I pull back and smile, savoring the combination of flavors on my tongue.
His eyes darken as he brings the fork back to his mouth and sucks on it like he’s trying to taste me.
“Phew. Is it hot in here, or is it just you two?” Rosie smiles and tears the bill off the pad and slaps it on the table between us.
Griffin grabs it before I can get there. He sets down enough cash to cover the full amount plus a generous tip. “Do you have anywhere to be after this?”
“No. Why?”
“Thought you might wanna visit Sadie. She misses you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhm.”
I slide my hand up his jean-clad thigh. With my lips a hair’s breadth away from his, I murmur, “You sure it’s not you who’s been missing me?”
“You really wanna play this game, Angel? You know I always win.”
I take his fork right out of his hand and steal one last bite of his pie. “Let’s go see Sadie.”
He lets out an exasperated breath and stands. “Thanks for dessert, Ro.”
“Anytime, lovebirds.”
“I’ll drive.” He holds the door open for me to step out onto the sidewalk, then stops outside his truck and pulls open the passenger door.
I climb into the seat, and he closes it behind me before rounding to his side. He puts the truck in drive and takes the back roads out to the ranch. When a Ruby Lynn Hayes song comes on the radio, I crank the dial and sing at the top of mylungs. He rolls down the windows and starts to sing along with me, wind whipping through our hair. His voice is deep and resonant; it seems talent runs in the Hayes family.
The song ends as he pulls up to the big barn.
“Just need to grab some feed before we head out to the sanctuary,” he says, stepping out.
“Uncle Griff!”
I smile at the sound of my goddaughter’s voice and hop out of the truck behind him.
He crouches down to her level. “Hey, Emmy Lou. What are you doing out here?”
“Mama said I could come see Sprinkle Butter, but she’s hiding.” Her face lights up when she notices me standing beside the truck. She barrels over and wraps me in a tight hug. “Hi Auntie Lina!” she says, her voice muffled by my soft belly.
I return the hug with just as much enthusiasm. “Hi, sweet girl. I sure missed you.”
She looks more and more like Jess as time goes on. It’s like a part of her is still here with me. There’s this thing that happens after someone tragically passes—everyone talks about how they lit up the room and never met a stranger. While that’s certainly not something anyone would say about me, that was Jess through and through. She radiated warmth and light. The day we lost her was the day our light dimmed.
Emmy is the same—she’s all sunshine and goodness, just like her mom.
I press a soft kiss against Emmy’s forehead and release her from my hold.
At the same moment, Gracie toddles out of the barn with Olivia hot on her heels. Griffin crouches to pick up Gracie and tosses her in the air. She giggles, and my heart warms at the sight.
Olivia grins when she spots us. “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds.”Her eyes rake over my body, and her expression turns wary. “Is everything okay?”
The momentary confusion clears when I realize I’m still wearing my scrubs. “Oh. Yeah, we’re good. I’m just visiting.”
Her shoulders relax.
Gracie squeals as Griffin tosses her again. I’ve always admired the way the Hayes brothers doted on their nieces. Griffin can be a surly asshole at times, but he’ll always melt for his girls. I wish Jess could see this. If I had kids, I’d want to know they had a family as special as this one to help raise them if something ever happened to me.
