“Can’t say I’ve ever had that before, but it sounds tasty. I’m not sure that would be good for a fishing trip, though, because they’d get cold. What if I made them tonight for dinner? Would that be okay?”
Damn, she’s sweet.
Gabriel nods. “Yeah. Can you add extra pickles in mine?”
“Of course.”
I wink at her. “Thanks, wildflower.”
The smile she gives me is genuine, and I love that I put it on her face.
I bounce the boys on my knees. “Okay, my tiny terrors, who wants some ice cream? I need to drop off a contract at the bank, and then I was thinking the four of us should head into town for a scoop of pralines and cream. Paige is gonna help me organize my office, and I need to butter her up so she doesn’t quit on the first day. Think we can trick her into thinking she’ll have fun figuring out Daddy’s messy office?”
Gabriel giggles. “No one wants that job.”
“You stinker.” I tickle him until he squeals. I set the boys on the ground. “Go potty. We’ll leave in ten minutes. Gabriel, help Austin use the bathroom, okay? And y’all wash your hands afterward.”
The boys race away, and I watch Paige watch them.
She has a wistful smile on her face. “They’re beautiful, Rhett. They look so much like you.”
I take her hand in mine. “Thanks for being so patient with them. They’ll warm up to you.”
“Don’t worry about me. They’ve been through so much. I just want to make this easy for them. Who watches them during the day? They can stay with me if you need them to.”
“Wayne’s wife Pauline babysits while I’m working, but she might like a break once in a while.”
“I’d love that.” She gives me a smile that reaches her eyes. “I should get dressed.”
As she walks away, my eyes linger on her legs that I’ve been fantasizing about for the last week.
Although I’m grateful we didn’t fuck at the cabin, because that would’ve made things more complicated than they already are, I can’t stop thinking about the what ifs. What if I hadn’t had my phone with me and we’d continued things back in the cabin? What if I’d pulled her on my cock and fucked her till she screamed my name?
What if we’d simply carried on like a normal married couple once we got home?
Guess I’ll never know.
I’ve gotAustin in my arms while Gabriel walks on one side of me with his finger hooked in my belt loop. Paige, who’s at least two feet away, strolls next to me.
Main Street isn’t all that busy at this time of the afternoon, but a few people look at us funny.
“Darling, come here.” I hold open my free arm, and she realizes what I need and scoots closer.
“Sorry,” she whispers. “I don’t want to intrude on your time with the boys.”
Stopping, I turn to her. “Wildflower, no matter what happens, you’re family. You and Danny have always been family, you hear me?” Because I hope she realizes that just because we get divorced in a few months doesn’t mean I won’t be there for her.
She bites her bottom lip and nods.
I grab her hand and tug her closer. “This okay?”
“Yes.” Her lips twitch in what I think might be a smile.
When we reach Scoops, I catch our reflection in the window. Me and the boys and sweet, lovely Paige. It makes me think about what Sylvia said. That I could be happy in love if I do shit differently.
But what does that mean? I’ve been in this grind on the ranch for years. If I let up, everything’s gonna fall apart. Even before my father got sick and retired, the responsibility to keep our family afloat fell on me, especially after he disowned Isaiah.
I guess I need to be grateful. My brother has had a worse time of things than I have.
