Maren puts her hand on her chest and sighs.
“I should probably get them home before Dahlia’s sleeping too hard,” I say.
“Are you spending the night at her condo or going to Windy Harbor?”
“I think we’ll sleep at the condo tonight and drive to Windy Harbor first thing in the morning. Dahlia wants to geta feel for the office at the resort before she starts work on Monday.”
“I’m so excited she’s out of that job,” Maren says, shaking her head. “I think a new environment will be amazing for her.”
“I hope so. I know my family and the rest of the employees are really excited about her joining the team. And my brother Tully has been covering the excursions at the resort for me the past few days and needs to get back to training, so the sooner we get back, the better.”
“Tully is such a good player,” Ginny says, her cheeks flushing. “I started watching hockey around the time he joined the team, and I’m hooked.”
“Ginny doesn’t miss a game,” Maren says, grinning at her sister. “Someone’s got a crush on your brother.”
“I do not,” Ginny says, laughing. “He’s awfully pretty, though.”
That cracks me up. “I’ll have to tell him you said that. I’m not sure he’s ever been called pretty.”
“Those tattoos.” She sighs. “If I were younger, I might have a crush.”
“Mm-hmm. Methinks this crush is timeless,” Maren says.
I put my hand on Dahlia’s knee, and her eyes open. “Should we head out?”
She sits up. “Yes. Sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been having fun looking at your baby pictures.”
“Mom,” she groans.
Maren laughs. “Don’t worry. I didn’t show him the one with the perm.”
Dahlia puts her face in her hands.
“You’re beautiful, Doll,” I say, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I bet I would’ve loved you with a perm.”
“Awww,” Maren and Ginny both say, sighing dramatically.
Dahlia laughs and turns to rub her nose against mine. “Didn’t take you long to win them over.”
After Chloe’s in bed, we crash in Dahlia’s bed, making sleepy love before falling asleep.
We wake up slow the next morning, tangled and warm. Dahlia yawns into my shoulder.
“Do we have to get up?” she says, muffled against my skin. “My body is still in California.”
“I’ll start the coffee. How’s that?” I ask.
She grins. “You’re the best.”
By the time she makes it to the kitchen with Chloe in her arms, the house smells like coffee and toast. Chloe is still half-asleep but smiling. Dahlia brings Chloe over so I can kiss her cheek and neck, which always makes her laugh until she gets the hiccups. Then Dahlia sets Chloe in her chair, and she swings her legs while I cut up strawberries for her. Dahlia leans against the counter, watching us with this soft look in her eyes.
And then a knock rattles the front door.
Dahlia frowns, pushing off the counter. “Who would that be? You weren’t expecting anyone, were you?”
“No.”
