Page 68 of The Vineyard Crush

The smug amusement radiating off James in waves was enough to have my hackles rising defensively. He barked out a laugh, purposefully leaning in close to murmur something to Avery - loud enough for me to overhear.

“Your daddy’s a goner, pumpkin.”

The conspiratorial wink he shot my way made me want to wipe that insufferable grin right off his face. James straightened up, smirking as he addressed me once more.

“You might just get your wish after all, rugrat. Your old man seems pretty goddamn smitten.”

Heat crept up the back of my neck at his brazen acknowledgment. A low, warning rumble vibrated through my clenched jaw as I fought not to rise to the bait and make even more of a scene in front of Avery. Tugging the brim of my hat lower, I growled out a terse “Piss off, jackass.”

The words barely left my lips before Avery’s wide-eyed stare bounced between James and me with innocent curiosity. “Daddy said a bad word,” she pointed out, lower lip jutting into an exaggerated pout.

“Yes, he did,” James agreed with an infuriating chuckle, clearly getting far too much enjoyment out of this entire fiasco.

But Avery wasn’t finished, her next words sending a bolt of panic piercing straight through me. “Daddy, do you really really like Emmy?”

She drew out the words with childlike emphasis, earnest eyes searching my face. The implication behind her question, however, was anything but innocent.

“‘Cause I really really like Emmy,” Avery continued in that same pleading tone. “Can she be my mommy? The girl in my playgroup says her mommy bakes her stuff and Emmy bakes for me. Can she be my mommy?”

My gaze swung helplessly towards James as Avery’s hopeful stare pierced straight through my chest. He merely shrugged, expression one of unbridled amusement as he silently left me to fend for myself with this minefield of a situation.

How the hell was I supposed to explain the convoluted, complex reality of my relationship with Emma when she was barely more than a kid herself? Lying felt wrong, a disservice to them both. But dropping that emotional bomb without any context or warning would likely only breed more confusion.

“Emmy really likes you too, sweetie,” I started, the words tumbling out in a gruff rasp before I could properly think them through.

The brilliant beam that Simple acknowledgment sparked in Avery’s eyes very nearly stole my breath. Shit…I was already in way too deep. With a resigned inward sigh, I braced myself to continue paddling through these uncharted emotional waters - for both our sakes.

“She cares an awful lot about you girls and thinks the world of you. You know that, right?” I pressed on, the words seeming to gather more conviction as I spoke them aloud. “Emmy’s real special to your dad too. In a…different way than the other ladies I’ve known before.”

Avery’s fuzzy brows knitted together in that cute, concentrated expression that never failed to make my heart constrict. She seemed to be weighing my words carefully, trying to decipher the unspoken meaning layered beneath.

“So…does that mean Emmy’s gonna be our new mommy?” she finally asked, childlike hopefulness written across her features.

James watched the entire exchange with naked interest, seeming to lean in imperceptibly to catch my response. With his focus so intensely zeroed in, the weight of this moment felt overwhelming - as if I stood teetering on the precipice of a vast, unknown chasm.

Taking a fortifying breath, I allowed the sincerity in my voice to shine through without any facade or bravado to hide behind.

“I sure hope so, baby girl,” I murmured, the deep timbre of pure, unveiled emotion making James’ eyebrows wing upwards in surprise. “I really do…”

The sound of James bellowing Emma’s name across the property had me whipping around with a ferocious glare. “Emmy!”

He was already gesturing for her to come over, waving exaggeratedly with that same shitfaced grin plastered across his features. The shrill laughter of Avery joining in only amplified the sinking sense of dread rapidly pooling in my gut.

“What the hell are you doing, man?” I bit out through gritted teeth, simmering outrage thrumming through my clenched fists.

James simply smirked in that unbearably smug way of his, jerking his chin cockily in Emma’s direction. “Just calling your girl over for a little chat, bro. No need to get your panties in a twist.”

“In front of Avery?” I hissed, jaw ticking furiously as I took a measured step in his direction. “Are you trying to stir up more shit than there already is?”

To his credit, James at least had the decency to glance down at the little girl perched on his hip. Avery was watching the brewing tension between us with wide, curious eyes, seemingly oblivious to the underlying storm about to erupt.

“There’s a baby present, Ridgedick,” he drawled with an infuriating roll of his eyes. “A little decorum, maybe?”

The reminder to mind my language in front of Avery only served to ratchet my irritation up another notch. A muscle jumped in my cheek as I struggled to keep a leash on the string of curses burning the tip of my tongue.

Suddenly, Emma appeared in my periphery, brows knit together in obvious concern. Even with her features scrunched cutely in confusion, she looked like a goddamn ethereal vision with the morning light haloing those wild chestnut tresses.

“Everything okay over here?” Her husky voice caressed the words with velvet softness.

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