Page 51 of I Dated a Retired Hero

He turned and smiled. Her hair had fallen out of its constant bonds, and she looked so damn sexy with that slow, sleepy smile on her lips. “It is. Her name is Calina. She can come? Truly?”

“Truly.”

He grinned. “Are you ready now, Mom?”

She laughed. “Let me get my shoes.”

He triangulated her location and grinned. “I will be there in five minutes.”

Litha sighed. “Call your sister. If she can get away from work, she might enjoy a quiet visit before tomorrow.”

He made the call, and Lidiya beamed. “I am on my way. I will be there in half an hour.”

Litha chuckled. “I should be actually awake by then.”

He grinned. “Do you have any family you want to invite to this particular cooking orgy?”

Litha thought about it and blushed. “There is one, but I don’t know if she is available.”

“Call her.”

Litha lifted her hand and waved at the person who answered the com. “Hiya, Cipher. I have a partner, I think—”

Sergei felt his chest swell with happiness to be claimed.

“And we are having a get-together with the ladies from his family, and he asked if I had family, and I thought of you. His mother will be here in ten minutes and his sister in half an hour. Lidiya, from the ice cream shop.” Litha laughed. “See you soon.”

She lowered her arm and there was a happy smile. “Cipher is coming.”

“Who is Cipher?”

Litha’s expression twisted. “I suppose you could say she is my daughter.”

Sergei could have been knocked over with a feather.

* * * *

Litha looked at hisstunned expression and got to her feet, walking over to kiss his cheek. “Go get your mom. I will still be here to explain.”

He nodded and left the house to step through the stars.

Litha exhaled and checked on the rubs. He had done a good job and had found the recipe book. She set the kettle to boil and put a pot and teacup with a saucer out. Cipher. Her only blood relative left, and she was going to be here in a few minutes. Genetically, Cipher was her daughter. Well, her daughter and Nelith’s. That is how she met Nelith, to begin with. They were both asked to contribute confirmation samples, and while Nelith now had twenty-seven beings crafted from her eggs, she was Litha’s first cellular contribution. Samples had been stolen shortly after Litha had stabilized. Hers had been among them.

Cipher was the result.

There was a soft flash in the yard, and Litha wiped her hands on her thighs and walked outside. “Cipher. It is so good to see you again.”

She looked at Litha with bright and familiar features. “Hello, Litha.”

Cipher walked up to her. “May I hug you?”

“I am getting into hugs, so please.”

They hugged, and Cipher laughed softly. “You are looking hopeful. That’s new.”

Litha leaned back. “I think I am. I have met someone. He isn’t in a hurry—which is a little bit frustrating—but he says that he dreams of me or doesn’t dream because of me or is not hungry because of me. Something.”

Cipher stroked her cheek. “It sounds like he is focused on you, and it is about time someone is.”

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