“Mama, what is Gunner?” Chelle asked.
“I don’t think I understand the question,” Rachel replied.
“Well, Roam is Blake’s dad but we gots bad daddy still. What is Gunner?” Chelle asked.
“I don’t want to see bad daddy ever again,” Marcus said.
Gunner’s stomach clenched at the worry in Marcus’ voice. Well, if he had anything to do withit, neither of the kids would ever be in bad daddy’s presence again.
“Well, Gunner is someone special in our life right now. Later, he might be more but it’s complicated,” Rachel said.
Only because the kids’ bad daddy was still hiding somewhere. If Gunner could get it resolved, things would become uncomplicated quickly. Only one hand had to work to sign divorce documents and relinquish rights to the kids.
“Do you think Gunner could be our dad?” Marcus asked.
“I wants Gunner. He makes me feel safe,” Chelle said.
“I think Gunner would make a great dad, but like I said, it’s complicated, and we’d have to ask him. But let’s wait, okay?” Rachel said.
Gunner could work with that. Although he’d love to walk in and answer the question, he wasn’t taking Rachel’s power away from her. She told the kids she wanted to wait.
Gunner walked back to the back door, opening and closing it loudly.
“I’m back. Who wants to get dessert before bed?” Gunner called, walking into the room.
“Me, please!” Chelle and Marcus yelled, running toward him and throwing their arms around him. He wrapped his arms around these little ones that he was going to protect with his life if needed.
“Well, let’s go. We don’t want Slice to eat it all. I heard he made some apple cobbler and was thinking about not sharing,” Gunner said.
“Mama, let’s hurry,” Marcus said, running to grab her hand.
“Okay, let’s go eat,” Rachel said, with that gorgeous smile on her face that Gunner adored.
He had a little time, but he wasn’t waiting forever. Valentine’s seemed the perfect time for something special.
Chapter Seventeen
Rachel had a hard time not skipping through the store. Everything was coming together, and their soft opening was tonight. Despite all the things they’d been checking off their lists for the store, Gunner had made them dinner every night.
Monday night, he’d shown the kids how to make pizza crust, and they’d made pizza pockets, which both kids had loved. Marcus had asked if it was something he could make to take in his lunch to school. Gunner hadn’t hesitated but immediately said yes.
Tuesday and Wednesday, he’d let the kids pick what he made. Tuesday had been hot dogs and French fries for Marcus, and Chelle had wanted macaroni and cheese with fresh bread.
With the soft opening tonight, Bear and Winnie had taken the girls, and Roam and Sprite had taken the boys. Rachel moved the cards Blake and Phoebe had made to make room to add the ones Benji had made. When Benji had brought his items in, it was all she and Gunner could do to keep a straight face.
Benji had decided to take some of the members of Bluff Creek’s favorite sayings and make cards. She hadn’t met Bootstrap yet, but when Regina had seen the Babygirl cards, she’d said they’d be flying off the shelves.
Although consignment or a sixty/forty split might be better for Broken Hearts Brewing, Rachel and Gunner thought fostering the kids’ entrepreneurial spirit would be the best path to take. The kids were now part of Broken Hearts Brewing’s entrepreneurship program. The kids received an immediate twenty-five percent of whatever they made to be sold upon delivering the product. Fifty percent would be put into an account and divided equally among all the kids who had items for sale in the business that month. Theremaining twenty-five percent went to Broken Hearts Brewing’s bottom line. If the store took off like she and Gunner anticipated, the remaining twenty-five percent would move into an account for bonuses for the kids and quarterly parties celebrating the wins while discussing what they could do to increase sales. It was just one more aspect of Bluff Creek that Rachel loved—their unwavering support of children.
“How’s my gorgeous woman today? Are you ready for the horde of partiers?” Gunner asked, his hand sliding around her. She shivered at the touch of his lips on her neck. His hand turned her face up to taste her lips.
She turned around, sliding her hands behind his neck. They’d been so busy. Sure, he could have stayed over but she wanted to have that talk with the kids first. Between his touches in the kitchen while he fixed supper or here at the shop, he kept her need for him on a slow simmer.
“Did I tell you how much I adore your overalls?” Gunner asked.
“I don’t think so. Why?” she asked.
“Because they’re so cute and make getting access to you very easy,” Gunner said, his panty-melting grin putting all sorts of dirty thoughts in her head.
