Page 85 of Sass

I smiled and pulled him against me, the cool of his bare skin making me open my jacket around him. “I wantyou. That’s all I know right now. We’ll have the conversation, I promise, but maybe give both of us some time to see where this goes first.”

He was quiet for a few seconds, then he nodded against my chest. “All right. But wewilltalk.”

“Agreed.”

He put his hand over my heart and smiled the softest smile. “Susie’s the angel above your heart, isn’t she?”

I nodded, unable to find the words, and Chris removed his hand and kissed the spot. Then pulled my head down to kiss the damp from my cheeks. “You’re a good man.”

I met his gaze and held it. “So are you.” We stood like that for a moment until the sound of Jenn’s Jeep pulling in at the back of Flare broke the spell. “Do you think you can put some damn clothes on so you don’t scare the nice little toddler?” I gave his bare arse a gentle slap, opened my jacket, and let him step free.

“You say the sweetest things.” He bundled his clothes into a ball and took off for the bedroom, while I headed downstairs to let the girls in.

“Here’s her bag.” Jenn dumped the duffel on the couch. “It’s only for an hour, but sure as hel—eggs—” She grimaced. “—if I don’t bring everything, she’ll ask for something I didn’t pack and then throw a merry fit.”

“You wouldn’t do that, would you?” I tipped Susie onto her side in my arms and blew a raspberry on top of herFrozensweatshirt, then I gave a loud groan and pretended to stumble. “Man oh man, you’re getting heavy.”

She giggled and grabbed my nose. “You’re silly. Do it again.”

I grinned and obliged, and she dissolved into chortles of laughter.

“I think you’d better go check the bedroom,” I told her. “Bo-Bear might have come with me.” I set Susie on the floor and she ran for the bedroom and the stuffed bear I always kept on my bed.

Jenn studied me warily, swinging her key ring on her finger. “So, Mum told us you guys talked.”

Here we go.“We did. It went okay.”

“So she said.” Jenn glanced toward the bedroom. “They’re just worried about you. We all are. Evie nearly flipped her lid when she heard. She’s changed her flights to stay a bit longer this time, and Geoff said he knew we shouldn’t have done it this way. That we should’ve talked with you months ago. He’s right. We’re all sorry that it got to this point.”

I held up my hands. “It’s okay. I’m fine. I told Mum and Dad I’d go to the anniversary dinner after. You don’t have to worry. And Geoff’s already called.Everyonehas. It’s okay, it really is.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“So, um, what does everyone think about the Gina thing?” I ventured.

Jenn’s gaze shot to the sound of Susie’s laughter. “Is she okay?”

I shrugged, trying to delay the inevitable. “She’s laughing, right? That has to be a win.”

Jenn nodded. “True. And it was a shock, about Gina, but I think everyone is okay with it now.” Susie’s laughter drifted into chatter and Jenn shot me another questioning look.

“Are you sure she’s okay?”

Fuck. I sighed and glanced over my shoulder toward the bedroom. “Chris… Kip, is here.”

Her eyes almost popped out of her head. “Kip? What on earth—”

“Don’t,” I warned. “Not now.”

Jenn hesitated then zipped her mouth, but her eyes danced with mischief. “Okaaay, but we are so going to talk about this.”

There was never any doubt about that.

“Anyhoo—” She grinned wickedly. “—getting back to what I was saying, you really need to come to family dinner next weekend. Kev said he’s asked you. It’s been too long since you were last there.”

My gaze slid away. “I’ll think about it.”

She rested a hand on my arm. “Well, you know where we are if you change your mind or want to talk.”

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