“I princess,” she says.
“Why, hello there, Princess…” He pauses.
“Chloe,” I fill in. “And this is her mama, Dahlia. My girlfriend,” I add, grinning at Dahlia. “Feels pretty great to say that around here.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Hector says to both of them.
“And this is Uncle Hal,” Juju says.
Dahlia and Chloe look between the two of them. They’re twins, so it can be disconcerting at first to see the similarities.
“I’m the fun one,” Hal says.
“Don’t pay him any mind,” Hector says, chuckling.
“They’re both fun,” Juju says, giving her uncle a look.
Hal just smirks and does a little bow in front of Dahlia. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, lovely lady.”
“Thank you,” Dahlia says, trying not to laugh. “Pleased to meet you.”
“How’s your grandma Nancy?” Hal asks me. “She hasn’t been in the cafe lately.”
“She needed a break from all your flirting,” Juju says.
“Nonsense. She’s very taken with me,” he tells us.
Hector snorts. “She barely tolerates you.”
They go back and forth, cracking us up, until Juju finally says, “How about food? Can I get you anything?”
“I would love an iced latte, orange juice, a breakfast sandwich, and a muffin,” Dahlia says.
I place my order as well, and we sit down. Some of the regulars come in, and I introduce everyone who says hello to Dahlia and Chloe.
Dahlia’s still smiling when we leave.
“There’s one more place I want to show you before we go to the cabin…unless you think we should get Chloe right back for a nap.” I glance over at Dahlia.
“Let’s do it,” she says.
I drive to my parcel of land. On the way, I stop to show her the tree house Camden and Noah built for Juju. Dahlia and Chloe are both sufficiently impressed—it’s amazing. When we reach the dirt path leading to my land, I drive slowly through the trees until we’re in front of the clearing by the water.
“This is my land,” I say. “Now that the resort is up and running, we’re going to take turns having our houses built. Goldie’s is almost done, and Camden’s is just getting started. Noah’s over all of it. He’s unbelievably skilled…and will probably do his place last because that’s just the way he is. Recently, he’s rented a house in town for him and Grayson. Now that I’m here, Tully is the only one left who isn’t here in town.”
“It’s beautiful here, Dylan. I love it. Is this where the house will sit?”
I grin. “Yes.”
I tell her a few ideas I have, and she’s excited about all of them. I’m about to ask her if she can envision herself here, but it’s been a big day. I don’t want to scare her off by telling her I want her to live here with me, but…it’s all I see.
She’s in the center of every dream I imagine coming true.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
TANTRUMS
DAHLIA
