Page 83 of The Naughty Elf

Gracie pops off the couch before I can pull her back. “I got it.”

“Gracie. I’m not a fan of you opening the door on your own. You know that.”

But my daughter merely waves a hand at me. “Oh, Momma Elf, it’s just the Papa Elves.”

I sit up straighter when I see that she’s right. Jackson, Ashley, and Sawyer file in after Gracie, who makes herself comfortable against my side again. A handful of popcorn gets stuffed into her mouth, and she blinks up at me like,I told you so.

Each of them smiles at me. Jackson sinks into the cushion beside me, big hand cupping the back of my neck and giving it a little rub. God, who knew I was so tense?

“How are you feeling?” His question nearly vibrates against my ear.

I suck in a shaky little breath. “Starving and nauseous all at the same time.”

Jackson’s smile gets bigger. “I know just the trick for that.”

Because he’s done this once before. My heart is kicking up a fuss in my chest at how casually they’re all just here at home in my living room. Jackson springs into the kitchen.

“Where’s your heating pad?” Ashley leans over the back to reach me, kissing my temple.

“I know where it is!” Gracie is on her feet after a little scrambling and some spilled popcorn. She leads Ashley to the hall closet where I keep the thing.

Sawyer rounds the couch to sit on the coffee table like my father did the day I quit. Those strong hands slowly pull my legs from under me and nestle my feet in his lap. His dark, stormy eyes capture mine, and I’m lost in them.

I don’t need him to say anything. I can read his silences so well. With a swipe of his thumb along the arch of my foot, he tells me he’s not going anywhere. Still, he says it to me out loud, like I need to hear it. “We’re not going anywhere.”

I suck in a breath because maybe I did need to hear those words. After the hell Phil put me through and the reactions ofthe few men I did see after having Gracie who did not want to be a father figure to her, I barely allowed myself to hope.

But I should have known better. Especially with the way they interact with my daughter. Including her. Treating her like their own.

God, I’m such an idiot.

He squeezes my foot and leans in. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” My voice is soft. I’m not sure he hears me.

But he nods and resumes rubbing the arch of my foot. “Move in with us.”

I blink several times. “What?”

Ashley returns, sliding the heating pad behind my back and cranking it up. He settles his body alongside mine, an arm around my back. “What he means is, let us build you a house. One big enough for the six of us. And potentially more, if you’re up for that.”

The earnestness of his boyish features and the way his hand comes to rest low on my belly melts my heart. “Really?”

Jackson sets a bowl of fruit and yogurt in my lap and hands me a piece of toast with peanut butter. “Really.”

My lips press together, a new wave of emotions making tears spring to my eyes. I nod because I can’t find my voice. The stupid hormones have turned me into some kind of basket case.

“I want to pick the paint for my room this time,” Gracie announces as she sits by Jackon and reclaims her popcorn.

He tickles the back of her neck until she’s curled up and squealing. “You can paint it as many times as you want.”

She lights up, turning to me. “Can I do a mural?”

“Sure.” It’s all I can get out. My happiness is such a big, all-consuming thing that I can barely breathe, even as tears wet my cheeks.

Her fist shoots up in the air with her excitement. “Woot!”

We all laugh, then Gracie is serious again. “Okay. Put the movie back on. I want to see their happily ever after.”

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