Page 6 of Bound

I winked. “That could only mean one thing. Who wants ice cream?”

Kara raised her hand and Rose clapped hers together. I paid the bill and we loaded back in the SUV.

In the car, I reached over and took Kara’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“You haven’t. But you have shown it.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

I pulled into the local ice cream shop and we hurried over to the window. “Does Rose want cotton candy ice cream?” I knew it was her favorite.

“Yes.” She got on her tippy toes, trying to see over the counter while we ordered. Reaching down, I picked her up and held her so she could watch.

“When I get big, I want to own an ice cream shop.”

“You can absolutely do that if you want.”

I was already teaching her to be business savvy. And Kara was teaching her all the girly things. She seemed to be mesmerized by Kara and I could tell the feeling was mutual.

We sat at a table eating our ice cream.

“I’m really glad you quit your job so you can be a mother full time.”

“It was an easy decision to make. The right decision. And I like having you home for dinner every night. No late-night meetings.”

“I just wanted to say I appreciate you. And I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Chapter Four

DAMON

It was Thanksgiving.

“I really enjoyed that,” Kara told me.

“Me, too. The women were very happy to see you. And I like seeing you with them. They are very gracious and humble. And I know you are the same. It’s nice to see that bond.”

Kara tilted her head back on the car’s headrest and smiled lazily. “It made me so happy.”

We headed home from the house the other women resided in. We surprised them with a full course meal and happily served them. Most of the women were back on their feet, and saving money to get their own place. A few were gonna be roommates. Almost all of them had jobs. And they were thrilled with Rose. We wanted to start teaching Rose to also be charitable.

I kissed her hand. “I have a surprise for you,” I told Kara as she would see all the cars in the driveway.

“Damon. I’m not so sure I like surprises anymore.”

“Come on. It’s a good one. I promise.”

She was gonna know once we pulled in the driveway with all the cars that were there. And so far, Rose had been able to keep our little secret.

“Why are all these cars here?” she asked, confused.

We entered the house, and everyone there shouted, “Surprise!”

Only those we truly cared about were there, so it wasn’t a huge gathering. Just Olivia, Matteo, my two cousins, and Susie.

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