Page 77 of Seductive Scoundrel

This should be an interesting – and amusing – evening.

“This is Phoebe,” I answer when she doesn’t. “Phoebe, you’re supposed to shake hands.”

She puts her little hand in his, skepticism all over her face. “You’re not a hole like Uncle Kyle, oops, I mean Just-Kyle, are you? He likes to shake hands, too.”

“Phoebe,” Mom cries although she’s desperately trying not to smile.

Dean looks at me and then mouths, “A hole?”

“Give it a second,” I respond, watching as his face slowly lights up.

“Oh, Phoebe, I think we’re going to get along really well. And for the record, I’m not a hole like Just-Kyle is.”

She holds her arms towards Dean and I have to nudge him to take her. He definitely has limited experience with kids.

Once she’s nestled in his arms, making my heart squeeze because he looks so good with her, she rests a hand against his cheek. “I knew you were Auntie M’s Prince Charming. We can be partners tonight. I roll the dice and you pick the mushrooms off my pizza. Deal?”

Dean looks at me, an expression somewhere between shock and glee on his face. “Sounds fun.”

“Oh, it will be,” I return, and Mom and I both laugh. “Now we better get some pizza into this little pumpkin’s belly.”

* * *

Over the next three hours,I watch the man I love pick mushrooms off Phoebe’s pizza, hold a chicken wing so she can eat it without getting icky sticky, laugh at my brother’s corny jokes, gang up with my sister to beat my brother-in-law, high five Phoebe’s older brother, Liam, more times than I can count, talk medical apps with Dad, and bond with my entire family.

Even my twin seven-year-old niece and nephew, or the gruesome twosome as we lovingly call them, like him – and that’s no small feat. Their current phase involves hating everyone.

It was an absolutely amazing evening and made me want – everything – with him.

“Time to get these munchkins home,” Melanie says, glancing at the big, wooden clock on the wall.

“Oh, mom,” Liam groans, “it’s not even 10.”

“It’s quarter to ten and way past your bedtime,” Tim, his dad says.

“No fair!” Liam cries, full pout mode taking over. “I’m six. I should be allowed to stay up until midnight now.”

“We’re seven!” Katie and Colin say in unison. “We should be allowed to stay up all night then,” Colin adds.

My brother Josh chuckles. “Of course you should. Why don’t we discuss it on the way home? Go get your shoes and coats on. And don’t forget to thank PC for supper.”

Phoebe’s Prince Charming nickname caught on, but was shortened to PC throughout the night. Dean took his new nickname in stride and even started calling me Cindy, his modern-day version of Cinderella. Guess that makes us a fairytale couple. I’ll happily take pizza and board games over a fancy ball any day though.

“Thanks, Uncle PC,” Colin says, laughing as if he just said the funniest thing – ever.

“My pleasure,” Dean replies, giving each of the three older kids a high five as they file out of the dining room.

“I’ll take her,” Melanie says, coming over to Dean and looking down at the sleeping Phoebe.

She fell asleep in Dean’s lap over an hour ago with a death grip around his arm. Even though we offered to pry her loose and lay her on the couch, he said no. He just held Phoebe while we played, occasionally looking down at her or touching her soft, brown hair. It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. The man I love cradling one of the kids I love.

He’s definitely my Prince Charming.

Twenty minutes and a lot of chaos later, my brother, sister, and their families head for home, and I’m ready for some alone time with Uncle PC.

“Are you ready to go?” I whisper to Dean as we stand by the front window watching Melanie’s van drive away.

He pulls me into his arms, kissing me softly. “Only if you are. If you’d like to stay longer, we can. You don’t get to see your parents very often. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the evening.”

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