Page 158 of Mended Hearts

“I’ll give you anything you ask for, baby.”

* * *

One week—andmany calls with my attorney—later, we danced beneath the twinkling string lights of her brother’s wedding tent.

Noel looked stunning as she ruled the dance floor like the queen of chaos, dragging nearly every single woman into the fray. Meanwhile, Jameson watched her with a quiet, satisfied smile—perfectly content to remain on the sidelines so long as his new wife was happy.

Opposites really did attract, I guessed.

As for me? My nerves were in my throat as I danced with my daughter, who kept glaring up at me with impatience, clearly irritated that I hadn’t given Leighton her gifts yet.

Leighton—whose tan skin shimmered with a dusting of gold beneath the twinkle lights. Leighton—who was letting my son dance on her bare feet so she could spin him in a slow, steady circle. My heart did a full three-sixty every time they moved.

“Daddy,” Tillie hissed, squeezing my fingers as hard as she could. “The sun’s down.”

“I know, love bug.”

“It’s almost bedtime.Hurry,” she bit out.

Right about then, Maverick sidled up, bowing gallantly at the waist to offer her his hand like something out of a fairy tale.

“Princess Tillie, may I have the honor of this dance?”

“I amnota princess,” she replied, stone-faced.

Mav grinned, rubbing his dejected hand over his bearded jaw. “Well, good thing. Or I’d be beating off the competition with a stick.”

“I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

He shot me a pleading glance, then turned back to her with a dramatic sigh. “You’re killing me, kid. Come dance on my shoes so your daddy can ask my sister to join him.”

Laughing, I passed her hand to his mammoth one as Kaia swept Beau from Leighton’s arms. My eyes met Leigh’s across the floor, and we both smiled as Maverick spun Tillie into a circle so wild it earned a trill of laughter. Nobody did chaos quite like the Rhodes family.

By the time I crossed the distance between us, my kids were both grinning—Tillie spinning between Mav and Axel like a ballerina yo-yo, Beau blushing under the adoration of five giggling aunts. Kid was loving every second of it.

Like father, like son.

“The kids and I have a little surprise for you,” I said, watching Leigh arch a skeptical brow.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I laughed. “They picked it themselves when we were waiting for you at the mall.”

“Okay…” she said warily, letting me take her hand and lead her to our table.

I fished the first box out of my pocket and slid it toward her. That sly smile of hers deepened as she slowly peeled apart the ribbon and popped the lid.

Her breath hitched. “Ollie…”

The bracelet inside was silver and chunky, exactly the kind Tillie said would match Leighton’s favorite outfits. It was weighed down with hand-picked charms—each of our birthstones, including baby’s—and a handful of tiny Marvel characters they swore she’d love.

“You win,” she said with something suspiciously close to a sniffle. “That’s amazing, Ollie. What the hell is this for?”

“Turns out I’m not the only one in love with you.”

“God, I love you,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss me before straightening with a misty grin. “All of you.”

She held out her wrist. “Would you help me put it on?”

Nodding, I lifted the clasp and fastened it gently, my hand trailing up her forearm as she twisted it to examine the charms.

---