“DADDY! Daddy, I want pancakes! Chef Geoff says I can help if I want to. Daddy, are you awake? Can you take that thing off your leg? Where’s Papi?”
“Did someone feed y’all espresso?” He tried to blink awake.
“Daddy!” Dani wailed at him from across the room. “I need help! I’m all stuck.”
“Coming!” Stuck? Stuck where?
When he found her in the little bedroom, she was tangled in her sweater, her face obscured.
“Coming. Coming. Chill, girlfriend. It’s a little cool out there this morning, huh?” How the hell had she managed that?
“Did you have a sleepover, Daddy? Is that why Papi isn’t here?” That was Luce, watching them from the door.
“Papi had a party, and we watched Moana with Jennifer last night, remember?” Had Mat not come home last night?
“Okay. He’s not in his room.”
“Well, that’s okay. He gets up early.” He didn’t want to stress this, dammit. “I’ll text him for you.”
“’Kay! See if he wants mancakes!” Dani bounced around him in a circle.
“Be careful of Daddy’s foot, baby. Please.”
“Mancakes!” the girls hollered, Luce joining her sister. “Mancakes! Mancakes! Mancakes!”
“Hey!” He tried to step away, and naturally, he tripped. Flailing, he cried out, sure he was going down.
“Girls!” Strong hands caught him, Mat right there. “Daddy’s already hurt.”
“Matty.” Oh thank God. “Good catch.”
“I was on my way to see what we all wanted for breakfast.” Mat put Reid’s arm over his shoulders. “Bathroom?”
He looked at two very quiet little girls. “Please. I think pancakes might be welcome.”
Are you okay? Do you regret yesterday? Can we do it again?
“I’ll call up and see if they need a sous chef.” Mat winked at Luce. “I got you crutches.”
“You did?” He looked over, surprised and pleased.
“I did. I went down to Glenwood as soon as the medical supply opened.” Mat walked him to the bathroom. “You got it? I’ll get them finished dressing.”
“I do. Thank you. Did… did you have fun last night?”
“It was okay. The guys are nice, even if they make me feel old.” Mat grinned. “Your party looked way more fun.”
“Little Mermaid. Moana. Then? The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was a blast.”
“Jen sent pics.” Mat patted his ass, leaving him to do his thing.
“Traitor girl,” he muttered, but what he really focused on was that touch, that pat.
He got all washed up and used the doorframe to lever himself out to the main room.
“We’re going to go make pancakes, Daddy!” Dani looked over the moon. “Me and Sister both!”
“Oh?” God. Okay. “Let me get dressed.”
“Wear the blue shirt, Daddy. Papi likes that one.” Luce looked… downright devious.
“Does he?” He could do that, but how on earth did she know?
“He does. He always says ‘Daddy looks great in blue.’” She nodded firmly.
“Oh, that’s very nice. It’s nice to have someone say something like that about you.”
“It is! He always tells me when I wear blue. He says I look as good as you do in it.” She beamed. “Pancakes, Daddy. This is serious.”
“Right. Serious. Sorry.” Jesus Christ.
He hobbled in to get dressed, leaving the door open so he could hear the kids. Mat was back a few minutes after that, carrying a pair of aluminum crutches.
“Hey, querido. Try the height.”
“Thank you, darlin’. Seriously.” He took the crutches, nodded. “Perfect.”
“I thought so.” He got a broad wink. “You think we can hobble up?”
“I can.” He hoped.
“I’ll help.” Mat shot him a look that told him all sorts of things. Mostly “hello, sailor” sorts of things.
“I’ll let you.” It felt like they were having a conversation underneath their words.
“Like to hear that.”
“Papi! Let’s go!” Luce was dancing in place.
“Go on, darlin’. I’ll follow along after. It’s okay.”
“If you need us to stop, you holler.” Mat took both girls’ hands, leading them out.
Pretty man. He stood there, watching his family walk away. They made his heart swell with pride, which he’d always thought was like a literary hyperbole. No, it was true.
