Page 47 of Secret Love

I scrub my hand down my face. “What’s up, peanut?”

“Can we get a kitten?”

I give Tru a long-suffering look. “I knew this would happen. Now I’ll never hear the end of it. The request for a pet is already happening on the daily.”

Tru giggles and lifts a shoulder. “They are awfully fun.”

“So, can we get one,please?” Gracie presses her hands together. “Audrey and Cassidy want one too.”

I snort. “You think this is news to me?”

I tug on one of her braids. “Your mom would have to be agreeable to it, since the cat would be at her house.”

Gracie pokes out her lower lip. “She’s already said no. Why can’t we have one at your house since we’re here lots too?”

“Because then I’ll have to take care of it, and I’m gone a lot, remember?”

She sighs pitifully, shoulders drooping. “We would help.”

“It’s almost time for me to take you home. Let’s not spend it being sad, okay?” I rub her shoulder and tuck her chin up so she meets my eyes. “Wanna help me with dinner?”

“Pepperoni bites wasn’t dinner?” Tru says. Her eyes widen when we turn to look at her. “Sorry, forget I’m here.”

I chuckle. “Wanna stay and eat with us? We’re having steak kabobs, veggies, and salad…I just need to get the grill started.”

“Uh—” Tru hesitates.

“Stay!” Gracie claps her hands. “Say yes! Audrey’s making cookies right now!”

“Oh, there will be cookies?” Tru takes Gracie’s outstretched hand and lets her lead her out of the room. She looks at me over her shoulder, her eyes questioning if I’m okay with this.

I try to give her an understated, sexy grin instead of the cheese I’m feeling inside.

I am more than okay with this.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DETERMINATION AND PERSUASION

TRU

Dinner with Henley and the girls is an experience. It's a spirited affair, to say the least. There's nonstop chatter, which is one thing my dad never tolerated at the table. If anyone was talking, it was the adults, and usually him. But Henley gives the girls free reign over whatever topic they want to discuss. They're respectful too. They don't speak over each other, but they keepthings going as they joke and laugh about school and dance and Earl, which turns into pleading with Henley for a kitten.

I love sitting back and watching them interact with each other. I’m in awe of the way Henley treats them, and it’s adorable how well his daughters get along. Every now and then Cassidy will roll her eyes at what one of the others says, but she makes up for it by saying something sweet to them afterward to let them know she’s being playful.

Henley keeps trying to draw me into the conversation, and I'm talking, but I’d rather watch them. They’re just so dang entertaining. But they refuse to let me off the hook.

“Do you have a boyfriend, Miss Seymour?” Gracie asks.

“Gracie, don't ask her that,” Cassidy says. “Sorry, Miss Seymour. Gracie is so nosy.”

“It's okay.” I laugh. “No, I do not have a boyfriend.” I keep my eyes trained on Gracie's when I say it, even though I feel Henley's eyes on me. I can see his grin out of the corner of my eye.

“But you're so pretty,” she says.

“Thank you.” I smile at her and she smiles back.

“Mommy's got a boyfriend. I don't like him very much, but he is nice. I mean, I do like him…just not like Dad.”

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