Page 35 of Chase Our Forever

Plus, I’d told Pippa I’d see her there. This pumpkin festival is what gave me the idea of staying in Sutten in the first place, and I wasn’t going to miss it.

Clara rattles off everything she wants to do while we’re here as we make our way through the entrance. Someone hands me amap of all the different activities going on today, and I open it to find where Pippa’s pop-up will be. I have to say hi to her and get a pumpkin cinnamon roll, of course.

“This way to the giant pumpkin!” Clara demands, pulling both me and Dean forward toward a bunch of hay bales stacked on top of one another to make the shape of a jack-o’-lantern.

“It really is a giant pumpkin,” I note as we get closer. All week, Clara had been begging to come to the festival for this thing alone. Now that she’s here, she barely spares either one of us a backward glance as she runs toward it.

Dean stands next to me. His elbow brushes against mine as he folds his arms across his chest and looks at me. “You can go,” he states, his voice deep and gravelly. I’ve learned in the last week of living with him how much I love the deep tenor of his voice. It’s sexy, and I know I shouldn’t find my boss’s voice sexy…but I can’t help it. Something about it sends shivers down my spine.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” I tease, my lips twitching as I try to fight a smile. It’s officially been a week since I first showed up at his house, ready to move in. The week flew by so quickly, something that makes me a little sad because I’m enjoying it so much.

I love Clara. Spending my days with her is the best. I never saw myself being a nanny, but I’ve felt more purpose in this week alone than I ever have before.

I know I shouldn’t admit it, but I like being around Dean, too. I look forward to seeing him walk through the door after work. Eating dinner together, the three of us, has become the highlight of my day, and I’m slowly getting attached to not only Clara but her annoyingly attractive father as well.

Dean’s low growl pulls me from my thoughts. “I didn’t mean it harshly,” he begins, shifting on his feet. There’s a hard set to his jaw as he keeps his eyes pinned on Clara, who’s already madeit to the top of the pumpkin. “What I meant was, you only get two days off a week. You don’t have to spend them with us.”

I keep my eyes on him, even though I know he won’t take his eyes off his daughter. I like his protectiveness of her—maybe I like it a little too much. “What if I want to spend time with you both?” I counter, watching him closely for his reaction.

Am I flirting with him? Maybe.

Is that dangerous? Absolutely.

Do I regret it? That’s to be determined.

The muscle on his jaw ticks away as he thinks through my question. It was rhetorical; I don’t really need an answer from him. I really just wanted to see how he’d react if I admitted that spending the day with him and Clara at the pumpkin festival was exactly how I wanted to spend my Saturday. I’ll say yes to going to Sunday brunch with him and his family tomorrow, too, if he asks me.

“That’s a lie,” Dean finally gets out through gritted teeth.

Everyone’s warnings about Dean have been true. He is grumpy and moody and has his guard up almost all of the time, but it doesn’t deter me at all. Because when he does let his guard down, even for a fraction of a second, it’s special. It’s happened sparingly in the week I’ve been living with him and Clara, but it’s happened enough for me to realize I’m attracted to him.

“It isn’t a lie,” I respond, letting my eyes wander to Clara for just a moment. She’s at the top of the pumpkin, her hand waving vigorously in the air at us.

I lift my arm and wave back to her, waiting for Dean to say something else.

He finally does—but not before letting out a grunt of disapproval. “My family should be here any minute. They’ll help me keep Clara entertained while you can finally spend some time alone without us bothering you.”

I ignore him, deciding to also keep my focus on Clara as she makes quick friends with someone else at the top with her. They both take a seat on the hay bale and let their feet dangle off the side.

With Clara seemingly staying put in one spot for a moment, Dean finally looks my way. I can feel his gaze hot against my cheek as I continue to stay put. “Liv?” My name comes out like a question. A deep, gravelly question where I enjoyed hearing my name from his mouth a little too much.

I pull my eyes from Clara and look at him. “You know, scowling at me isn’t going to change my mind. I want to spend my day at the pumpkin festival, and whether you want to believe me or not, I was looking forward to having you and Clara show me around.”

Dean’s lips press together in a thin line. It looks like he wants to say something, but before he can, a voice calls his name from behind me.

“Dean! There’s my favorite oldest brother.”

I turn to find Reed and Dean’s parents heading right for us.

“Mimi! Papa! Uncle Reed! Look at me!” Clara triumphantly shouts from the top of the jack-o’-lantern. She still sits there with the little friend she made. Her dark hair and the two orange bows I put in it this morning make her hard to miss amidst all the other kids.

“Look at you,” Shirley yells back, coming to a stop next to Dean.

“See me, Livvy?” Clara shouts.

“I see you, Clare Bear,” I respond, smiling at how cute she is.

“Clare Bear,” Reed remarks from my side. “I like it. I might have to steal it.”

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