Written with You (The Regret Duet #2)(58)

“Ten plus one thousand.”

Her face was warm as she turned, a spatula poised in her hand. “One thousand and ten.”

“Whoa,” Rosalee breathed. “You’re good.”

It was hard not to chuckle when Willow curtsied and then picked up a piece of bread that I was positive was avocado toast. And that was based on little more than the disgust on Rosalee’s face as Willow took a bite out of it.

Reclining back, I rested my elbow on the step above me and just watched the beauty of it all.

Willow wasn’t her mother, but that was what a family looked like. A happy family. A healthy family. The forever kind of family.

I’d never considered that I’d have something like that, much less be able to give it to Rosalee. Dating as a single dad was a nightmare. Between work and trying to be both a mother and a father for my daughter, I didn’t have a lot of time to build trust or a relationship. The idea of introducing a woman to my daughter who may or may not stick around was terrifying. Rosalee had a huge heart; she would have gotten attached. Basically like she had with Willow.

But strange as our situation might have been, it was quite possibly the only road that would have led me to a point where I was filled to the brim with happiness while watching my woman standing in the kitchen, making pancakes with my daughter.

Willow had lied to me. A lot.

But forgiveness had been a part of our bond from day one.

This would be no different.

“Eighty-seven plus twelve,” Rosalee asked.

Willow replied, but not with an answer. “Caven? You got this one?”

Busted!

Grinning like the damn fool I was, I stood up and ambled their way. “How’d you know I was there?”

She batted her eyelashes and dreamily stared off into the distance while patting her chest. “Because my heart was aflutter.” She shot a wink at Rosalee. “Nah, I’m kidding. I heard you come down.”

“Hey, Daddy!”

I went to my daughter first, kissing the top of her head. “How’d ya sleep, baby?”

“Good. Until a zebra attacked me.”

“What?” I turned her on the stool and tilted her head back to inspect her face.

“Willow said it was just a dream.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up, crazy? I’m the world’s best zebra defender.”

Willow cleared her throat. “She, um, woke me up. When she came into your room this morning. And found me… um, sleeping in your bed. I told her you would explain when you woke up. Her theory is I also had a bad dream and crawled into your bed.” She flashed her eyes wide. “Though there has been some conversation about us getting married because Jacob’s mom and dad sleep in the same bed and have babies, because Jacob says that babies are made when moms and dads sleep in the same bed. Sometimes from kissing but also from wrestling.” She flashed me a pair of wide eyes. “Care to explain?”

“Ohhhh,” I drawled, flicking my gaze back to Rosalee.

I’d known that her walking in was a possibility when I’d unlocked the door after the shower. It wasn’t often she came into my room anymore, but she’d occasionally pop in, such as in the case of when zebras attack. Willow had argued that she should sleep in the guestroom until we became a little more established and felt comfortable telling Rosalee about our relationship. But no fucking way after the last few days, weeks—hell, months—we’d had was I letting her sneak out of my bed. Besides, Rosalee had already been onto us when she’d thought her name was Hadley. She’d been the one to originally ask if I loved her and that was before I actually did love Willow. Or at least before I had admitted it to myself, anyway.

Now though…

There was no use in keeping secrets.

I sucked in a deep breath, looked my daughter right in the eye, and said, “So, I think I’m in love with Willow.”

“Caven,” Willow hissed, but I didn’t tear my eyes off my Rosie Posie.

Her face remained blank. “Is that why she was sleeping in your bed?”

“Yes.”

“So, you got married?”

I laughed. “No. For now, she’s just my girlfriend.”

“Like me and Jacob.”

“No,” I stated firmly. “You are not old enough to have a boyfriend. Much less a love expert like Jacob.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Did you kiss her?”

“Yep.”

“Caven,” Willow scolded.

“On the mouth?”

Among other places. “Yes.”

She shrugged. “So just like me and Jacob.”

I rolled my eyes. That was a battle for another day, perhaps when I had her boyfriend in a cargo container headed to Antarctica. “Sure. Fine. Whatever. Just like you and Jacob. Is that okay with you? Me and Willow being together.”

“Are you going to get married?”

It was my turn to shrug. “Eventually, some day.”

“Caven,” Willow breathed, but it was breathy and no longer scolding.

“Will she live here forever?”

“When we get married. Yeah.”

“Can she sleep on my tremble?”

“No.”

She crinkled her nose adorably. “Sometimes? Please.”