and does cool things, but he also sits down with them and talks about stuff.
"And how are things with you and TD?"
My smile gets even bigger. "Good. He asked me to move in with him last night."
Bean rolls his eyes. "You were practically living there anyway."
"I know. But this makes it official."
"I'm happy for you, Texy. You deserve this."
"Thanks. You're totally right."
"Oi, you, two! Are you coming in?" TD has swum up to our end of the pool, and, man, he looks sexy as fuck with his hair slicked back, hazel eyes gleaming.
