Tinsley’s curls bounce as she nods, then she looks at me. “Can Blake come with us for our surprise?”
I bite back my grin. “He sure can.”
He holds up his hand, and she giggles as she high-fives him.
“Are you ready?” he asks, climbing to his feet.
I nod, picking up my handbag from the side table and checking to make sure I have my wallet and Tinsley’s EpiPen. “We just need to grab our jackets and shoes.”
Tinsley runs off to get hers, and I pick mine up from the back of the couch, melting into him as he steps up behind me, wrapping a hand around my waist.
“So far, so good,” he murmurs softly, pressing a kiss to the sensitive flesh below my ear. The hope in his tone makes my heart swell.
I smile, spinning in his arms. “It’ll be fine, striker. She likes you.”
“What about her mama?” he asks, grinning.
“Oh, she more than likes you,” I tease.
His warm chuckle sends a tingle through my body as I rest my chin against his warm chest, gazing up at him. “Any hints about where we’re going?”
With a shake of his head, he leans down and presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He steps back as Tinsley runs in, wearing her pink jacket and matching sneakers.
“I’m ready.”
She grabs my hand as Blake opens the front door, a rush of cool air sweeping inside. We follow him out to my car, and I unlock it, passing him the keys before I get Tinsley buckled into her booster seat.
“Do you know where the surprise is?” she asks Blake when I climb into the passenger seat.
He smiles at her over his shoulder and nods. “I do.”
“Let’s go then,” she says excitedly, practically bouncing in her seat.
I don’t knowwhat I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t the?—
“Aquarium!” Tinsley squeals when Blake pulls into the car park. “Are we really going here?”
He laughs. “We really are.”
“This is the best surprise ever!”
“Glad to hear it, Sprout. I wonder what your mum thinks?” He arches a brow at me.
“The best,” I echo with a smile.
We climb out of the car, and it warms my heart when Tinsley bounds over to Blake’s side and reaches for his hand. He grins down at her as we navigate the busy car park towards the entrance. “What are you most excited to see?”
“The turtles,” she says without hesitation. “They’re my favourite.”
“No way,” he says. “They’re my favourite, too.”
Her eyes widen. “They are?”
“Yep. It’s super cool how they use their shells to protect themselves.”
She nods, her expression serious. “So no one can hurt them.”
