Nuts (Hudson Valley, #1)(92)

I agreed.

As they made the last turn and pulled up beside me, I raised a hand in greeting. Roxie turned off the motor as Polly wrestled with her seat belt, eager to get out and race up and down the rows, like she did every time she came out here.

“Hey, Daddy!” she cried out, as I helped her unbuckle and swung her high.

“Hey, Pork Chop! Did you finish your homework?”

“I did; Roxie helped me. We stopped by the diner after school, and Miss Trudy gave me some pie.”

“A small piece,” Roxie explained with a sheepish look. “And who gives seven-year-olds homework, by the way?”

“I don’t mind, though. I learned all about the difference between cumulus and cumu . . . cumula . . . what is it called?” Polly asked, looking to Roxie.

“Cumulonimbus,” Roxie prompted, and Polly nodded her head vigorously.

“Yeah, cumulonimbles. They’re different types of clouds.”

“I see. And what are those over there?” I asked, pointing at the western sky, watching as she wandered and muttered to herself, trying to decipher exactly what was overhead. I took the opportunity to pull Roxie into me, stealing a kiss.

“Watch yourself, Farmer Boy,” Roxie sighed, the faintest bit of green showing in her eyes. “I’m not above groping you in front of the wee one.”

“She’ll be busy with her cumulonimbles for at least twenty minutes.” I grinned, my heart beating a little faster at having her in my arms again. “At least let me take a peek down your shirt. I’ll pretend a bee flew down there.”

“You’ll do no such thing. Besides, we need to save something for later,” she said, but her breath was coming faster.

“I can’t come by tonight, Sugar Snap. Mrs. Nyland had to go take care of her sister down in Yonkers, so I’ll be on Polly duty tonight.”

To keep things as routine as possible, there’d been no overnights at my place. Roxie was insistent on that. She came over all the time, but she never spent the night. I was hoping to make a change in that department sooner rather than later, but that was a conversation for another day. In a fancier setting.

“Oh no, I called in a few favors. My mom agreed to come over tonight and stay with Polly, so feel free to come stand outside my window anytime after eight. If you’re not there,” she breathed, more green appearing in now, “I’ll start without you.”

“Dangerous,” I groaned, kissing her lips and wrapping my hands around her hips, feeling those curves underneath my fingertips. She got breathy, like my girl always did when I kissed her gentle like this. Her hands slid down the front of my shirt, tugging me closer. As I bumped my hips into hers, her eyes popped open in surprise.

“Are those nuts in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?” she asked, her soft brown curls blowing wildly around her face.

I dug into my pocket, producing a handful of walnuts, which made her toss her head back and laugh in the way I loved. “Both.” I started to lean back in for another kiss.

“Roxie! I think I found a serious!” Polly pointed excitedly at the sky. “And kissing is gross, by the way.”

“I think you mean cirrus,” Roxie said with a chuckle, squeezing my hand. Then she ran into the field after my daughter, kneeling down next to her and looking up at the sky where Polly was pointing.

My heart felt like bursting as I watched my Pork Chop and my Sugar Snap study the clouds.