Page 44 of I've Got You

“This is Davis’s daughter.”

He looked in my direction, and I watched Toby follow his gaze as he took me in. His eyes narrowed a little, and he tilted his head as he said, “You’re Uncle Scottie’s boyfriend, Mommy said, and we have to use our manners and be kind to Libby.”

“Err—”

My glance flicked to Scott and my mouth split wide. “That’s right, I am. And if you can use your manners, I’ll be impressed, but nudge me if I burp and forget to say excuse me.”

Toby’s eyes widened, and he giggled. Hunter seemed to take that as his cue to stop dancing, spin to face me, and burp. And holy shit, who knew a kid that little could not only belch on cue but so freakin’ loud.

“Impressive,” I said just as “Hunter Samuel, that had better have been real and you had better have remembered your manners,” flowed into the room.

Hunter dropped to his ass, a look of panic flicking across his features. “Sorry, Mommy.”

Scott snorted and ruffled his hair. “Good job, kiddo.”

“Uncle Scottie’s boyfriend…?”

I glanced over at Toby. “Yes, Toby?” I asked, stepping further into the room, super aware Scott was watching our whole exchange with a somewhat bemused expression.

“One of my friends, Jessie, has two mommies, and she’s gay.”

I clamped my mouth shut, trying my hardest not to laugh. “That’s great.” I had no idea what to do with that.

He nodded. “Jessie picks her nose and eats it.” He wrinkled his nose. “Does Libby pick her nose and eat it?” His gaze shot to his car Libby had gripped in her hand.

I pressed my lips together, determined to ignore Scott’s shaking shoulders and address Toby as seriously as his frown suggested the question was. “No, Toby. There’s no nose picking as yet. She may suck and nibble at it though.” He looked at me in horror, his focus returning to Libby just as she shoved half of his car into his mouth.

“That’s not my bestest toy, so she can keep that.” He scooted away from my slobbering child.

I laughed and took the car from Libby, fearing she’d end up swallowing one of its wheels. She looked at me hard, no doubt debating whether or not she would share the strength of her lungs with the house. Fortunately, Hunter’s whooping as he stood and started dancing distracted her enough that she pushed herself up and ambled over to watch him intently.

“How about I get this car washed so it’s saliva free?”

Toby nodded. “Okay.” He then returned to his cars, his interest immediately elsewhere.

Scott stood and bumped shoulders with me. “You had a good day?”

I turned toward him and placed my palm on his lower back. He’d popped into the coffee shop not long after lunch, and we’d been rushed off our feet. He’d apologized so many times about leaving me high and dry while he was sorting out his return to the hospital. It was sweet, but I’d reminded him with a laugh that the replacement dishes we’d purchased appreciated him returning to his calling as a vet. His cheeks had immediately colored, and he’d rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, thanks. It settled down not much after you left.”

Guilt once again flittered in his eyes.

I shook my head before he could even start. “I’ve already advertised, so don’t worry yourself about it, boyfriend.”

His narrowed eyes made me smile.

“What?” I laughed. “From the mouth of babes and all that.”

“You’re impossible.” He shook his head, but humor lit his eyes. “Jenna told him that, not—”

My hand curled around his waist and I squeezed. “No getting away from it now. No take backs.” I waggled my brows at him.

He snorted. “No take backs, huh?”

I pressed a light kiss on his lips. “That’s correct,” I said, pulling away.

His eyes had closed when my mouth had touched his. Every kiss, no matter how brief or passionate, had him responding similarly—his eyes would close, a soft sigh would escape as he breathed into me, and his shoulders would relax the slightest amount. I fucking loved it.

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