Page 31 of Moore to Love

The last thing I wanted to do was leave Ellie, but I needed her to know that my intentions toward her were serious. So I tore my mouth from hers and took a couple of deep breaths before stepping away. “Good night, Ellie.”

“What?” She blinked up at me, her pretty green eyes hazy with desire. “You’re just going to kiss me senseless and walk away?”

I tapped my watch. “The kids are going to be back soon, so unfortunately, yes.”

“We still have a few minutes to ourselves,” she protested, stroking her palms up my shirt. “Enough time to get one more kiss.”

I loved how she blossomed as we got to know each other better, her shyness and uncertainty taking a back seat the more we spent time together. “Whatever you want, baby.”

I lowered my head to capture her mouth beneath mine, my tongue licking against the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. Cupping the back of her head, I devoured her mouth until we were both breathless. Only then did I rip my lips from hers, just in the nick of time since the lights of Meghan’s minivan illuminated the driveway as she pulled in.

I knew that it was too early for her children to know we were dating, so I took a step back before they piled out of the vehicle. Then I helped Meghan take their booster seats out while Benjamin and Madison chattered to their mom about all of the fun they’d had during their playdate with Tony.

“I owe you one,” I murmured after circling the car to hold the driver’s side door open for her.

Meghan grinned up at me as she slid into the seat. “I wasn’t joking about how much I appreciated having them with us tonight, but I’ll still take your IOU since I bet you enjoyed just as much. If not more.”

There was no denying how right she was, so I just shut the door with a smile and waved as she backed out of the driveway.

“Thank you,” Ellie called, her hands on Benjamin’s and Madison’s shoulders as they echoed her thanks.

When Meghan was out of sight, the boy turned to me and asked, “Did you bring one of the puppies over to play with us?”

“Sorry, buddy.” I shook my head with a chuckle. “I don’t have any animals with me tonight.”

“Darn,” he mumbled, his shoulders drooping.

Ellie gently poked him in the side. “But it’s still nice to see Dr. Moore, right?”

Benjamin shot me a sheepish grin. “It is.”

“And with that, I better get them inside so they can settle down a little before it’s time for bed.”

It was still early days for Ellie and me, but I couldn’t help but look forward to a day in the future when I could walk through the doors with them.

16

ELLIE

Video calling my mom wasn’t the same as sitting across from her at the kitchen table, but it was the best that I could do since they moved to Florida a year after I came back to Indiana. My parents had me when they were in their forties, and they’d been more than ready to retire to a state where it didn’t get ice cold during the winter. Or snow.

I’d been so happy for them back then…before my world came crumbling down. They’d come up to visit while I struggled through the early days of my marriage ending, but they couldn’t stay in Mooreville forever when they’d built a life for themselves down in Florida.

I thought the distance meant that my mom wouldn’t be able to stick her nose in my budding relationship with Finn, but she proved me wrong as soon as she picked up.

“What’s this I hear about you dating your new boss?”

“You know better than to listen to gossip, Mama,” I chided, wagging my finger at the screen of my phone.

She didn’t look the least bit repentant as she quirked a brow. “How else am I supposed to know what’s going on in my girl’s life when she doesn’t tell me anything?”

“For starters, you can wait for me to tell you.”

She huffed out a breath. “You know me better than that.”

“I do.” I shook my head with a laugh. “Which was why I was calling to ask for your advice about Finn.”

“Really?” She clapped her hands, bouncing on her seat. “Tell me all about the handsome veterinarian who’s caught my daughter’s fancy.”

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