Page 140 of Force a Date

“I hate surprises, Opie,” I drawl with my eyes closed as Liv guides me through her house. “If it’s not you naked and?—”

“Surprise!”

Fuck.

Cracking my eyes open, I instantly hear Rory’s voice clear as day, and she’s bouncing up and down in excitement. Her brown curls ricochet off her pink dress and I don’t even know what we’re so animated about—obviously.

“Rory threw you a surprise dinner,” Liv mutters at my side. “Of course, I’m the one who had to make sure the pizza got here and got all the snacks she requested.”

“Dare I ask what snacks those are—” Rory skips up to me, all smiles and blue eyes, and it’s easy to fall into her innocence and how optimistic she is of life with her being so young.

This little girl has me in a chokehold—period. It’s like I became her best friend overnight and she demands that she speak to me every night before she goes to bed.

If not, she’ll bug Liv about it all night long until it happens.

I can’t say I don’t make time for her, because I do. In fact, I look forward to it because I’ve never had something so small look up at me like I’m her superhero and my existence is vital to hers.

“Huddy,” she beams, already out of breath with her excitement. “We’re going to watch Wreck-It Ralph.”

My brows fly up to the ceiling because I’m not up to par with whatever the fuck that is. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

Rory immediately frowns as if I’m so fucking delusional that she can’t believe I still function as a human being.

“He’s never seen it before,” Liv fills in gently. “So we’re gonna have to be extra quiet during the movie so he can hear everything.”

Rory bounces her head up and down like a little bobblehead. “Okay. I brought you blankets, too.”

Right.

Kids bring out their whole bedroom when they watch movies. I’ve seen that.

“Sounds great, kiddo,” I divulge with a small grin. “I appreciate that.”

“Mommy, we need pizza,” she extolls even more ecstatic than a moment ago.

“I gotta order it,” Liv says patiently. “Go kick rocks and get ready on the couch. Hudson will be there in a minute.”

“He needs a beer.”

A chuckle mechanically forms at the back of my throat because, damn…this little girl knows me so well already.

“Yes, dear,” Liv drawls with a roll of her eyes and a dismissive wave of her hand for Rory to get lost.

Her daughter sprints to the couch, setting up our pillows and blankets in specific spots where she wants them and Liv’s fingers lace through mine to gain my attention.

“She’s been waiting all week for you to be here.”

“That makes two of us,” I reply, steering my focus back down to my girl. “And I haven’t even gotten to kiss my woman yet.”

Liv smiles and jerks her head to follow her to the kitchen. “I know a spot where she won’t see.”

I need no other opening but that as I tower over Liv and stride inside, shoving her against the fridge because I already know the damn spot where Rory can’t see shit.

“God, I missed you,” I murmur, already leaning in to grab my dirty kiss and roam my hands all over every inch of her body. “How long is this movie?”

“I have no idea.”

“Can we fast-forward it when she’s not looking?”

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