Page 27 of Shelter for Martina

“Mine too,” Blake agreed.

“It’s settled. She’s coming on LaborDay. And I promise we won’t askherthose questions,” Riley said as Dimitri laughed.

“Thank god. You’ll scare her away for sure.”

It was official. Martina was coming to their LaborDay celebration if she wanted to, and he really wanted her to. He wanted the kids to meet her. If that went well, he had plans. He wasn’t exactly sure what they were, but they definitely had plenty to do with holding onto her and never letting her go.

* * *

It tookhim all evening to get the house straightened up, but when he was finally finished, he picked up his phone and hit her contact. She answered with a soft, “Hey!”

“Hey yourself. Have a good day?”

“Gabby’s getting the sniffles and Annie was cranky all afternoon. I just got back from dropping them off at Nola’s.”

“Poor babies. Mine were all here this afternoon.”

“Yeah?”

He figured he might as well tell her. He’d have to some time or other. “Yeah. I invited them over so I could tell them about you.”

“Whoo-boy! I bet that was a weird conversation!” she said, laughing.

“It got pretty weird. Especially when Riley asked me if we used protection.”

“She did not! Oh my god! How embarrassing!” she sang out, laughing hard.

“Yeah. It was. Now I remember how kids feel when their parents try to talk to them about sex,” Bud said and chuckled.

“Awkward! But at least they know about us.”

“Yeah. About that. You’re cordially invited by the whole Griffin clan to our LaborDay shindig. Don’t bring anything but yourself. There’s always plenty of food. Oh, and bring the girls if you want. My grandkids will have a ball playing with them.”

“That would be nice! I think I’ll plan on it! Darnell will be home, I believe, but he’d probably welcome the chance to have some time to himself without them, maybe spend the day with his mom and dad. But I’ll be there whether they can come or not.”

“Good.” He stopped, afraid of what he was about to say, then figured he’d just send it out there and see what happened. “I wish you were over here this evening. I miss you.”

“Awww, babe, I miss you too! I wish I were there or you were here. It’s kinda late, though.”

“Coming over tomorrow evening when you get off work?” Bud asked, his fingers crossed.

“Unless you don’t want me to. And donotcook for me. I’ll cook something when I get there, okay?”

“Okay.”Do it, a voice in his head whispered. “And Martina?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to give you a key.”

There was silence for a few seconds before she asked, “Albert, are yousureyou want to do that?”

“And why wouldn’t I?”

“I dunno. We just haven’t known each other all that long and I… I mean, that’s a lot of trust right there.”

“Are you going to rob me blind?” he asked straight up.

“Well, no!”

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