“Are uh, you and Ms. Robins dating?” a voice asks from beside me, and I lock eyes with some woman I haven’t met, but Thomas is standing in front of her, grinning at me, and I smile at the boy.
“We are,” I confirm, and the woman grins wide and admits, “You are one lucky man, because according to some of the single dads, they’ve tried to get her attention since she began working here and she’s always been professional,” she looks towards Holly, “And it is a shame she isn’t into women…”
I choke out a laugh and look where my woman is, as our kids grip me tightly, talking to Thomas, and I smile widely to see her holding a little girl's hand who looks upset as she looks out into the crowd.
“I can confirm she most definitely isn’t into women,” I confirm, and the woman chuckles, “Figures…” then says, “Come on sweetheart, let’s get you home,” and Thomas waves bye to us, and I give the woman a smile as she walks off, looking at my girl one more time.
I’m man enough to say the look she gives my darling makes me want to poke her eyes out so she can never look at her again.
Shaking my head, I open my mouth to ask the kids if they are ready, but before I can, someone shouts, “I’m here, I’m here,” and I watch a guy in a suit run over to where Holly is.
She gives him a professional smile as he picks up his kid, and instead of thanking Hol and leaving, he stands before her, eyeing her up and the jealousy I felt over Thomas’ mama checking my girl out fucking triples.
Oh, I don’t fucking think so!
Growling, I take two steps forward getting Holly’s attention and she frowns before saying, “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Kesh, I just need to go and make sure Lyra is okay going home with Caleb and Alex, I’ll see you in twenty minutes for your appointment,” and she walks around him towards me and I physically relax while the guy scowls seeing I have her whole attention.
“Is everything okay?” Holly asks when she’s close, and I hum, my eyes going to the guy who is still looking at her.
“Mr. Dirty doesn’t like Peaches' dad talking to you, Mama,” Lyra says, and Holly raises a brow at me, but I just shrug.
I won’t lie and who in the fuck calls their daughter Peaches?
Holly’s eyes soften, and she murmurs, “I’ll be at your place at five thirty, okay?”
I give her a soft nod as her eyes look over my features, and as soon as she sees I’m okay, she nods, kisses the kids' heads, then turns and walks away. I hate that she didn’t kiss me, but I get it.
We’re at the school, and she needs to be professional.
Sighing as I watch her go inside, I say, “Alright, my little monkeys, let’s get going,” and they both protest being called monkeys, and I chuckle as I walk us back to my truck, all while feeling eyes on me.
Fucking patch chasers.
***
I slowly lick my lip as I watch Holly pull up next to my truck before turning the ignition off, and I descend the steps and rush to her car and grab her door handle before she can.
“Hey, darling,” I rasp as I open her car door, and she gives me a slight, tired smile as she climbs out and goes straight into my body.
I wrap my arms around her tightly and press my lips to her head as I inhale, needing my dose of her scent and even though she smells of school books, I still get that hint of strawberry that relaxes me.
Fuck, how the tables have turned these past few months.
“How was the appointment with Peaches' dad?” I ask against her head, and she mutters, “He asked me out on a date,” and I tense before she whispers, “I told him I was in a relationship even though we’re just dating.”
I scoff, “Hol, this isn’t just dating, you’re my girl, Lyra in my eyes is my daughter, plain and simple,” and she hums as she grips my cut, and I know she’s smiling.
I’ve just made her melt and fall for me even more with my words and fuck me if that doesn’t make me happy.
“You didn’t come to your appointment booked at four-forty,” she murmurs after a few seconds of us embracing, and I smile as I pull back a little, cupping her cheek, my thumb instantly rubbing her jaw as her icy blue eyes lock with mine, sucking me in like they always do.
Honestly, I didn’t see the point with her staying here tonight.
Humming as I gently undo her bun causing her hair to cascade down her back, I run my fingers through it as I lean down and press my lips against hers, keeping my other hand on her jaw, and she grips my cut.
“Okay, Ms. Robins, how is Caleb doing?” I ask, and she chuckles against my lips.
“Amazing,” she admits, and I ask, “And what about my cutie?”
