Page 31 of Loving Her

“Nothing,” I confirm. “All I ask is we keep this between us until I get your mommy to agree.”

“She’ll agree Bwaker. She likes you.”

I smile. “I know, but sometimes women like it if the man marries them and things. I need to get her to agree to that first. I’ll have to do things to make her happy.”

“Oh! I can help. I know all the things Mommy likes.”

“You do?”

“Duh. I’m her daughter. Of course, I do.”

A chuckle escapes before I can stop it. “So, you agree? We’ll keep quiet about me being your daddy until we get your mommy to agree to marry me and you’re going to help me win her over.”

“I promise!”

“I promise, too. Now, you better get to sleep, or Mommy will be mad at both of us.”

“Okay, Bwaker. I’m so glad you’re going to be my daddy. I love you!” she says excitedly, sitting up in her bed and wrapping her arms around my neck.

“I love you, too, sweetheart,” I answer, holding her close, and keeping my arms wrapped around her for a little longer—even when she starts to pull away. Eventually I let her go, kissing herforehead before I quickly tuck her back in bed and switch on her nightlight. “Get some rest, Kiddo.”

“I will. Night, Bwaker.”

“Night, Tinny.” I open the door and I’m almost outside before Tinny calls out my name in a panic.

“Bwaker! Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

“You forgot to pinky swear. You can’t make a promise without pinky swearing.”

“Well then, we better do that.”

“Yeah!” she answers. I hold out my hand, bending my pinky finger at the knuckle. She hooks hermuchsmaller one with mine. “You gotta say the words now, Bwaker.”

“Maybe you should say them, and I just say yes,” I suggest.

“Okay. Do you, Bwaker, promise to love and protect me and my mommy?”

“Definitely,” I agree without thinking.

“Do you promise to work puzzles with me and let me help fix breakfast with you forever?”

“I promise—at least until you get tired of me,” I say with a grin.

“That won’t happen, Bwaker. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Tinny. Now get some rest,” I tell her as she snuggles back down, completely happy.

I don’t care what I have to do, but I am not going to disappoint this little girl. I’ll move hell and high water to be the hero in her eyes. I’ll do it somehow. I don’t have a choice. Indy and her daughter are my world. I just need to make sure she knows that I’m here for the long haul.

I want everything with her and Tinny and I’m not going to stop until I get it.

Chapter 18

Indy

“I thought you might have gotten lost,” I murmur as Breaker comes into the room.

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