Page 48 of Claiming What Is Mine

“Does he ever stop with the bad jokes?” I ask.

Chet laughs. “Not for more than two minutes at a time. Good luck getting used to it, I haven’t—but he took good care of these two.” Chet dips his head to Christy and Logan. “That’s all that matters to me.”

Meredith and I stay for half an hour or so, but after Christy yawns the second time, I realize they’re probably exhausted. I make up an excuse about getting back to the ranch before Hank hurts himself. To my complete surprise, Chet doesn’t ask a single question about home. His mind is right where it should be, focused on the things that matter most.

We say our goodbyes and I hand my sleeping nephew back to his proud father. “Call if you need anything,” I offer before pulling the privacy curtain back as we leave.

In the elevator, I lean over to Meredith. “Have anywhere you need to be?”

“Nope. Why?”

I rub my hands together. “Well. We got the green light from the doctor. Want to pick up some lunch and come back to the ranch for a while?”

Meredith runs her finger along my chest. “I hoped that was where you were going.”

Oh, how I've missed her touch. “How long do we have?”

“All afternoon, stud. If you think you can handle it.”

---