Page 54 of One Little Kiss
“Jesus, baby. No wonder exhaustion hit you like it did.”
“Momma.” Weston plops down on the bed with a grin. He’s wearing his new superhero pjs, and I can’t wait for him to see his surprise in the morning.
“Nice jammies, buddy.” She smiles through a shaky voice.
“Thupahero,” Wes replies proudly, pointing at the giant star on his chest.
“They’re great, Wes. Did you say thank you?”
Weston jumps to the foot of his bed, and I run to the side, scared shitless that he’ll fall.
“Hey, no jumping on the bed, okay?”
He nods with a “Thupa,” thrown in as he hugs me.
Winnie shudders beside me and covers her mouth as a strangled sound attempts to escape. Squaring her shoulders, she pulls herself together and steps between Wes and me.
“Bedtime, buddy. Are you so excited about sleeping in this awesome room tonight?” she stresses the word tonight.
I want to correct her, but I know better than to push my luck, so I bite my tongue.
Weston nods his head with the brightest smile I’ve seen from him yet. He leans in, and she tentatively wraps her arms around him. When her shoulders bounce, I know she’s holding in tears again.
As I watch them, my first thought is,Are hugs really that rare for him?It’s followed closely by,How much does she hold inside?
I say my goodnights and allow them privacy to do their routine. Standing outside of the door, I smile as she sings about blisters and the sun. By the time Winnie emerges, I’ve slid down the wall and am sitting on the floor.
“You’re not sleeping there again. Are you?” she gasps.
“No, sweetheart. I was just waiting for you. You ready to talk?”
“This won’t be a talk, Colton. This is a war you started, but I’ll win it one battle at a time.”
I try to keep my smirk in check and fail miserably. While Wes slept, she was lying in there with him, planning her attack. “Game on, baby. I’m playing for keeps.”
CHAPTER17
WINNIE
Colton told me to make myself comfortable in the family room while he changed, but I’m too keyed up to sit. Pacing the room, I’ve had plenty of time to take in its beauty. He built the entire home into the side of a mountain, and they used every opportunity to bring the outdoors in.
The walls are a warm shade of green, and it has dark, exposed beams everywhere. The furniture is oversized and comfortable. It’s all positioned to highlight the floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the natural beauty all around.
It’s cozy, and it causes me to pause and really take everything in. It’s not at all what I would have expected the Westbrook playboy to live in. Granted, this is like a vacation home or something, but still, he must have had some input.
Everything is impeccable. From the long, linen drapes to the coordinating throw pillows. The only thing off is the giant package sitting on the mantel. With the rest of the home fully decorated, it’s odd that this piece sits unhung.
“Okay, Win. I’m ready for battle.”
I take three long breaths to calm my racing heart before facing him. Gathering my courage, I slowly turn and all I can do is blink.
Blink.
Blink.
He’s so absurd, a shriek of laughter falls from my lips. I can’t contain it or control it. I laugh so hard my stomach cramps and I’m tempted to lean over on my knees to catch my breath.
“What?” I seriously can’t stop laughing. “What are you wearing?”
