Page 217 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
“And he’s good to you. We’re lucky to have him,” Ben huffed. “But damn, I never thought I would say that about a McIntyre.”
Down at the far end of the deck, the double sliding glass door opened, and Ben grinned when Diego popped his head out. “Hey, Diego. Going down there to play?”
Eleven years old and smart as hell, the kid was as adventurous as he was clever. Diego Martinez had come into Jamison and Liam’s lives not long after they finished the home build in the new Fairweather Georgia development, and already having briefly cared for two others temporarily before him, they had quickly been approved for long-term placement.
On the beach, Theo body slammed Xavier again, and Diego rolled his eyes with a laugh. “I think Xavier could use my help.”
“Theo!” Simone was up and at the railing, snapping her fingers at the children on the beach. “Theodora, look at me.”
Everyone froze. Ben included. Simone was a better disciplinarian than him, but sometimes, she was downright terrifying.
“Was that nice?” Simone didn’t give Theo a chance to answer. “No, it was not. And we’re not going to do it again. Got me?”
The chorus ofyes, ma’amsmade Ben smile. They were good kids—the best, in his opinion—but he was biased and damn well knew it.
Diego trudged past him with his hands shoved in his pockets and a grin on his face as he made his way to the steps leading to the sand.
“Good luck,” Ben whispered before he left. “It’s wild down there.”
The poor kid’s entire family had passed away in a fire, leaving him alone in the world. Jamison said she and Diego often had long discussions about his parents, but with Liam, he really opened up and always wanted to talk about his siblings. He had been the eldest of five children and missed his brothers and sisters horribly.
Diego gave him a serious nod. “I can handle Theo.”
“Famous last words.”
Evie emerged next, already narrowing her gaze on the children. “Is Samuel’s daughter misbehaving again?”
“Oh, I love how she’s my daughter when she’s being bad and yours when she’s an angel,” Samuel said as he joined her, smacking Evie’s butt before moving around her to stand with Simone, and yell down at his middle child. “Theo, no more. If you want to wrestle, come inside and wrestle me.”
Theo put her hands on her hips like she had something to say—but caught Simone’s look and promptly changed course. “Okay, Daddy.”
Evie leaned into Samuel’s side. Pregnant again, she swore this would be the last one. “Harper, you’re supposed to watch her.”
“Watching Theo is an incredibly large request,” Harper said, pushing her new glasses up her nose. “She doesn’t listen.”
“What’s going on out here?” Selah boomed as he came out of the back door, eating a sandwich with an annoyed look on his face. “Xavier, are you trying to convince everyone to jump off the roof again?”
“Nah, it’s ours this time,” Evie said, grinning. “Theo thinks she’s twice her size and keeps plowing into Xavier—who, by the way, islettingher do it.”
“I was just showing my moves!” Theo argued. “See, watch me.”
Theo went for Diego, and the kid relaxed in time, taking the hit like a champ. With anoof, he landed on his back, laughing along with Theo as she shouted a victory cry.
Carrying Albie on her hip, Josie came out just in time to see the whole thing. “Theo!”
“He’s okay, Nana!” Theo scrambled to her feet, her brand-new Christmas dress now covered in sand. “Promise!”
Flat on his back, Diego waved a hand in the air. “I’m good. Honest.”
The kids resumed their game of Conquer the Castle, and Diego joined in as the designated referee.
“Annabeth and I have the food ready,” Izzy called from inside. She and Annabeth had been in the kitchen all day and were eager for everyone to try the food. “Adults come eat first while the kids are still distracted. We’ll bring the crazies in after.”
Ben stayed seated, content to watch the mayhem a little longer. Soon, they’d all scatter back to their own corners of the world, and he wanted to soak up every second of this.
“Here.” Josie passed Albie into his arms. “Take a kid so I can eat.”
Gray eyes blinked in his direction, and Ben grinned. Albie looked so much like his namesake that the emotions never failed to hit. “Hey there, big guy.”