Mat looked over his shoulder. “Come on, querido. Now, hmm?”
“Right.” Okay. Crutches. God, it had been high school the last time he was on them. He knew he looked like a drunken bear, dancing around the gravel paths like an idiot.
Mat led him up the path, giving him incentive to get to the kitchen door with that tight, fine ass in Wranglers.
“My sous chefs!” The chef beamed, the rainbow dreads tied back with a silver lamé bandana. Wow. That was worth the price of admission and clomping up the relatively new-looking ramp.
“Chef!” Luce saluted, and Dani went to attention.
“Morning, dads.” Geoff grinned. “Sit. I’ll get coffee.”
“Dani is Lucia’s baby sister,” he warned. He wasn’t going to allow any knives or heat.
“I bet she would be exceptional helping Tiny make orange juice. The juicer needs a steady hand.” Geoff pointed out a cheap, safe-looking plastic juicer he would bet was there just for these situations.
“I can help!” Dani stood up, and a mountain of a man stepped forward. Her little eyes got huge, and she pushed into Reid’s arms. “Daddy?”
“Hello, Mr. Tiny, how are you?” He smiled and held out one hand to shake, hoping to calm her fears.
Tiny engulfed his hand in one huge one. “Good. Good. I got to gather eggs this morning, which always makes me smile.”
“Really? You have a chicken coop?” Reid made bawking noises, and Dani started giggling.
“We do! Those hens give us a lot of help.” Tiny winked at Dani. “All you have to do with me is squeeze oranges, kiddo.”
“Do you want me to do it, baby?”
Her little face scrunched up, and she shook her head. “No. No, Daddy. I do it.”
“Okay.”
Tiny took her hand. “Okay. Can you come with me?”
“My name is Daniela Louisa Harris-Porter.”
Reid loved how she said “harrisporter” all run together.
“I’m Tiny McLeod. Pleased to meet you.”
Her face got even more twisted. “What’s your real name?”
“Dani! Not nice!”
“No, no, it’s cool. My real name is Seamus Angus McLeod.”
“Wow! That’s so cool.” Lucia clapped her hands. “My name is Lucia Domenica Harris-Porter. See? We all have long names.”
“Right? I got nicknamed Tiny by my big brother years ago, and it stuck. Are you ready to juice oranges, Dani?”
“I am! Do I just hold it while the thing spins?”
“And push it down. We’ll do the first few together.”
God, these were good people. Reid could see why Jen loved it.
Matty’s hand landed on the small of his back, rubbing in tiny circles. Oh. He took a deep breath, then let it out.
“You look good, querido. Delicious.” The whisper made him shiver.
“I’m not breakfast,” he murmured, but Reid knew better. He would be a meal for Mat in seconds.
“I don’t believe that for a minute.”
“Oh.” He loved this. Just loved it. Mat was almost predatory. Like when they were dating. That focus was amazing. The stunning bastard made him silly.
“You left marks on me.”
He had to grin. He knew that. How could he not remember that?
“The guys gave me hell.” Mat’s grin turned wry.
“Oh.” Dammit. “Was it bad?”
“Nah. In fact, I think they were all impressed, but don’t feel weird if you get some looks.”
“Fair enough. I doubt they’ll know me.”
“I’m sure Alej will point you out.” Mat winked. “You don’t blend with that foot.”
“You mean it’s not my general studliness?”
“Oh, for sure. I love that part.” Those fingers traced the waistband of his sweatpants.
Goose bumps started where Mat’s fingers danced on his skin. Oh, Mat was going to make him hard. That was bad here in front of everyone, right? He reached back to catch Mat’s hand. “Be good, darlin’.”
“I don’t want to, querido. I’m tired of being good.”
“Daddy! Daddy, I made a pancake!”
“You rock, baby girl.” He glanced over, smiling at how carefully Geoff had thought out the pancake-maker situation. Luce had one of those kids’ pancake presses away from the stove, while Geoff was working a three-burner griddle.
