Page 115 of Worth the Risk

“I’m very particular about what juice I drink. Maybe I don’t want your juice.”

“That would be a shame,” Leo says more to himself than anyone else.

“But, Mommy, you say juice is good for you. It has vitamins that make you not be sick. Daddy has juice… you can drink his.”

We both laugh, and oh my God, this is getting out of control. She has no idea what Leo and I are talking about.

Considering it is a highly inappropriate conversation to have with Riley, I switch it up. “Why don’t you go get your blanket and we will watch a movie together?”

“Okay, Mommy.” She squirms out of Leo’s arms and heads to our room.

“She’s right, you know. My special juice has vitamins that would make you healthier. I really think you should drink it. I have plenty, and I’m always willing to share with you.” Leo glances down at his pelvis, then up at me with a smirk.

We should stop this, but I don’t. “I’m sure you’re all too willing to share, but who says I want you to?”

He walks up to me until my knees hit the back of a chair, making me sit. Now I have his groin in front of my face. “It appears you’re now in a position to drink my juice.”

Placing my hands on his thighs, I push him away on a laugh. “Leo, stop, your daughter is here. You need to behave.”

“Just let me know if you get thirsty later. I’m here to help you out.”

He’s so ridiculous.

“Mommy, I’m ready to watch a movie now,” Riley says.

“Are you joining us?” I ask Leo.

“No, I’m going into work to start on that project I told you about yesterday.”

Leo told me about his plan, and I couldn’t believe it when he said he called Nash. Now that some truths are being brought to light, this could be the beginning of the healing we all need.

Hearing a sniffle, I look over at Riley. She has tears running down her face.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

She drops her blanket and runs past me to Leo, where she wraps her arms around his legs. “Daddy, I don’t want you to go to work. You won’t come back for a long, long time.”

Unwrapping her arms from his legs, he picks her up before pulling her in close. As she cries into his shoulder, he says, “Princess, I promise I’ll come home soon.”

“No, Daddy,” she says, hugging him tighter.

Leo breathes in heavily and looks at me. “Would you mind if I take Riley in with me? I’m just seeing my dad there to go over a few details.”

“That’s fine. She would like to see where you work and see her grandfather again.”

“Thank you,” he whispers to me. Then to Riley, he says, “What do you say, Princess? Would you like to go to work with Daddy today?”

She wipes her arm over her eyes. “Really, Daddy? I can go with you?”

“Yes, and Grandpa Connor would love to see you again. Sometimes daddies only go to work for a little bit, and they come home soon. I’ll never be gone that long again.”

“Promise, Daddy?”

“I promise. Never again,” he assures her.

Now that she’s smiling again, he tells me, “I’ll text you when we’re on our way back.”

“Sounds good. I might go visit Sierra while you guys are gone. I’d like to spend some time with her before I go home.”

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