Page 72 of With a Grain of Salt

I know it's not fair to sort of hate people who are less stressed than me, but I also can't stop those emotions sometimes either.

"For you, sweetheart," Walker says, leaning down and holding a boxed cupcake out for Larkin.

My sweet little girl just glares at him.

"She doesn't take anything from strangers," I explain. "Now if you had a p-u-p-p-y, then it might be a different story."

I shake my head, smiling when his eyes dart to mine as if he's considering doing just that.

"Not a chance," I tell him. "Larkin, you can have the cupcake.”

My little girl squeals in delight, tossing her jacket to the floor right at her feet before grabbing the box from Walker’s hand.

“What do we say to Walker?” I prompt.

“Tank ew, Walkey," she says over her shoulder as she rushes to her chair at the small dining table.

"Walkey?" he says. "I sort of love that."

We stand in silence, watching as Larkin devours the cupcake in record time.

"I normally wouldn't let her have that much sugar so early in the day, but it'll keep Nora on her toes."

He chuckles, his hand at his side but moving it just enough that he brushes his fingers against mine twice.

I look up at him. "Bribery may work with her, but it won't for me."

"Do I need to bribe you, baby?"

I swear, at a different time in my life, I would've rolled my eyes at the endearment, but I've been void of attention for so long, it hits me in the middle of my chest.

He has said it twice before—yes I'm counting—but this is the first time he’s said it when we weren't in the throes of passion.

"God, you're beautiful."

If I didn't see the truth in his eyes and the way he looks at me, I'd argue that he's lying. I'm not exactly a bridge troll, but my hair is in a knot on the top of my head, and I only added a little mascara this morning because I looked as exhausted as I felt. The dogs and cats don't care what we look like at work, and Corbin doesn't have rules about wearing makeup or anything like that.

"Thank you," I tell him, my eyes lighting up when a smile spreads across his face.

"I thought you were going to argue with me," he says, taking a half-step closer.

"Is that what you wanted? An argument?"

"Not this early in the morning." He leans in a little closer so he can speak without his voice traveling. "And not when I can't do something about that fire-hot attitude you like to give me."

I swallow, forcing myself to look away from him.

Larkin is done with her cupcake, but not quite finished licking the icing from her fingertips. I make my way across the room, grabbing a cloth napkin and wetting it in the sink before wiping her down. After hanging it over the edge of the sink to dry, I help her out of her chair and watch as she runs across the living room to pick up her jacket.

"Help, Walkey," she says, holding the thing up to him.

He smiles down at her, taking the jacket from her hands and laughing when she turns her back to him and slides the thing on with little help from him other than holding the thing open for her.

I grab my purse and house keys before walking toward the door.

"Larkin, wait for me," I tell her when she tries to bolt past Walker.

He reaches down and grabs a hold of her hand as if he's been doing it all her life, and it makes me wonder if he's ever dated a woman with kids before me.

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