“Good morning, son. Girls. Reid.” Patricia notably left him for last.
“Patty.”
She sniffed the air dramatically. “Oh, pancakes? Lucia, are you making them for me?”
“No. These are for Daddy and Papi. You can have the next ones, though.”
Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh.
Mat just hooted, taking away the need for him to worry. “Good morning, Mama. How are you this beautiful morning?”
“Hmph.” Patty glared at both of them, but she was fighting a smile.
“’Uelita! ’Uelita! Daddy weared his blue shirt so Papi would think he was pretty!”
Reid was going to beat Dani. Goofy girl.
“Well, of course he did.” She shook her head. “What are you making, bebe?”
“Oranges!” Dani looked like she was fixin’ to fly over the moon with joy.
“My talented girls.” Patty took the cup of coffee handed to her, smiling at Geoff. “Is it okay we’re in your kitchen, Geoff?”
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t mind at all.”
“They’re beautiful.” She took out her phone and snapped a few shots. “For me to remember them.”
Reid didn’t roll his eyes. Nope. Not him. No eye rolling. She acted like they didn’t live in the same city and didn’t see them for lunch at the plaza once a week.
That little voice of reason that he couldn’t seem to squash whispered, You did send the girls to Orlando for three months, man.
“They really enjoyed Disney. My parents wanted to visit with them before Lucia starts kindergarten this fall.” Be careful, Reid. You’re walking a slippery slope.
“Mm-hmmm.” She gave him a look only a jealous grandparent could achieve. “We’ll take a minute this week to talk about spring break, no?”
He started to agree, when Mat’s hand stroked his back. “Sí, Mama. We need to make some plans, eh? Me and Reid.”
Her eyes went wide, the fake lashes so big, Reid was afraid she’d hurt herself. “You and Reid, hmm?”
“Uh-huh, and I won’t have you making trouble.” Mat gave her a mock stern look.
“I would never cause trouble, mi’jo. Never.” Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Reid knew better. Patty wasn’t evil at all, but she could stir up shit when it would be better to let it go.
“Good. Pop is coming, right? Luce, make sure you make a huge stack for Pop-Pop.”
“He is. I texted him to let him know that his grandgirls were making breakfast.” She beamed across at the girls. “They’re getting so big.”
He almost told Patty about Jen’s news, but that wasn’t his to tell. No, Alej and Jen would do it in their time, and the joy on the grandparents’ faces was theirs alone.
Mateo? He might have to tell his lover. His girls’ father. His Mr. Right. Christ.
“Querido? Where are you?”
“Right here with you, darlin’.” He shook it off. “Can I do anything?”
“No. You can sit on your butt.”
Geoff nodded easily. “Would you like a footstool?”
“No. No, thank you. That’s awful kind of you to ask.”
Geoff refilled his coffee, barely missing a beat in pulling out pans of bacon and flipping pancakes. Tiny took platters off to the dining room then, while Geoff took pains to show Lucia how to plate like a chef.
Dani carefully brought one glass of juice over at a time, managing not to spill until her grandfather walked in. “Pop-Pop!”
Orange juice and glass crashed and splashed, and she burst into tears.
“Oops!” Pop swung into action, dancing her around like the cowboy he was. “Did you get it on you, baby?”
“I sorry! I breaked it!”
“I will clean it for you, Dani-belle. I will.” Lucia was a good girl, but there was no way he was going to let his five-year-old clean up glass.
“No, ma’am.” Mat shot up to grab a dishtowel. “You stay where you are. No glass for you.”
“That was very, very super-kind of you to offer, though. Thank you for thinking of your sister.” Reid worked hard to assure his girls grew up to be decent people.
“You’re a good egg.” Mat winked at Luce, then Dani. “And thank you for apologizing to Geoff and Tiny.”
“I didn’t mean to. Promise.”
“Of course you didn’t. People drop things.” A young man, maybe twelve or thirteen, came through. “I’m the clean-up guy. I’ve got this.”
