Intent(58)

“I didn’t even know you two were married.”

“We’re not,” he replies, then his gaze swings to meet mine. “Yet.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Stella replies curtly.

“We’re adopting a baby. The rest will come in time.”

“In my day, that was just unheard of.”

“Welcome to this century, Stella,” Ace deadpans.

“I love the entire set. We’ll take it—every piece,” I interject to change the subject.

“Don’t you want to know how much it costs first?” Stella asks condescendingly.

“No, we don’t. We already know we want it, and we’re very tenacious when there’s something we want,” I reply confidently.

Stella’s attempt at a smiling response looks like she’s experiencing equal parts of severe pain and horrible distaste. But a large sale in a town this small can’t be turned away, no matter how much she wants to deny us, so she marches to the counter and writes out our purchase order. “When and where would you like it delivered?”

“My house,” Ace replies. “On your next available delivery date. Layne and I want to get the nursery ready as soon as possible.”

Stella takes her time checking her calendar planner before she gives us a timeframe. “We can fit it on the delivery truck one week from tomorrow. How does that sound?”

“That actually works out perfectly. It’ll give us time to paint or anything else we want to do first,” I reply.

Ace wraps his arms around me from behind and leans his chin on my shoulder. He sweetly kisses my cheek and nuzzles into my neck. “Great idea, my love.”

After I pay for the furniture and delivery, Ace and I walk through the store with one arm wrapped around each other. Ace calls over his shoulder as we walk out the door. “Thanks for your help, Stella. See ya later.”

She harrumphs loudly, conveying her disgust and displeasure with us, despite the exorbitant amount of money I just spent in her store. “She is such a lovely lady. Thank you for introducing me to her,” I joke with Ace.

“You’re the one who wanted to go in that store,” he reminds me. “You were supposed to hijack my truck and go shopping in Atlanta. Since you didn’t, that means you don’t have to get up as early in the morning.”

“Yeah. So?”

“That means I can keep you up later tonight,” he replies, his tone low and seductive. “We have the house all to ourselves, and we still have rooms left to christen.”





Chapter Nineteen





ACE



“Are you sure you don’t mind if I take her away for a couple of weeks?” Lily asks me for the third time.

“It’s. Fine. Lily,” I overly enunciate each word. “Stop asking me that. River will have fun at the beach with you.”

“With summer school over, I don’t have to go back to jail for several more weeks.”

“High school is like jail?” I laugh.

“Yes! It’s been a long time since you were in high school, Ace.” She shakes her head at me and I envision her chastising her students. “River, it’s time to leave and let your daddy work. We’re going back to my house to pack our suitcases for our beach trip!”

“Yay!” River jumps up and down on her toes while wearing the cutest smile on her beautiful little face.

“Come give me some love before you leave me here to slave away while you have fun at the beach.” I kneel and hold my arms out toward her.

She skips toward me while singing, “Daddy has to work. We get to play!”

The corners of my eyes crinkle in mock threat when I look at my sister. “What have you been teaching my daughter?”

“She knows I’m way more fun than you are. I didn’t have to teach her that,” Lily retorts.

With River wrapped securely in my arms, I stand and squeeze her to my chest. “Got you! I changed my mind. You can’t leave me.” With that, I take off running with River, her squeals of laughter echoing through the valley.

“Daddy! Put me down,” she laughs. “You have to work. I get to play!”

“You stay here and work so I can go to the beach and play.”

“Nope.”

“You don’t play fair.”

“I know.”

“You have all kinds of female problems,” Lily chimes in.

“How’s that?”

“You’re wrapped around River’s little finger, but you’re also wrapped around Layne’s,” she smiles slyly. “Don’t even deny it.”

“Deny it? I have no reason to hide it.” I pin her with my gaze as I put River down. With my arms folded over my chest, I advance on Lily until I’m invading her personal space. “Is there anything you want to tell me? Something you’re hiding?”

Her eyes grow wide, her lips part with an unexpected gasp, and it’s obvious she’s running the scenarios through her mind. Does he know? Should I tell him? My sister has never been able to hide anything from me.

All through our teenage years, she tried to hide her boyfriends from me, but I always tricked the information out of her. Then threatened to beat the shit out of them if they touched her. The fact that she thinks she has me fooled now amuses me. I’m not ready to reveal what I know, so I’ve allowed her to think I’ve been none the wiser.