“I guess so…” she trails off.
Prickles stab at my nape. “I was going to call, but decided to make this a secret visit.”
Millie bounces in place. “Oh, I love surprises from you.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t mention stopping over.”
“I see.” Keegan squints at me. “All right, what’s up?”
Millie tugs on her mom’s shirt, pointing at the present I’m carrying. “Look, Mama. He got you something.”
Such a cutie, this little girl. I wink down at her. “Actually, this is for you. I’m always taking your mom out, right? Your turn is overdue. If that’s okay with the boss lady.”
Keegan crosses her arms, popping out a hip for good measure. “If you’re planning on walking. There’s no way she’s going anywhere on your bike.”
I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “Good thing I have alternative transportation.”
She peers around my shoulder, catching sight of the basic sedan in her driveway. “Whose car is that?”
“Mine. Just bought it yesterday.” Did I just puff my chest out a bit? Absolutely.
“Why?”
“So I can take Millie out without having you worry. The same booster you have for her is already strapped in the backseat.”
Keegan drops her jaw, a breathy exhale wheezing out of her. “Wow, that’s incredibly thoughtful. You’ve officially crossed over into the very sweet category.”
I give a little shake to my shoulders and straighten a very imaginary tie. “That’s what I was going for.”
She purses her glossy lips. “Nicely done, Ford.”
“Are you beginning to believe me?”
Her eyes flick over me from ball cap to boots. “Yeah, this definitely helps your case.”
Millie must reach the end of her patience, hopping onto the porch beside me. “Where are we going?”
“That’s up to you, Peep. Why don’t you open this first?” I pass over the box with a massive bow on top.
She rips into the paper, scraps flying in every direction. A squeal bursts from her when she opens the lid. “Oh my gosh, this is amazing!”
Millie whips the pink leather jacket out of the confetti tissue, pressing it to her chest. The beaming smile she flashes at me could melt all of the snow in Antarctica.
“Do you like it? The lady at the store told me this should be your size.”
“I love it!” She slips it on, revealing a perfect fit.
“Looks great on you, Peep. What do you think, Kee?” When I glance at Keegan for approval, she’s pressing a palm over her mouth. My gut clenches when I catch sight of the moisture glistening in her emerald gaze. “Are you okay?”
She nods, far too fast. “Mh-hmm.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.” She chokes on a swallow. “This adorable display is kicking me straight in the feels.”
“Uh, okay. Is that good?”
“Very. You won’t have to put in extra effort to spend the night.”
Fucking score. I almost pump my fist, except that would defeat the purpose. “That’s not why I’m doing this. I wanna take Millie out.”
“Oh, I believe you. And that makes me very…agreeable.”
It’s my turn to sputter down a rough gulp. “Great. That’s really…exciting.”
A soft sigh has me looking down at Millie. Her gaze is jumping between Keegan and me. “You’re so in love.”
Now my throat is clogging for real, nearly suffocating me. “Slow down, Peep. That’s serious business you’re talking about. We’re just taking things slow. Building trust and all that.”
Keegan rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “He’s right, baby girl. The love we share is for you.”
I can get on board with that. “Yeah, what your smart mama said.”
Millie frowns at us. “But I want us to be a family.”
Pretty sure my eyes bug out. Are we nearing that stage in the game? Shit. I open and close my mouth in rapid succession before getting any words out. “Um, well, I dunno know about all that.”
Keegan wraps an arm around her daughter, squeezing them together in a hug. “You’re my family, sweetie. Anyone else we gain along the way is a bonus, okay?”
Millie nods against her mother’s shoulder. “M’kay, Mama.”
“Go have fun with Ford. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.”
That reminder prompts a flip in her attitude. Millie straightens and returns to my side. “Can we go to your shop?”
“That’s where you wanna go?”
“Uh-huh, yep. I never got to go back after you told me I could. My mama kept making excuses.”
Well, shit. Millie is welcome at my garage any day of the week. “All right, it’s settled. You can bring Elsa. I’m sure Patch would love to play with her.”
“Yay!” She thrusts a hand up into the air, and I give her another high-five.
Keegan steps outside with Elsa flanking her. She passes me the leash with a smile. “Thanks for thinking of doing this. You’ll be her hero for life, if you weren’t already.”
I stroke a thumb along her soft jaw. “Just the first of many.”
She sighs, leaning into my touch. “Be careful about being too sweet, Ford. I might catch feelings of the romantic variety, and they’re contagious.”
I bend to whisper in her ear. “Whatever it takes to get you naked faster.”
Keegan shoves me away with a scoff. “Such a horn ball.”
“Don’t pretend to be offended. You like it.” I let my voice drop to the low octave that makes her shiver.
“Okay, get outta here. Have fun and be safe.”
Millie waves and blows her mom a kiss. “See you soon!”
“We’ll only be gone a few hours. I’ll have her back for dinner.”
Keegan bites her lip. “Maybe you’ll eat with us?”
I wink at her, tugging the brim of my hat down low. “Only a fool would turn down an offer like that.”
In the next beat, Keegan rises onto her toes and loops her arms around my shoulders. I return her embrace, wrapping her up against me. She hums and erases any sliver of space remaining between us.
I press my lips to her hair, inhaling a shot of paradise. “What’s this for?”
She nuzzles against my chest. “Just because.”
“I’ve never hugged just for the sake of hugging.”
“It’s nice, right?”
I think about that for a moment, but not out of uncertainty. There’s no need to
