Page 166 of Hold Me Until Morning

Dakota’s warm brown eyes widened. “This is my older brother we’re talking about. I’m not sure if you know much about his past since this is new and all, but one thing I can tell you is he has never once shown up at any event with a woman.”

“Exactly, which was why I was trying to warn you off him on Saturday. You clearly didn’t listen.” Paisley wound me around and started us in the direction of the kids.

Dakota and Savannah took up my other side.

“I’m going to have to say I’m glad she didn’t,” Dakota said. “I’ve never seen my brother look like that in all my life. That man is on his knees for you.”

“Oh, bet he’s a whole lot more than just on his knees for her.” Suggestion lined Savannah’s words.

More redness flamed.

Cackling, Paisley jostled me around. “Oh my God, look at her. It looks to me like Cody isn’t the only one who’s tripped. Head over heels, baby.”

“I don’t think we’re quite there yet.” I forced it out, needing to be pragmatic about all of this.

“Ha, you might not be there yet, but that man is already doing laps around you,” Paisley said.

“Panting, completely out of breath.” Dakota nodded, grinning like mad. “Or maybe she has him panting for entirely different reasons.”

“I bet that man does love you up real good.” Paisley leaned around, her green eyes dancing with the scandal.

Amusement wound with the mortification. “Um…am I supposed to answer that in front of his sister?”

Dakota linked her elbow in mine. “Hell yes, you are. There are no secrets between friends.”

Friends.

“You might as well go ahead and dish it,” Savannah said. “These two hounded the crap out of me when I first started hanging out with Ezra, demanding every detail. It’s only fair.”

Dakota hip checked her. “You know you love it.”

Everything about Savannah softened. “I do. I love every second of it.”

Tenderness billowed between the three friends, wrapping around me, prodding at me to fully let go.

To grasp onto the truth that this was worth it.

Whatever it cost.

Whatever risk I was taking.

Whatever turmoil I had to struggle and fight to get through to the other side.

It was worth it.

To give my daughter the chance at a normal, beautiful life. It was worth it.

Just like she was experiencing right then.

Maddie squealed as she copied another little girl who was doing cartwheels across the lawn, though Maddie fell onto her butt each time she attempted to do one, giggling the whole time.

A little girl with messy brown hair and giant chocolate eyes turned course when she saw us, skipping in our direction. “Mommy! We got a new best friend, and her name is Maddie, and she even likes horses as much as me and Olivia do! We have to take her to the stable so I can show her my favorite horse, Mazzy.”

Paisley leaned in and murmured, “That one’s mine,” before she released me and knelt in front of the little girl. “We will definitely show Maddie your horse.”

“Yay!”

“Yes!” Maddie clambered up behind her along with another little girl, the two of them jumping high at the news, though it was Maddie’s excited voice that filled the air.

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