“Thanks.” Mat backed off to let the kid work, coming to sit with him again.
“Can I have some of your juice, Dani?”
“I can make more!” Dani did love her Pop-Pop beyond all things.
“Oh, let’s share and eat. I want to go for a walk this morning and look at wildflowers, and I need company.”
“I like flowdies.” Dani let Pop put her in a chair.
“I like walks, Pop-Pop. Can I come too?” Luce was on her last nerve, Reid could tell.
“You can. I think we need to get some food in both of you. Should I flip pancake-ays, honey girl?” Pop drank some juice before trading places with Luce, who came and held her arms up to him, more like Dani than her more mature self.
“I’m tired, Pop-Pop. Cooking is hard.”
“Is it? I let Abuelita do most of it, but I like to make breakfast.” Pop picked her up and swung her around as he had Dani. “Have some juice. It will get all your blood swimming upstream again.”
“Ew! No bloods.”
“No? Okay, let’s eat and we’ll take your ’Uelita for a walk.”
“Aye, like I’m a dog, viejo.”
Pop laughed, and Mat chuckled, petting Reid until pancakes and bacon arrived. Then they were all too busy eating to talk.
Reid wasn’t sure how much Alejandro had to drink that he wasn’t here this morning.
He started grinning when the thought hit him that he knew exactly why Jen wasn’t here.
“What’s so funny, baby?” Mat asked low.
“I’ll tell you later. It’s a secret.”
“I like those as long as you share.” Mat’s fingers were a little sticky now, but they felt good on his arm.
“You know it. I promise.”
“Good deal. We going back to the cabin? I know you’re not up to wildflowers.”
“No, walking sucks right now. I’d love to go back with you.” There were a lot of things he’d love, to be honest.
“Woo.” The little hoot drew a stare from Patty, but she didn’t say anything.
He looked back, but he kept it easy. He couldn’t blame her. If someone broke up with one of the girls, that person would be wrong, no matter what. That was a parent’s job.
Mat just rubbed his arm a little more, then popped his last piece of bacon into his mouth. “That was good, ladies and gents.”
“It was excellent. Thank you all.”
Luce smiled at him. “I’ll make you pancakes at home, Daddy. Can we invite Papi for the first time?”
“Yes, baby. We can.” Because if nothing else, he wanted the girls to see them together.
“Okay. Pop-Pop! Come on.” Looked like Lucia was done being tired.
Patty cast her eyes upon them like only Mexican mamas could—that combined confidence that she could disintegrate you with one well-aimed chancla or fix anything on earth for you with her love alone.
He smiled, trying not to be smug that Mat was sneaking off to be with him….
All of the sudden, Patty stopped, smiled, and patted his hand. “I will pray for my boys.”
Oh, if she’d hexed him, he was going to shit a pink Twinkie.
She took Dani’s hand, and waved at them, smiling with all the wisdom in the world. “All my boys.”
Reid blinked. Was that—oh. Maybe she liked the direction of the wind? He sure hoped so.
“Thank you, Mama.” Mat shook his head and chuckled.
Geoff waited for all the others to leave the room before laughing and clapping his hands. “She is fierce.”
“You have no idea. I am—was—the son-in-law.”
“Ah. Well, good luck with that. Did you guys want anything to take back with you? Coffee or croissants or something?”
“Darlin’? You want anything?” He didn’t, but he could take a cup of coffee to go to be polite.
“I’d love some milk, actually. Do you have adult sippy cups?” Mat’s tone was wry.
“I work with cowboys. I have something manly for your milk.” Geoff produced a white disposable coffee cup with a lid. “Goat, cow, or almond?”
“Cow, please.” Mat spread his hands, just looking bemused. “You guys are magical.”
“Right? I get why Jen chose this place.” Reid nodded toward Geoff. “I can’t thank you enough for your generosity with the girls.”
“Oh, they’re amazing. Lucia really has a knack.” Geoff handed Mat a cup of milk and him a cup of coffee, even though he’d never said a thing.
