Page 61 of Teasing

Fuck. This woman. She’s gonna be the death of me.

I lower my face to hers and press my lips to the shell of her ear. “Can I have a page in your scrapbook?”

She pulls back as Rosie squeals somewhere behind us. “Pretty sure you’re going to take up a whole book, Cujo.”

“Pretty sure I’m gonna want a lifetime, baby.” I keep my voice quiet and my words between the two of us.

Her eyes search mine. “I’m not sure I can give you that, Maverick. I don’t have any idea what it’ll look like.”

“One day at a time.” I kiss the crown of her head. “One picture at a time.” I spin her out and back in, then take her face in my hands and stop our movement. “One memory at a time,la mia luce solare.”

“Are you ever going to tell me what that means?” Her face flushes, and her shoulders relax.

I look at her and wonder what the hell I ever did to find myself here. “My sunshine.”

“Are they going to kiss?” Rosie asks somewhere behind us, and Emmie drops her forehead to my chest.

The song changes to Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long,” and I smile. “Come here,mia piccola rosa.”

Rosie runs over, and I scoop her up and sit her on my hip, dancing with the two most important women in my life, fully aware I’m enjoying a happy moment mixed in with all the heavy we’ve been dealing with lately.

Once dinner has been put away and Rosie’s in bed, we sit around the stone firepit, a rare beer in my hand and a glass of wine in Emmie’s, listening to stories, mainly from Jamie, who doesn’t know how to shut the fuck up.

Emmie turns to me with an empty glass and a tired look. “Rosie really wants to go to your game this week. She talked about it a lot today.” She drops her voice to a hushed whisper and glances quickly at her brother, who’s talking to Ryker. “Wesaw my dad today, and she told him she was going. Have you changed your mind?”

I shake my head, frustrated we’re at this point where her coming is an issue. “She’s like a dog with a bone once she’s got something in her mind. Pretty sure she’s going to pick out a pony with my parents this weekend.”

“Okay... I just wanted to check with you. She’s pretty intent on going.”

“Do you think I should let her?” I ask, surprised I want someone else’s opinion on my daughter. I don’t usually like other people to tell me what’s best for Rosie.

“I don’t know, Mav. If you’re worried about the press, I’m sure you’re not the first player who doesn’t want his family covered. If you’re worried about her allergies, that’s a discussion I can’t have. I’ve never been to a game, so I don’t know how you’d do that or even if you can.” She runs the tip of her finger over the rim of the wineglass. “But your family does own the team, so I’d think you could control what she’s exposed to.”

Her words hit home and give me more to think about.

“How about I consider it for the first regular season game, when I’ll actually be playing? I’m not making any promises, but I’ll think about it.” I take the glass out of her hand and stand, tugging her from the chair. “But only on one condition.”

Emmie looks around at the eyes locked on us now and steps into my chest, hiding her face from the guys. “Why do I feel like this is a trap?”

“Not a trap.” I slide her hair over her shoulders and grin. “Just a deal. If I say yes to Rosie going to the game, you go with her, and you do it in my jersey, not your brother’s.”

“Maverick . . .”

“Asshole,” Camden grumbles.

Guess we weren’t being that quiet.

Emmie covers her face with her hands and laughs.

“Get your own woman and put your jersey on her, Monroe,” I laugh, then pull her down on my lap as we drop back into one seat instead of two.

Emmie hides her face in my neck, then bites down. “Do not make a move in front of my brother,” she hisses, but it’s laced in laughter, and I just hold her tighter.

“No promises, baby.” No promises.

EMMIE

I once saw a poster that said the butterfly is only beautiful because the caterpillar is brave, and my goodness, did that hit home. If that furry looking little thing can be brave, I can at least try... right?

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