Page 118 of Your Soul to Keep

Dylanfairlyswungbetweenus. With Gabe’s massive hand encasing her little one, and my hand curled around the other, she bounced and swung her way up the flower-lined path to her grammy’s front door.

She looked up at me, verifying today’s festivities for perhaps the nineteenth time. “Today my party?”

“Yes, pet,” I answered, smiling down at her. “Today is your birthday party.”

Her big blue eyes blinked up at me. “I four.”

“I know!” I replied excitedly.

Gabe’s chuckle warmed me from the inside out.

I looked up to find him smiling at me softly. Meeting my eyes, he smiled slow and lazy. “Brace yourself for later.”

My eyebrows shot up.

He laughed out loud and winced. “I wish! I meant brace yourself for the sugar crash.”

“Oh,” I huffed. “I think we should just stay late until she burns herself out.”

He grinned. “It’s a plan.”

Maeve opened the door, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Hey there, Dilly-bar! How’s my birthday girl?”

“Well, hey there Grammy!” Tugging her hands free, she leapt toward Maeve who swept her up in a hug.

Almost immediately, she wiggled to get down. Bracing her little legs on the front porch, she pointed at me. “That Shibaby.”

“I know!” Maeve answered with a laugh.

“Her mine big, big mommy.”

Maeve’s eyebrows shot up, her shrewd gaze immediately catching mine. “Is she now?”

I smiled weakly.

“Yep,” Dylan nodded. “Her is.”

Maeve didn’t miss a beat. Pointing to Gabe, she said, “That my tiny, tiny baby.”

Dylan’s brow lowered as her hands came to her tiny hips. “That mine big daddy.”

“Can I call you ‘Big Daddy’?” I murmured out of the side of my mouth.

“You can call my cock ‘Big Daddy’.”

Maeve’s eyes snapped to Gabe’s. “I heard that, Gabe Kenny, and I’ll have you know I remember when it was an itty-bitty thing no bigger than my baby toe.”

I slapped a hand over my face.

He grinned. “You’re right. We can talk about Dad’s meat instead.”

“Get in here, brat, before I box your ears.”

He ducked to get in the house, dipping down as his mother cupped the back of his neck and pulled him close. “Happy for you, baby.”

His eyes crinkled.

My heart expanded as if infused with joy-spiked helium. This was happening. It was really happening.

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