Page 57 of I've Got You

“Yeah. Just going to grab my girl, go and collect Scott, who’s getting a change of clothes, and then heading back to my place.”

I expected a dig, maybe another threat, maybe this time on Scott’s manhood, but I didn’t get one. Instead, Tanner smirked. “Best get your ass into gear… you know, if you can manage it while walking straight… without wincing. It’s been a while.”

“Ha fucking ha.” I flipped him off as I stepped outside and quickly swept my beautiful Libby into my arms.

Five minutes later, I was at Scott’s door and ringing the bell. His voice called, “The door’s open.”

I opened up, Libby on my hip. I stumbled upon his nephews first as they sped on by, both wearing superhero costumes. Libby squealed and bounced in my arms, chanting “Dow, dow,” in her desperation to get down and join them. “You’ll get trampled on. You’re not big enough yet.” I tickled her tummy to try to distract her, but she batted my hand away, her eyes fixed on the empty doorway where the boys had disappeared. “As soon as you’re old enough, I’ll buy you a kick-ass superhero costume, okay?”

“Hey.”

I glanced up at Scott’s voice, my heart leaping as he strode toward me. He stopped and kissed me, no hesitation, no doubt, and my heart celebrated at the action. He’d come so far, changed so much from the man I’d first met and only known about by name.

“Cot.” Libby lunged out of my arms toward him, and Scott reeled her in immediately, surprise and delight battling for position on his face.

“Do you just…. Did she just say my name?” Wide-eyed, he stared first at me and then at my daughter in wonder.

Gone. Fucked. Truly. I’d meant my words to him earlier, but seeing him with Libby, watching how they interacted, I was sure to God that he was going to be it. I mulled over the thought, not even surprised I relaxed a little at him being in my life, hopefully forever. While I’d dicked around when I was younger, I’d never given away my heart before, other than to Libby, but hell, she’d snatched the damn thing clean out of my chest the moment I’d laid eyes on her. I hadn’t thought it was possible to share a piece of myself with anyone but her, but Scott remained the enigma I considered him to be and had snuck on inside my chest when I hadn’t been paying attention, cementing a piece of himself in there too.

Still speechless, my eyes softened and I stood back and admired them both. I only dragged my eyes away when Jenna entered the large entrance room. With a glance in her direction, I returned her tender smile. She saw what I saw, that much was obvious.

“Are you staying for dinner or are you heading straight out?”

Turning my focus on Scott, I said, “We can stay.”

His smile was full of appreciation. I knew he worried about his sister and all she’d been through and was going through. I was more than happy to spend time with her, not only because I liked her, but if it eased the frown lines from Scott’s brow, I’d make it happen.

“Great,” she said. “I’ve Libby-proofed the dining area, so you can come on back and let her play.”

“Thanks, Jenna.” I threw her a grateful smile and followed her to the split dining/kitchen area. “Something smells good.”

“Just lasagna. It’ll be a while yet, but I do tend to eat early because of the boys.” She busied herself with the stove while Scott settled Libby on the floor near a tub of toys. Sitting on a stool, I pressed my lips together when I realized they were all baby toys, much more suited to Libby than her sons. When I looked back at her, she was watching me and offered a shy smile. “We just thought it would be good for her to have something to play with when she was here.”

“It’s amazing of you. Thank you.” I was touched she’d thought of such a thing.

“It was Scott’s idea. I was just the shopper.”

My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I angled once more to look at Scott. He was on the floor with all three kids. They had blocks out, and the boys seemed to be building them as high as possible before Libby punched out with a giggle to smack them over. “He’s something else.”

“He is.”

Jenna’s voice made me jump. I hadn’t intended to speak aloud.

Looking at her brother, then at me, she smiled. “I’m so pleased he’s going back to the clinic and has this opportunity to purchase it. For a while there, he started to resent practicing.”

“Because of your dad?”

“Yeah. He’s a piece of work. I think we both love him because it seemed like we had to, but there was a lot of unhealthy fear instilled in us from the time we could walk.”

I hated that for the two of them. “But now you’re here, it’s better, right?”

She smiled, the movement lighting up her eyes. “Definitely. And thank you.”

“For?”

“Giving me the chance at work, making my brother so happy.”

“I’m pleased I could help, and truth be told, I’m relieved you’re there to take some of the pressure off. Plus, your brother can’t make a coffee for shit and was sure to make me bankrupt with the number of breakages.”

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