Juniper Hill (The Edens #2)(49)

She nodded and smiled, wiping at her eyes. “We are good.”

I kissed her forehead, then handed her Drake. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Whatever you’re making.”

“How hungry are you?”

She shrugged. “I’m not starving.”

“Think you can wait an hour? I can make a quiche.”

“I’ll wait.”

I winked. “Good choice.”

“Wait.” She held up a hand as I pulled out a mixing bowl.

“What about work?”

“I’m not working today.”

“But . . . it’s a Saturday.”

And since the day she’d moved in, I’d worked every Saturday. “I texted Roxanne last night and asked if she could cover today.”

“You did? When?”

“After you fell asleep.” I wanted a day with them. A full day, no distractions. Just another normal day to show her how good normal could be. “Got any plans today?”

“Um . . . no. I was going to clean the loft. Do some laundry.”

“How about we hang here instead?”

The smile that stretched across her pretty mouth made the flack I’d catch from Roxanne later worth it.

Never in my life had I canceled on work to be with a woman. Roxanne had already been teasing me for ditching out on prep work to hunt Memphis down in the hotel. So last night when I’d told her I’d give her an extra vacation day over Christmas if she worked for me, she’d sent a string of heart and eye-roll emojis and a single thumbs-up.

I went to the pantry for flour and salt to make the pie crust.

Memphis put Drake on a blanket on the floor in the living room to kick and squeal. Then she sat at the island and watched me work, her attention fixed on my every move.

“Watching you cook is better than TV.”

I chuckled and put the quiche in the oven. Then I washed my hands and tossed the towel aside before I slid onto the stool beside hers, fitting her legs between my spread knees. I skimmed her thighs, looking forward to Drake’s first nap, when I could strip her out of these pajama bottoms. “Kiss me.”

She leaned in but stopped, a whisper away from my lips.

“Say please.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then I won’t kiss you.”

I grinned, dragging my mouth across hers. “Sure about that?”

“Say please.”

“Please.”

She launched herself at me, flying off her stool. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and her tongue was in my mouth. Fuck breakfast, I didn’t need a damn thing more than this woman.

Drake gave a wail, causing Memphis and me to freeze.

Then we both laughed when he kept on babbling, testing the acoustics of my house.

“I’m going to run to the loft and grab a few more diapers.”

She glanced at the timer on the oven. “Maybe take a quick shower.”

“Go for it. I’ll watch Drake.”

“Are you sure? I can just take him with me.”

“Nah. He’s happy.” My hand glided over the curve of her ass. “Bring over anything you want for today. And tonight.”

Now that she’d slept in my bed, there was no way she’d be spending another night in the loft.

“Thanks.” She kissed my cheek, then hurried for the door, stepping into her shoes and pulling her cardigan tighter.

When she was at the staircase to the loft, I stretched out beside Drake on the floor, pinching his toes and tickling his tummy.

The pain of being near him, the ache I’d felt early on, had vanished. When I looked at him, I didn’t see Jadon. I just saw Drake. My tiny boss.

“We need more toys.” Every time I’d gone to Griff and Winn’s place, Hudson had at least three new toys. Their living room had a basket overflowing with stuffies and plastic baubles. “Maybe you and Hudson can play together one day too. Build forts. Chase dogs. Be buddies.” Cousins.

I rolled onto my back, staring at the white ceiling. My brain was getting way too far ahead of reality.

That had been my problem with Gianna too. I’d been so lost in planning the future, in the idea of my own family, rowdy and rambunctious, that I’d missed the signs that she’d been keeping a secret.

Not long after she’d found out she was pregnant, Gianna would stare at me and open her mouth, but nothing would come out. There’d been times when I’d found her staring at a wall, her arms wrapped around her belly and her knee bouncing wildly. Other times, when I’d talk about the future and maybe moving us all to Montana one day, her face would pale.

“What’s the deal with your father?” I rolled to my side and looked at Drake. He had his feet in his hands and a glob of drool on his bottom lip. I wiped his mouth dry, then sighed.

“Want to tell me about it since your mom doesn’t seem like talking?”

Another trickle of drool escaped.

She’d tell me. Memphis would eventually explain, wouldn’t she?

“What else should we have for breakfast? Fruit?” I jackknifed off the floor and swept Drake up, ruffling his hair.

Then we retreated to the kitchen, where I shut down my own mental bullshit and concentrated on the meal.

There was no point in worrying. Memphis was not Gianna.