“Your crutch, querido, I’ll carry.”
“Good idea. I’m not the best at these yet.”
“I get it.” Mat took the drinks, letting him hoist his ass up.
Lord, he was sore as a boil, but he stood up and made his way to the door. He didn’t want anyone to know how bad it was. He could rest after this was over. Get it all fixed.
“I’m in no hurry, querido. Take your time.”
“Oh, good. I might die.” He humped down the ramp, glad it was there. The stairs looked steep.
“That would be an enormous waste.”
“Shut up, dork.” God, that was good to hear. Teasing. Pride in him. He opened his mouth to shoot back, then jumped half a mile when his phone rang in his pocket.
“Don’t you fall!”
“I got it.” He grabbed his phone and opened it without looking. “Reid.”
“Hey, man, you got a minute?” His agent, Roger, sounded a bit harried.
“I do. What’s up?” Okay, crutching and talking on the phone was tough.
“I need you to look at a contract I just sent. Nothing needs to be signed, but I need a projection on production and timelines by about two.”
“Two. Okay. Production for what? What happened?” Close-mouthed bastard. He felt his tension building, his stress level rising.
“Well, I need a quote for Crate and Barrel. They love your more mod stuff and want an exclusive sugar and creamer.”
“Oh. Oh, wow.” He stopped, staring for a second at Mat. “I can do that.”
“Good deal. I know you’re out of town, but if you could review those files I sent and give me a projection of timeline and costs, I’ll get back to them.” Rog sounded so freaking smug. It was cute.
“I can. Yeah. I’ll get on it.” Wow. Wow, he was doing this, making it work. “You rock, man.”
“Hey. I just represent the talent. Call me if you have any questions, okay?”
“I will. Thanks.” He slipped the phone into his pocket and started crutching back toward the cabin.
“So, was that good?” Mat asked, following along behind him.
“I think so? I… yeah. It is.” Stressful, but good. God. He needed to look at the email and start sketching.
“Baby?” Mat touched his hip, catching up. “What is it?”
“Can we get in and then I’ll share? I’m a little shaky.” Shaky, scared, excited, amazed.
“Sure.” Mat opened up the cabin and let him in, steadying him when he wobbled.
“Thanks.” He sat hard, the world spinning for a second.
“Here, baby.” Mat handed him his coffee, which had cream and sugar in it, so it did the trick.
“Thank you. That was Rog.” Rog. On the phone. With another huge client.
“Rog is the… agent?” Mat sat down next to him, eyebrows up.
“Yes, the nonboyfriend agent.” Dork.
“So tell me what the heck is going on!” Mat poked his pec.
“Crate and Barrel. They want a sugar and a creamer.”
“That’s exceptional.” Mat’s eyes went wide. “For real, baby.”
“Uh-huh. Scary, but exciting.” He was going to have to rehire someone from the service to help with the girls.
“That’s really—”
Mat was cut off because Reid’s phone rang again.
“God, when Rog gets going. Hello?”
“Did you get that email?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I just hobbled inside!”
“Well, good, because I just sent an amended form. They want a salt and pepper too. How soon?”
“Please. Give me a minute. I’ll look and get back to you.” God, his head hurt.
“Okay. Will do.” The phone clicked, and he sighed.
“Do I need to let you work?” Mat asked.
“Probably. I mean….” Reid, man. He left you because you weren’t making your half of the bills. “He wants me to look over the contract and make some timelines.”
“Okay. Uh. If it won’t bother you, I’ll get my laptop and do some stuff while you do that.” He couldn’t tell what Mat was thinking. Not one bit.
Right. You can either bite your tongue or take a shot at the best thing ever. “We could snuggle on the couch.”
“We could.” Now he knew what Mat was thinking. The man was beaming at him, eyes dancing. Someone was pleased.
“Look at you. It’s almost like you lust after my bod.”
“I lust after all of you. Bod, brains, heart.”
