Page 23 of So Much More
He tickles me and I fall off his lap when I squirm away from his hand. The next thing I know, I’m cradled in his arms, and he’s carrying me toward my bedroom.
My eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
He stops. “Tucking you into bed. Is that okay?”
I swallow hard and nod. “Yes, but I need to take off my makeup and brush my teeth first.”
“Okay.” He carries me to the bathroom door and sets me on my feet. “Do what you need to do, and then I’ll tuck you in.”
“You don’t have to tuck me in.”
“I do. No arguing.”
“Yes, sir.”
I take care of my evening routine, and when I exit the bathroom, Randall is inspecting the family photo hanging on the wall outside my room. He holds out his hand to me, and I take it. Then he pulls me so my back rests against his front, facing the picture.
He says, “These are the brothers I’ve heard you talk about?”
I nod. “Daniel and Ryan. They’re nineteen and seventeen. And that’s my mom, obviously, and my dad.”
“Is your dad’s name O’Halloran, or is that Jack’s last name?”
“It’s my dad’s name. He adopted me when I was ten.”
Randall’s arms wrap around my shoulders from behind. “Jack gave up parental rights?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. That must’ve been hard.”
“It’s okay. It still hurts sometimes to think about it, but my dad is the best dad anyone could ever ask for. And I did technically ask him to be my dad. He and Mom dated for several years before she agreed to marry him. Dad and I finally wore her down. He wanted the three of us to be a family, and I wanted nothing more than for him to be my dad.”
“He sounds like an amazing guy.” Randall’s voice is wistful, and my heart goes out to him.
“He is.” I spin in his arms so I can look up at him. “I’m sorry things are so hard with your dad.”
“Me, too, but that’s a topic for another night.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “Let’s get you to bed.”
He follows me into my room, and when I slip under the covers, he pulls them up to my chin, kisses my forehead, and then sits on the edge of the bed next to me.
“You gonna tell me why you have a framed photo of Patrick Swayze on your dresser?” he asks, lips twitching.
My face heats as my eyes shoot to the photo in question. “Uh, you weren’t supposed to see that.”
“Oh, but I did, and unless you want me spreading this information around, you need to tell me the story behind it.” He grins.
I force myself not to smile back. “Fine. If you look closely, you’ll see it’s signed.”
Randall looks over at the picture again, squints his eyes, and nods his head. “I do see that. It’s even made out to you. But that explains nothing.”
“I’m a fan, okay? And my brothers thought it would be hilarious to write him a love letter on my behalf. A month later, they got that signed photo in the mail. They gave it to me for Christmas, and they made me promise I’d display it for at least a year. I thought it was funny, so I agreed. Whenever they visit, they check to make sure it’s still there.”
“So do I need to worry about Mr. Swayze swooping in and whisking you out of my arms and off to Hollywood?”
“I wouldn’t say that’s out of the realm of possibility. My brothers also sent him my photo.” I smirk at him.
He places his hand over his heart and gives me a pained look. “Then I’m doomed. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist coming for you.”
