“Somebody called Laney a baby pumpkin. I shoved him and told him to shut up. We started fighting, and the one lady told us we couldn’t be in the parade if we were going to fight.”
Wynn’s jaw hardened. “Who was this kid?” She had a few things to say to his parents.
Judd put his hand on her arm. “He’s from out of town. His parents hauled him off to the car. They’re already headed home.”
“You saw this?” She was still upset on her children’s behalf and ready to let him have it for not stopping the fight. For being here and making her feel all these feelings for him. And for being so sweet with Laney that it was breaking her heart all over again.
He shook his head. “I got here right as they were ushered out of the line.”
She hugged Miles. “Thank you for sticking up for your sister.” There would be other moments to talk about conflict resolution. Right now, she was so relieved he was safe. He hugged her back, feeling every bit the little boy with gangly arms she wanted to keep in her mama’s heart forever.
He wiggled down. “Can we still go to the Big Barn?”
Wynn glanced at Judd. Laney was entrenched in his arms and showed no sign of letting him go. “Yeah. We can.” Wynn held out her arms. “Laney? Can I carry you?”
“I want Uncle Judd.” She tucked her head under his chin and stuck out her bottom lip.
If there was a more beautiful sight, she couldn’t name it. Why did this have to be so hard?
“I’m happy to walk with you guys.” Judd started off. Miles caught up quickly and grabbed on to the bottom of his jacket. The three of them together was a sight so familiar, she ached. Walking several steps behind them, she soaked up the feeling of rightness, knowing she’d have to rip off the Band-Aid all over again and not caring.
Judd bought tickets for the kids, and they were soon off to the carnival games, bobbing for apples and fishing for prizes. Which left Wynn alone with Judd in a room full of people. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and then looked away again.
Judd kept his eyes forward as he asked, “Can I ask you a question?”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” She hugged herself. “I know I look like I have it all together, but I’m not doing great. So the less we talk about things, the better.”
He rolled his eyes and turned to stare at her. “Actually, you look old and tired.”
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me?” She smacked his arm—hard. “You don’t look any better. Try changing your shirt, buddy.” She went to smack him again, and he grabbed her hand, threading their fingers together. His tenderness sucked the fight right out of her.
“You haven’t washed your hair.”
Her lip quivered. “You need a shave.”
“I bet you do too.” He tapped her hip with his free hand.
She scowled. “Leave my legs out of this.”
He gave her a bad-boy grin. “I can’t. They’re a part of you, and since this conversation is about you and me, we have to talk about your legs.”
“There is no you and me.” The words were so quiet, she didn’t know if they came out of her mouth or she just thought them.
“There will always be a you and me.” He tugged on her hand, and she stepped closer, drawn in by a force she was powerless to fight against.
“I can’t.” She shifted from foot to foot.
“I’m not asking you to marry me.” He continued to smile in that maddening, completely wonderful way. “All I’m asking is for you to let me love you and to go for hot cocoa together, just you and me.”
Wynn shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re giving up. What about getting married and having a family and being a dad? You should have those experiences.”
He turned her chin so she could see her kids as they reeled in their prizes. “I have everything I’ve ever wanted—with you. Just the way we are. I can live like this—in heaven—for a long time, Wynn. You don’t have to push me away, and you don’t have to wear my ring to make me happy.”
She swiped at her nose. “But—”
He silenced her with a kiss. She should have fought him off, should have pushed away and refused to talk to him ever again. But she didn’t have the heart to do it. In fact, her heart was the very thing keeping her right there in his arms. Because the moment his lips touched hers, a gush of love washed over her and healed the dried-up and broken pieces inside of her.
“I shouldn’t want this so much,” she said against his mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
