Page 558 of The Winslow Brothers

Obviously, she’s just now had the time to respond.

Maria: You’re welcome. And don’t worry, I can think of several ways for you to repay me.

I smirk down at my phone.

Me: Oh, don’t worry, babe. I already have plans for how I’m going to repay you.

Maria: I am ALL ears. Do tell, and don’t leave a single detail out.

Me: It’s a surprise.

A surprise bigger than she could ever expect and one that was set in motion way before today.

Maria: Ugh. Can you at least give me a hint? Like, is it an s-e-x kind of surprise?

Me: Nope.

Maria: No s-e-x?

Pfft. Yeah, right. There’s definitely s-e-x involved in this surprise. A lot of it, if it’s up to me.

Me: No hint.

Maria: You know this is going to drive me crazy for the rest of the day, right?

Me: Oh, I’m aware.

Maria: I can practically see you smiling through the damn phone.

Me: ;) See you after work, babe.

Maria: *rolls eyes*

“Are you texting, Maria?” Lexi asks just before shoving a bite of her favorite French toast into her mouth.Sarabeth’s Flat andFluffy French Toast, to be specific. The owners named it after their daughter since it’s her favorite dish.

“Yes, Ms. Nosy. I was.”

Lex is unbothered by the nickname and shoves another bite of French toast into her mouth.

From her spot in my lap, Izzy watches on with big, intrigued eyes and reaches out to shakily bang her hands on the table. The motion practically knocks my coffee into my egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich, and a laugh jumps from my throat as I juggle her away from causing a disaster.

“I think she wants a bite of my French toast,” Lex says through a giggle and prolongs poor Izzy’s misery by shoving another big bite into her mouth. Powdered sugar covers her lips in the most adorable way, and it’s then that I notice a necklace around her petite neck.

A fucking Chanel necklace, mind you.

“What’s that, Lex?”

“What’s what?”

“The necklace,” I say and nod toward it.

She glances down and shrugs. “Maria gave it to me.”

“Maria gave you a Chanel necklace?”

What the hell?

“That’s what I said. Are you having trouble hearing?”

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