“But she’s here now. And that was your doing, too.”
She reverently closed her eyes. “Christ, how are you people so nice?”
I smiled. “I guess, what God forgot to give me in cool, he made up for with nice.”
She laughed and opened her eyes. “Thank you. For, you know, opening your home to us and being so kind. This could be really awkward and you’re making it…well, easy.”
“The same goes for you, ya know.”
She focused on the ground and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “So, you wanna meet her?”
My smile grew. “I would love to.”
Her head lifted, and a shy smile played on her lips. She pointed over my shoulder. “She likes your dog.”
I didn’t know how I’d missed her getting out of the car, but as I spun around, the entire world disappeared except for a little, blond girl with ringlet curls, blazing, green eyes, and the most amazing smile I had ever seen.
Heath had her on his shoulders, and Roman was holding Loretta up for her to pet.
I didn’t care one bit that four armed DEA agents were looming around us.
Or that my dining room had been converted into a security room that now housed bodyguards.
Nor did I care that Leo James and two new guys named Jude and Ethan were waiting on the other side of my door to give us all a security briefing.
No. I couldn’t have cared less.
That moment was perfect.
Just like her.
“She’s gorgeous.” I whispered.
“Inside and out,” Clare replied. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
She walked away, but I couldn’t move.
“Mama! Her name Retta,” she told Clare as she dove off Heath’s shoulders and into her mother’s arms.
Clare smiled over her shoulder at me before whispering something in Tessa’s ear.
Then my heart burst with absolute love.
“Hey, Lisbeth,” she called out in an angelic voice.
And she’d pronounced the S. I was sure it was because she couldn’t say her Zs yet. But I took it as a sign.
Roman’s face lit when we made eye contact. He lifted his chin in a silent order for me to join them, but that wasn’t what got my feet moving.
“Wanna see da dog?” Tessa yelled, pointing at Loretta.
I’d had, and loved, that dog for five years, but I’d never been so excited to “see” her in my entire life.
“I’d love to,” I laughed, walking over, my heels sinking into the grass.
“She like balls?” Tessa asked Roman.
He chuckled. “Nah. Loretta’s only trick is not spilling a drop as she pees inside my shoes.”
“It was one time when she was a puppy, Roman. It’s time you let that grudge go,” I teased, sidling up beside him. “She doesn’t like balls,” I informed Tessa. “But she has squeaky toys inside that she likes to chew on. Wanna see?”
She cautiously looked up at her mom and then over to Heath. “We go inside?”
“Yeah, sweet girl,” Heath answered, lifting his hand for a high-five Tessa enthusiastically returned.
“I made cookies,” I blurted as everyone started toward the door. “Well, it’s more like a cookie bar. I didn’t have a cookie sheet and they all melted together, but we can cut it into cookies.”
“Yes!” Tessa shrieked, patting Clare on the shoulder. “Can we have cookies, Mama? Please. Please. Pleeeeeease.”
Clare tightened her lips as she gave me a side eye, but her words were for her daughter. “I don’t know. It depends on what kind they are.”
“Uh…Chocolate chip?” I said nervously.
What if Clare was some kind of health nut and didn’t allow Tessa to have sweets? I really should have broached this topic with her before offering her kid cookies. Damn.
Clare frowned at Tessa. “Sorry, baby.”
Only the little girl didn’t look even remotely upset. She laughed wildly. “You can’t eat dem all!”
Clare poked out an exaggerated pouty lip. “But, but, they’re my favorite.”
Tessa continued to giggle, and my worries drifted away.
“How about you grab Mrs. Elisabeth’s hand and the three of us will race and see who gets there first?”
My breath hitched, and a chill prickled the hairs on the back of my neck.
Oh God.
Tessa cautiously looked up at me as if weighing her decision. She once again looked over to Heath, who gave her a smile and a short nod, before she lifted her tiny hand up in my direction.
I had been wrong earlier. That was the moment when my heart burst with absolute love.
I took her hand in mine and tried to keep the moisture swimming behind my lids at bay.
She grinned. “I hope you fast. Mama loves chocolate chip cookies.”
I barked a laugh and the tears spilled out. I did my best to hide them, but they wouldn’t stop.
She was perfect.
Head to toe.
Inside and out.
Clare gave me an understanding smile and put me out of my misery by issuing a, “One, two, three, go.”
She pulled up on Tessa’s arm, and I did the same, swinging her off her feet as we headed to the front door, Heath and Roman on our heels.