“Okay. I should probably get going too, then.”
Did she think she had an option? That’s cute.
Sloane clears her throat, her attention flicking to Greer, like holding my gaze too long does something to her, the same way it does to me. “Thank you again for this opportunity, Greer. I’m looking forward to working here.”
“We’ll see you Friday. Mandy will show you the ropes, I’m sure.”
“I sure will.” Mandy grins, and a hard tension moves through me.
I hate the idea of Sloane spending another second here, not just because it’s dangerous, but because I don’t want any Whitlock man anywhere near her.
Thora turns to Sloane. “It was really nice meeting you.”
“You too,” Sloane tells her.
“Come on, Rue. We need to get lunch,” Jace calls to his daughter, who scowls.
“Ugh, I’m not hungry. I wanna play with Lev. Please, Daddy!”
“They need to go now. Next time.”
But we both know that’s not happening. It kills me to say that, but Lev can make new friends. At least I hope he can.
I head for him and take his hand.
“Bye, Rue,” I tell her, and she pouts.
“Bye.”
“Need me to drive you girls to your car?” Greer asks.
“No.” I slide my hand into Sloane’s, fingers locking. “I’ll drive her.”
It hurts how perfect it is to be with her like this.
Greer’s mouth quirks, like she’s entertained. “Got it.”
Beside me, Sloane goes still like she can’t quite believe I said that, and I curl my fingers more firmly around her hand.
Jace sees it. They all do.
I want them to. No one touches her. He can remember that the next time he thinks about putting his hands where they don’t belong.
Rue turns toward Lev. “I hope we can play again.”
Before I can even process it, she darts forward and throws her arms around him.
“Rue, you have to ask before you do that,” Jace scolds, but I barely hear him.
All I see is Lev, standing there at first with his arms stiff at his sides, then inching them up, little by little, until he wraps them around her back.
“Oh my God,” Sloane whispers, emotions clogging her throat. “They’re so cute.”
When Rue pulls back, she’s grinning.
“Maybe we can have a playdate. Right, Daddy?” She glances over her shoulder at him.
A playdate. I almost laugh. She has no idea how complicated things are about to get between our families.