“Oh.” Oh God. Him too. He tried to speak, but all he could do was put all he felt into his gaze and pray.
“Turn our phones off?” Mat pulled his out and turned off the sound before setting it on the bedside table.
He watched Mat, just sitting there with his teeth in his mouth, totally off-balance.
In fact, he sat there long enough that Mat shifted restlessly. “If that’s not okay….”
“No. No, I don’t mind. Your folks have the girls.” He trusted them. They loved their grandbabies.
“Cool. Come on, baby, give it up. You don’t want to end up like me.” Mat held out his hand.
“Shit, I’m doing this for you, for us.”
“Doing what?” Mat shook his head. “Snuggling first? I think we have a lot to talk about, but I want to love on you.”
“Please.” That sounded like a dream. Could they do that? Just hold each other?
“Cool.” Mat took Reid’s phone when he handed it over, then hoisted him off the bed. “Couch. If we stay here, we’ll only get interrupted.”
Then Mat manhandled him to the sofa.
He laughed, his ankle barely twinging. “Right. No nakey.”
“No. Mama is waiting to interrupt us. You know she is.”
“That woman is… amazing.”
“God. She’s on the warpath.” Mat eased him down on the couch. “She’s not as mad at you as you think, but she wants you to suffer.”
“You think?” Patty hated him a little bit.
“Yeah.” Mat kissed his cheek when he sank down on the couch too. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
The world just stopped. God, he’d worried for years. Every day. Every fucking second. “You do?”
“I do.” Mat said it firmly, reaching out to grab Reid’s hand. That strong, tanned hand felt good wrapped around his. Really good. What a simple thing, but in a lot of ways, it was better than sex.
“Good.” Also scary and wonderful.
“Yes.” Mat squeezed his hand, then let go to wrap an arm around him. They leaned, barely rubbing shoulders. He loved how Mat smelled, and more than that, he loved how they smelled together.
That was the hardest part of getting their divorce. Half of him seemed to have disappeared.
He held on, telling himself he would absolutely not tear up. No way.
This was too good to waste on being all weepy. He breathed in and out, feeling Mat match him breath for breath.
“I miss you.” He hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but he did.
“I know. I think that’s why I was so mad about the nanny. I was like, I could help.”
“I wanted you to be proud of me.”
“I am.” Mat sighed. “I feel like… like if we’d just talked more.”
“I was so hurt, so pissed off, and then….” Then it was over and lawyers were involved.
“I know.” Mat laughed, ribs shaking against his. “I feel like an ass.”
“You have a fine one. I can’t believe you aren’t taken, that no one snapped you up.” Please don’t say I’m wrong. Please God.
“Mmm. Nope. I really haven’t looked, baby.” Mat hugged him even closer.
“No. No, I—”
“No? Are you okay?” Mat leaned back to stare at him.
“I still love you.” No, he wasn’t okay.
“Oh, baby. I love you too. That was never the question.”
He held Mat’s hand, forcing himself not to tremble. God, this was ridiculous—they’d spent thousands of dollars, months of time.
“Shh. We can do this slow.” Mat stroked his arm.
“I feel like I did when we first hooked up.” Caught in Mat’s energy.
“Me too. Everything is shiny and new.”
“Even me?” He hadn’t felt shiny in a while.
“God, yes. I love how you scratched up my back.” Mat moaned a tiny bit.
“Can I see?” His mouth was dry, and he had to force himself to sit still.
“Uh-huh.” Mat sat up and untucked his shirt, then pulled it off. The scratches were clear, red, and he could only imagine how they’d looked last night. He reached up and traced one and then another, groaning softly.
“Mm-hmm. Yeah. They still burn a little.”
“Do they?” He leaned in, feeling wild, daring to lick along one of the stripes.
“Fuck. Oh, baby, I thought we were going to be snuggling.”
“Uh-huh. I was trying to help.”
“You little liar.” Mat turned around and kissed him, the connection like to burn him to the ground.
