Page 51 of Unexpected Kisses

We work together to lift the mats out of his car and carry them up the driveway as Theo releases the straps securing the climbing wall. Two gorgeous women step outside, one holding the hand of a gorgeous little boy. I can easily pick his sister with her dark curls and chocolate-colored eyes. She has the same coloring as her brother and her son.

The little boy breaks away with an enormous smile. “Unca AJ!” he squeals, with his arms held up. AJ crouches down and catches the little bundle of energy easily. “Is that my climbing wall?” He studies it closely with wide eyes.

AJ stands with Colton secured in his arms, walking him closer to Theo’s truck. “It sure is. What do ya think?” They study it closely.

“It’s so big!” Colton stretches his arms out wide.

AJ laughs and jiggles Colton in his arms. “Hey, Colton. This is my friend, Sarah.” Colton looks at me, then tucks his face into AJ’s neck, hiding from me. “Don’t pretend you’re shy because we know you’re not.” AJ chuckles, but Colton buries in further.

I move closer. “Hey, Colton.”

“Hello,” he whispers shyly, tilting his head toward me.

The women make it to us with chuckles. “He’s always so happy to see you.” His sister presses up on her toes to kiss AJ’s cheek.

“And so he should be. I’m his favorite uncle.”

Theo and I both laugh. “We’ve heard that before. My brother, Max, says the exact same thing.”

Hayley steps toward me. “You must be Sarah. I’m Hayley.” She thumbs over her shoulder at AJ. “I’m this one’s sister, and this is my wife, Lisa.”

Lisa steps closer. “Hey, Sarah. Great to meet you.” She turns to AJ. “This looks … big!” Her eyes are wide as she studies the climbing wall on the back of the truck.

“Great to meet you, too. This is my brother-in-law, Theo. He and my nephew built the climbing wall.”

“Hi, Theo.” The women say at the same time. “This is incredible. Thank you so much, and please thank your son.”

Theo wipes his hands on the back of his shorts and holds out his hand to shake hands with the two women. “I’ll pass on your thanks to Lachlan. He’ll be thrilled you were so happy with it.”

AJ and Theo work together to get the climbing wall down off the truck and located under the shade of a tree in the backyard, which is as impressive as the front yard.

Colton reaches up for Hayley and she picks him up. “Mama, look at my climbing wall.” He points across to where Theo and AJ are working.

“I know. You’re a very lucky boy.” He glances at me, then nods slowly as he buries his face into Hayley’s shoulder.

“I’m not sure why he’s being so shy today. He’s not normally like this,” Lisa tells me.

I chuckle. “It’s probably because I’m a stranger.”

Colton climbs down and races over to his uncle, leaving me with Hayley and Lisa.

“You have a gorgeous garden. My sister would be impressed.” Emma’s always prided herself on keeping her garden looking nice. It was tougher when she was a single mom and had to do everything for herself, but since she met Theo, she has more time to enjoy it.

“Thanks. It’s all Lisa. She’s the gardener.” Hayley snickers.

“If it were up to her, everything would be dead.” Lisa nudges Hayley good-naturedly.

I nod and grin. “Same. I live in an apartment, which means I don’t need to worry about trying to keep plants alive. My sister’s tried time and again to turn me into a gardener, but no dice.” Shit! Maybe I shouldn’t have told them I can’t keep plants alive. They might think I won’t be able to keep a human alive either. Oh, God. There go my chances.

Hayley laughs. “We could be sisters! Come inside, I’ll get some drinks for everyone.”

She tilts her head toward the back door and I follow her. They don’t have a deck, but they have a really sweet outdoor table and chairs under a gazebo between the house and the tree.

“It looks like Colton enjoys playing outside.” Between the swing set and the climbing wall, he’s going to be a busy boy.

“Oh, he loves it. And that climbing wall couldn’t come soon enough. Did AJ tell you about Colton’s penchant for climbing?”

“Yeah, he did. He sounds like my nephew. He was always climbing everything too. Drove my sister crazy.”

---