Page 21 of My Ex's Brothers

We need this. Both of us. Though I hate that I can’t provide this sort of thing for her myself right now, I vow that once we get on our feet, things will be different.

I take a deep breath at the knock on the door. I open it, seeing Tripp bathed in the light of his car. The sun is starting to go down, and it lights him up in the most beautiful glow. His auburn hair stands out in small tufts from his black ball cap, which he’s wearing backward.

It shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. It really shouldn’t.

“Hey, pretty princess!” he says with the widest grin, dropping to his knees in front of Lyla in the carrier.

She giggles with excitement, and there’s no denying his words earlier. My daughter doesn’t get like this for everyone. Not even her own father was able to elicit such deep, belly-ridden giggles from her.

He stands up once more, giving me a softer smile as he leans closer.

“And hello, Mamma Mia,” he teases, but the heat in his voice is unmistakable.

This is probably a terrible idea.

I know that.

But something about the youthful glimmer in his eyes and the sensual way he pronounces my damn name makes me forget all about the facts and the should nots.

“Hello, Tripp,” I say with a grin.

“Your chariot awaits,” he says as he settles his hand on my back, leading me toward his car. My expression falters when I see that it’s…

A Mustang.

A very sharp, shiny, gray mustang.

“Oh, uh I don’t know if?—”

He casually slides his fingers between mine where they rest over her carrier’s handle. Heat flushes through me instantly, until I realize he’s sliding his hand over the handle, taking it from me.

“You can stick the stroller in the trunk. I’ll get her situated.”

Panic floods me as reality hits. I know he said he had experience, but…

“I mean, I can get her if?—”

I watch as he opens the back door, hoisting her in, twisting the carrier so she’s facing the back. She giggles and coos as he jostles the seat, huffing as he tries to get the seat belt to fasten correctly.

“It’s okay, I got this,” he says, and a part of me wants to jump in. But there’s also a part of me that admires his dedication, his need to prove himself.

It’s kind of…sweet, actually.

With a grunt and a final tuck, he manages to get her settled and she giggles again, her tiny hand reaching for his face. And instead of just walking off, like Dex would do, he does what I least expect.

He grabs her tiny hand and kisses it.

“Now, let’s get Mama situated in her car seat,” he says with a wink, and my knees buckle just the slightest.

“Right,” I say as he shuts the door, rounding to my side. He keeps his gaze on me as he opens my door with one hand, grabbing the stroller with the other.

“Do you need me to belt you in too?” he teases, his voice seductive and sweet somehow at the same time.

It takes everything in me to remain calm. Cool. Because the way he’s looking at me has my insides fluttering like a beehive.

“I think I can manage,” I tell him, meeting his gaze.

“Okay,” he says, licking his lips. “Feel free to turn the radio to whatever you want.”

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