Page 39 of Fallen Ink

“We’re not letting any of us stay in a funk,” Ryan said. “We’re in this together.”

Shep went back to his booth, while Ryan went back to his to work on the temporary sign. She had to get back to work too since her client would be there in about ten minutes. She just needed to shake off her funk and be the Montgomery she was.

Mace, on the other hand, hugged her close again and bent down to whisper, “Come over for dinner tonight with us. I think we could all use some time with good food and relaxation. What do you say?”

She couldn’t help but smile at his words as she pulled back to look at his face. The fact that he was inviting her to hang out with him and Daisy was a…thing. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew that it wasn’t just him being her friend. It was him being a part of them.

Yes, she was totally in love with Mace Knight, and for the first time, she thought that maybe, just maybe, that was okay.

“Sounds perfect.”

“Good.” He kissed her on the top of her head then went back to his booth where his client was getting back into the chair.

Adrienne let out a deep breath then rolled her shoulders back and got to work. This whole thing was just an obstacle, just something in her path that she’d kick out of the way when she could.

* * *

“Aunt Addi!” Daisy ran into her legs, and Adrienne laughed, this time far more prepared for the little torpedo of energy and love. “You’re here!”

“Why don’t we go down a decibel or two, Daisy. I think the neighbors can hear you from here.” Mace had let Adrienne into the house and now stood beside her, a smile on his face behind his growing beard. He hadn’t been shaving daily like he used to, and Adrienne figured this was his winter beard. And since he put coconut oil in it every night, it felt like Heaven when he was between her legs, the scruff of it rubbing along the inner silk of her thighs.

And that was enough of that train of thought.

“Okay, Daddy.” Daisy bounced on her feet instead and pulled Adrienne into the living room. “Daddy made chicken bake for dinner. And he bought the crusty bread. You get to eat with us tonight.”

Adrienne glanced over at Mace and smiled. “Chicken bake?”

“It’s chicken and mushrooms with broccoli all mixed together with like a homemade chicken gravy thing and breadcrumbs on top. It was in my mom’s heart-healthy cookbook when I was growing up and was one of her favorite things to make. We don’t have a cookbook anymore but we have that recipe. I didn’t ask you what you wanted for dinner, but I figured since this is what I was making anyway, and I know what you like, this would be fine.”

She smiled. “I remember this recipe. Your mom made it for us one day when we went over there for dinner and neither of us had any food in the house other than canned green beans. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some canned green beans with a little salt and pepper cooked a microwave, but I’m also not nineteen anymore.”

“Thank heavens for that,” Mace said with a laugh. “You want something to drink?”

“I can get it.”

Mace shook his head and looked down to where Daisy was holding Adrienne’s hand. “I’ve got it. White wine okay?”

“Perfect.”

Mace went off to get her drink, and she went to sit next to Daisy on the couch. The little girl proceeded to tell her everything about her day and how she’d spent the afternoon with her grandma and grandpa and how she loved spending time with them. After everything the Knights had gone through when it came to getting custody of Daisy, Adrienne would forever be grateful that they all had this time with their precious little girl. She’d even had more time to get to know Daisy, and she had already fallen in love with her even more than she had when she had first held the screaming little infant in the soft blanket. Jeaniene had never been truly happy with Adrienne in Daisy’s life, but since the woman had practically abandoned her daughter for a so-called promotion that would apparently help them all in the end, Adrienne didn’t truly give a rat’s ass about what the other woman thought. That probably wasn’t the best way to think about Mace’s ex, but with everything else going on, she didn’t really care. She’d care the next day when she wasn’t sitting in her best-friend-slash-lover’s living room, talking with his sweet baby girl, about to eat what had to be some truly scrumptious food.

By the time they had eaten and were piled on the couch to watch the latest viewing of Tangled, she was full, warm, happy, and once again comparing Mace to Flynn Ryder. She couldn’t help it, she had a crush on the Disney character something fierce, and that was just how Mace would have to take her. Imaginary characters and all.

“Stay,” Mace whispered, a sleeping Daisy between them.

Her eyes widened, and she looked over at him. Though they had been together for over a month now and were already discussing what to do for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays, because of Daisy, they hadn’t actually slept a full night together in the same bed. Let alone having her stay over at his place when his daughter was under the same roof. She wasn’t sure what it would mean in the long run, but once again, she knew it was the step.

So when she nodded, and he smiled, she leaned over his sleeping daughter and kissed him full on the mouth.

Later that night, they slept tangled under cool sheets and a warm, flannel comforter. They didn’t have sex, and he slept in his normal pajamas with her in an old T-shirt of his. But it had been singularly the most romantic and intimate night of her life.

In his arms, she could see a future, even with so many other things going on in her head.

In his arms, she could hope.

Chapter 14

Mace curled into the woman in front of him and held back a groan. He had to be quiet since his daughter was sleeping down the hall. But since he knew her door was closed as well as his, he may be able to take advantage of exactly what he’d been thinking about when it came to having his best friend in his bed.

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