“There is one question we’d need to answer though.”
He frowned a little, mostly a pinch between his brows. “What’s that?”
She rubbed her lips together, nervous, but also excited. “Are we going to live here? Or at your place?”
She saw him relax, his shoulders sagging in relief.
It was a little unnerving for her, being able to have that kind of effect on someone like McCrae. He was such a force of nature.
“I’m happy to live wherever as long as it’s with you and Cee.”
He leaned in and pressed a kiss on the crown of Ciela’s head. “Wherever she’s happiest.”
“I can’t help loving you,” she murmured softly. “You’re too good to us.”
She knew her words had an effect on him. She saw the changes in his expression, felt the warmth of his skin.
Then she saw the spark of something in his gaze.
When he spoke, it was barely a whisper. “I thought it was the S-E-X.”
The remains of her anxiety fled at that moment and she rocked with laughter, stirring Ciela in her arms.
“Mama?”
Noelle winced at her daughter’s voice.
“Sorry, baby. Did I wake you?”
Ciela sat up, blinking at her. “Mmm hmm.”
“Sorry, sweetie.” McCrae reached over and gently wiped at the corners of Ciela’s eyes. “I made Mama laugh.”
Ciela turned to look at him. “You stayed.”
Noelle heard the soft wonder in her daughter’s voice. “Yeah, baby. McCrae stayed tonight.”
Ciela sighed softly. “I wish he would stay forever.”
Noelle looked over her daughter’s head at McCrae. “Sounds like a good plan.”
Her daughter tried to turn, and she loosened her hold so Ciela could crawl into McCrae’s embrace.
“Wanna go to my bed,” Ciela wrapped her arms around his neck. “Talking too loud.”
McCrae got up from the bed, scooting across the sheets at first. When he stood up, he wrapped both arms around Ciela, and she wrapped her legs around his torso. “You sure, CeeCee?”
She sighed and nodded her head. “You can bother mama and I can sleep.”
McCrae looked like he was barely holding it together as he walked toward the bedroom door.
Noelle turned, putting her feet on the ground to follow them to Ciela’s room.
As McCrae opened the door, Ciela lifted her head and pointed at her.
“Mama, stay.”
Noelle sat back, a little startled at her daughter’s words.
