Page 93 of Rock Chick Bonus Tracks

He couldn’t fault her logic.

Though he had the sense that part of it was about her angling to go to Bastien’s. It was her favorite restaurant.

Their turn with their mom was over that evening. Judith had her own car, so she was driving them to Bastien’s. After dinner, he’d go home with his girls, Shirleen would go home with her boys, and he’d add more time spent in his head trying to figure out how long he had to wait to ask her to move in so, one day, he could just go home with her.

He heard Shirleen make a freaked noise, and he knew it was because Bastien’s sign was in sight.

He decided to ignore that, and so did the boys.

But he felt his lips quirk.

He found a parking spot and they all got out.

But Moses halted in his intention to go to Shirleen and claim her.

This was because Roman had already done it, and Julien was standing sentry, eyes on Moses to share he needed to keep distant.

So they’d passed the rite of passage of Moses taking the wheel that night. And definitely in the last couple of months, the boys had given indication they were getting used to him and they liked him being with their mom.

But they were protective.

He loved that for her.

And they’d had her all to themselves for a while, and they were still adjusting to a new man in their midst.

He’d give them the time they needed.

Just as long as they didn’t take too much.

Bottom line, he’d always have to share her with them, but she had so much love to give, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Therefore, Moses hung removed while Roman, head bent to Shirleen and in her space, gave his mom a peptalk. She nodded. He spoke so low Moses couldn’t hear him. She nodded again. Roman spoke more. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

There it was.

She then turned to Moses. “Right, let’s do this.”

Moses smiled at her and finally made his approach. He took her hand and together they led the way inside.

He knew his girls were already there because he’d seen Judith’s car outside.

And he was prepared for what was going to happen next because his girls were beautiful, and her boys were boys.

However, he wasn’t prepared forhowit happened.

Shirleen had told him both boys didn’t discriminate, but for the most part, Roman liked white girls. Julien’s attraction tended to lean toward Black.

So he figured it would be Julien whose interest would be piqued.

But when they’d walked up to the table Judith and Alice were already occupying, he noted that Julien had a wary, aloof smile on his face and was standing protectively close to Shirleen.

Roman, however, had his gaze locked on Alice, and he looked like he’d been struck by lightning.

Shirleen might have been nervous, but she didn’t miss this.

Her eyes flew to Moses, and they got big.

This was the lot of any man with daughters. It wasn’t as if it was the first time it happened.

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