He felt that kiss from his tongue to the tips of his toes. So good, and all he could do was cling to Mat.
The door was flung open, Dani running in. “Daddy! I have to potty!”
He blinked and pointed before he even found his words.
“Papi! Put your shirt on!” Luce sounded absolutely shocked—not as shocked as Patricia looked, of course, but still, pretty damned shocked.
“Okay, kiddo. Daddy was scratching my back.”
With my tongue. “Totally.” Reid nodded, smiled, and handed Mat his shirt.
Mat shrugged into his shirt to take Dani to the potty, and Lucia ran into the bedroom area, leaving him with Patty.
Patty stared at him, glaring. “What are your intentions with my son?”
To ride him into the ground? “What?”
“You heard me.”
Reid rolled his eyes but managed not to sigh. “Patty—”
Her eyebrow winged up. Dammit.
“Sorry, Patricia. I’m not going to discuss that with you. Not until Mat and I decide ourselves.” That was fair enough, right?
“Well, you broke him, so if you aren’t going to fix him, think long and hard about what you are going to do.”
Jesus fucking Christ. He was always going to be the bad guy, no matter what, wasn’t he? “I—”
“We broke each other.” That was Mat. “Please, Mama. Let it be.”
“Ay de mí!” She threw her hands in the air. “I’m trying to help! People who work hard at things stay married.”
“We have some things to discuss.” He was going to be calm.
“Good. Maybe you two will get your heads out of your asses!”
“Don’t you cuss at my daddy!” Lucia’s eyes were lit up and furious as she put her little body between Patty and them. “My daddy is nice, and Papi loves him.”
“Of course he does. I do too, so I get mad at them.”
He stared at his daughter, then at Mat, then at Lucia again. “Lucia, you don’t be rude to your Abuelita.”
“But, Daddy….”
“Lucia Domenica, what did Daddy say?”
She burst into tears. “Stop it! I just want us all to be happy again.” Then she spun around and ran to the other cabin.
Patty stared at them, opened her mouth, and Mat cleared his throat. “Mama, can you…?”
“Sí. Sí. I’ll see you at supper, no?” She whirled and left too. Dani stood there, watching, her eyes huge.
“Dani, stay with Daddy and protect him. I’ll go get Luce and we can all snuggle, okay?”
Dani launched herself at him, managing—just—not to hit his ankle or his balls, thank God.
“Are we in trouble, Daddy?”
Him? Oh, yeah. “No, baby. We’re all stressed-out and tired.”
She nodded, so seriously. “We are. It’s hard to be us.”
“And we don’t even have Dolly to wag and lick and make us feel better.”
“Yeah.” Dani frowned, looking so serious. “Can we go home to our real house, please? I’m tired of staying with Granny.”
“We will, baby. I promise. I only… they wanted to see you for a while.” He wasn’t gonna toss anyone under the bus, not even him or Mat.
“You promise for real? I can go to school at home?” Lucia was in tears, clinging to Mat.
“Yep. We’ll figure all this out, kiddo.” Mat gave him a smile over Luce’s head. “Back to bed, baby?”
“Do you want to all come watch a movie together? Rest?” Please?
“With Papi too?” Dani asked. “Jen was fun, but I want Papi.”
“If Papi wants to, I think that would be great.”
“I do. So bad.” Mat set Luce on the floor to hold out a hand to Reid. “Up we go.”
He let Mat pull him up, steadying himself before he wrapped one arm around Mat. “Let’s go, darlin’.”
“What are we watching today, ladies?” Mat asked. “Beauty and the Beast? Brave?”
“Snow White!” Luce said, and Dani frowned deeply.
“No! The witch is mean!”
“How about something like Despicable Me?” The girls could fight over Disney for hours. Except Moana, which they had already watched.
“Minions!”
“Nicely done,” Mat whispered.
“Thanks.”
Boom. They would call up for snacks after and just spend a lazy day, since the bride and her posse were riding out soon.
He couldn’t wait.