“No more emergency room visits.”
“Fine. I’m still trying new things.” She arched her brow. “Ugh! I’ll ask for help!”
“There you go.”
The gash on his back ended up being the last truly dangerous injury in Sterling’s early childhood. His parents cornered her before she left.
The big man said bluntly, “You’re probably going to be our daughter-in-law. If you can blackmail that child until he grows up, we’d appreciate it.”
“Uh…”
Dakota added, “Seriously. I’m ready for Xanax.”
Crossing her arms, Mandy replied, “Fine but I get extra sparring lessons every trip to keep my extremely busy social calendar empty.”
“Done.”
“I’m starving…”
“Noel is already starting in on the paella. Good luck.”
Her mouth dropped open and she shot around them to the kitchen. Noel stood there with a big bowl, chewing the casserole of seafood and rice happily.
“You’re greedy, No-No.”
“You’re just mad you didn’t beat me to it.” Noel winked. “I’d expect nothing less.”
All in all, despite a couple of strange hiccups, the trip to Florida was just as wonderful as always. She cried when she left them, cried when she returned to her own family, and when she was alone in her room a few days later, she cried a little more.
Thinking about the way it felt for Erick to put her hair behind her ear after an incredible hug made her intensely emotional.
As usual, she regularly dreamed about him. In her dreams, their ages didn’t matter at all.