“I can’t.”She winced.“My parents are going away for two weeks, and I’m going to be taking care of Adeline.”
“Then, how about I pick up a couple of movies, and we have a sleepover?Do you two want to come here?”
This was not what she was expecting.“Here?”
“Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with coming here, is there?”
“No, no, absolutely not.I just didn’t know if you wanted a kid running around here, and a dog.”
“You know, I’ve always wanted a dog, but I just never got one.Dad was allergic to them, and I figured I had to wait or something.”He frowned.“I like Princess.Who named her Princess?”
Joey laughed.“Adeline did.We got her from a rancher, actually.His Jack Russell had gotten out, and it was an accidental pregnancy, and this little girl had not been picked.I knew it was fate.Adeline wanted a dog, and the two of them together was amazing to watch.”
With the bath filling up, Axel moved toward her and placed his hands on her thighs.
“You know you’re an amazing mom, right?”
She looked at him, a little taken aback.“What?”
“I’ve seen the way you are with Adeline, and you’re incredible with her.She’s a lucky kid to have you as a mom.”
Tears filled her eyes.“Thank you.”
He laughed.“Has no one ever told you that you were doing it right?”
She shook her head.“Well, I mean, Mom said I was doing great, but she is always rooting for me.”
“You’re a great mom.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and Joey knew in that moment she fell in love with him.
Chapter Nine
Two Months Later
“I’ll take her,” Axel said.
