I snort a laugh. “Have I told you lately how sweet you are?”
“For forcing kids to like your son?”
I rest my chin on his chest and stare up at him. “Yeah. It’s pretty damn sweet.”
“You say the word, darlin’, and I’ll do whatever for you. And Max.”
My heart thumps in my chest. With the way it’s galloping, I’m surprised Sam can’t feel it. I can count on one hand the number of people who step up for Max. My friends and family, and now Sam.
He’s the guy I’m sleeping with. No, the guy I’m falling for.Not even Max’s dad could muster up this much love and care for him.
“You know, it could be fun to have his class out for a hayride.”
“Done.”
“Just like that?” I ask.
He glances around before dropping a kiss to my forehead. “Just like that. Kids love hayrides. They can play with the horses while they’re here. Have lunch. It’ll be great.”
I step back because what I want to do to Sam right now, we can’t do here. I want to shower him in kisses to show him what this gesture means to me. Showing up for my kid is the easiest way to this mother’s heart.
“I’ll run it by Kade. See if it’s something we can do.”
Sam smiles at me. “Knowing him, he’ll be all about it. Probably annoyed he didn’t think of it first.”
“Probably,” I agree.
“And it means you’ll get a day with Max to see how he’s doing at school.”
I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face if I tried. “Look at you. Knowing exactly what I need.”
“I’ve come to learn you pretty well, darlin’. I do know just what you need.”
His words send a shiver down my spine. Sam knows me too well after being together for such a short amount of time. It should scare me, but it doesn’t.
“Thanks for looking out for me.”
He winks. “Anything for you.”
Chapter Twenty
JOEY
“Idon’t know why you’re so nervous.”
I pin Georgia with a fierce stare as I stop my pacing.
“I want today to go perfectly for Max.”
Georgia smiles at me. “You managed a field trip in the first two weeks of school. I’m pretty sure all the kids are going to love that.”
“But what if they don’t like it? I don’t want him to be the one responsible for a dud of a field trip and everyone at school hate him.”
“Joey, you’re thinking way too much into this,” she says, turning to face someone behind me. “Sam, back me up.”
“On what?”
He smiles at both of us, eyes hidden behind his sunglasses and that damn cowboy hat of his.
