“Hey, kiddo, thanks for inviting me tonight.”
“I told Daddy we had to watchMoanabecause Heihei is your favourite.” She breaks free of my hug and grabs my hand. “C’mon. We can start it now that you’re here.”
We walk through the kitchen, where Ronan looks up from plating pizza and cut up veggies to give me a happy smile, and into the large space that overlooks the backyard. When we saw the house months ago, this space was staged as a formal sitting area. Now, it’s been transformed into the ultimate family room. A large comfortable-looking sectional is covered in a pink fuzzy blanket and stuffed animals are lined up in a row. A play kitchen is off to one side, kids’ books are stacked on the coffee table, and the mantle is covered with photos, all of Ronan, Peyton, and Ronan’s mom. I wander over and look through them, each one only making my heart melt even further for this family. The love between them is evident in every single photo and every single inch of this house.
“Okay, who’s hungry?”
I turn to see Ronan setting down plates on the coffee table. Moving closer, I ask, “Can I help with anything?”
He glances up with a smile. “Go and help yourself to a drink. There’s wine or beer in the fridge, and if you wouldn’t mind grabbing Peyton’s water on the counter, that would be great.”
I walk to the kitchen, absorbing all of the cozy family vibes as I hear Ronan tell Peyton to go and wash her hands. Footsteps scamper off and then warm arms wrap around my waist.
“You look amazing, Cherry.” His lips land on my neck, and I tilt my head to the side to give him more access. “Keeping my hands off you until Rocket goes to bed isn’t going to be easy.”
“Why do you call her Rocket?” I ask as I turn in his arms, looping mine around his neck. I’m guessing we don’t have long before Peyton returns, but I’ll take this stolen moment with him.
I’ll take any moment I can have with him.
Love for his daughter is etched all over his face as he replies, “Because she’s fast as a rocket. Always has been. As soon as she started to walk, she started to run, and she hasn’t stopped ever since.”
“Daddy, can I start eating?”
We spring apart at Peyton’s voice, but she’s not in the kitchen, she’s already on the couch, rearranging her stuffed animals. Part of me worries she might have seen Ronan and I embracing, but he doesn’t seem concerned, so I guess I can let it go.
“Sure thing, baby girl,” he calls out. Then, squeezing my hip with one hand, he reaches into the fridge and pulls out a beer, tilting it toward me. I shake my head and go for the bottle of wine instead, my hand stilling when I see a jar with bright red cherries inside.
Glancing back at Ronan, I smirk and raise my eyebrows. His gaze travels to what caught my attention before he leans in close.
“Can’t help it. You’ve got me addicted to cherries.”
Chapter twenty-seven
Willow
“What can I say, except, you’re welcome!” Ronan and Peyton are swaying back and forth, singing along with the movie loudly and very much off-key while I watch in amusement from the opposite end of the couch. They’re two peas in a very adorable pod, Peyton clutching a bear while Ronan has his arm around her shoulder.
The song finishes, and I clap and cheer. “Bravo! Wonderful, that was a masterpiece.”
They both laugh, and Peyton moves across the couch to snuggle into my side. “It’s okay, Willow. Daddy knows he can’t sing very well,” she stage whispers, earning another snort of laughter from her father.
“Ouch, thanks, kiddo. And here I was about to go and get the movie snacks.”
Peyton pops up, narrowly missing my chin with her head. “Snacks?”
I move to stand, but Ronan lifts his hand to stop me. “You two stay and watch the movie, I’ll be right back.”
A few minutes later, he returns, dropping down to the couch beside us. He sets down three bowls of different sizes and winks.
“You separated the Skittles?” I murmur, looking over the top of Peyton’s head at him. But he shakes his head in denial.
“Peyton did.”
I look down at the little girl staring at the TV, oblivious to the emotions she’s stirring up inside of me simply from separating out the yellow Skittles. She reaches to the table, bypassing the bowls of Skittles and picking something out of the largest bowl instead.
“Caramel popcorn, too? Wow, I’m a lucky girl tonight.”
Peyton turns to look up at me with a mouth full of buttery sweet popcorn. “Ith ma favwite.”
