“He sounds like a very special young man.” Mike glanced at the girls. “I think the girls inherited his charm. They had me eating out of the palms of their hands today.”
“Don’t think we didn’t notice you sending them to the cookie tray for you,” Reba said. “Your doctors are not going to be happy.”
Mike scoffed, swatting his hand dismissively. “You saw nothing of the sort.”
“Our grandfather is a sucker for little girls and for sweets,” Madigan said. “He used to sneak candy bars to me and Ashley when we were little.”
“Now he bribes us to sneak them to him,” Maverick said, and everyone laughed.
Chloe gave him a stern look, and Maverick leaned in for a kiss, turning the harsh expression to something much warmer. Tank had never been a jealous man, but hell if he didn’t wish he could have done that with Leah a hundred times today. It had taken more than a year for Chloe to let go of her preconceived notions about Maverick and see there was something special between them. Tank was confident that his and Leah’s time would come.
“A man’s got to enjoy himself,” Mike grumbled, bringing Tank’s mind back to the moment.
“That’s my motto,” Gunner said with a smirk.
Mike eyed Gunner. “How about you enjoy yourself into marriage and make me some great-grandchildren?”
Preacher clapped a hand on Gunner’s shoulder and said, “Better find the one quickly, son, or Mav and Chloe will beat you in the grandchild race.”
“Yes, Gunny, how about you do that?” Ginger said.
Gunner pushed to his feet. “I think I hear Undercover calling my name.” Undercover was a nightclub in a nearby town. “Who’s coming with me?”
“Me!” Madigan popped to her feet, her mahogany hair bouncing around her shoulders. She’d cornered Tank earlier to tell him how much she loved Leah and the girls.
Blaine stood and put an arm around Madigan. “Guess that means I’m going.”
Madigan rolled her eyes. “Stop acting like I need a chaperone.”
Tank and Blaine exchanged a glance. They worried about Madigan. She’d gone overseas for a semester of college as a starry-eyed girl and had returned focused, driven, and different. Within a year she’d started the Mad Truth About Love greeting-card line, which made fun of the more difficult aspects of relationships. Between that and her puppeteering, she rarely dated. She claimed she’d just grown up, but Tank and Blaine had other beliefs about what had gone down when she was too damn far from home.
“We’re in.” Zander stood and dragged Zeke up by his sleeve.
“Dude, I’m really not into babysitting you tonight,” Zeke said.
“Good,” Madigan said sharply. “Zeke can keep Blaine busy so I can dance.”
“I think it’s time we get Mike home, too,” Ginger said, and they all decided to call it a night.
As they said their goodbyes, Leah hugged Zander and said, “Thank you for learning River’s favorite songs. It meant a lot to me.”
“Anytime. If the girls ever want to hear someone play, I’m happy to stop by, or you and Tank can bring them by my place,” Zander said. “I’d offer to teach them, the way River was doing, but I don’t read music and I suck at teaching. But Mads could teach them. She taught me.”
“I sure can.” Madigan hugged Leah. “Aunt Ginger told me you and the girls are cooking with her next Sunday. Would you mind if I joined you? I love cooking, and I’ll bring my guitar and play for Junie and Rosie.”
“That sounds fun,” Leah said.
After many hugs, they loaded Tank’s truck with leftovers, the memory boards, and the pictures from the pennant string and headed back to Leah’s cottage. She was quiet on the drive, gazing out the passenger window. When they arrived, they carried the girls inside, and while Leah changed them into their pajamas and put them to bed, Tank brought the rest of their things inside. He put away the leftovers and set up the easels with the poster and memory board on the far side of the living room.
It had been hell keeping his affections to himself today, and when Leah came out of the girls’ room in her bare feet and black dress, looking sweet, beautiful, and exhausted, Tank wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and hold her. But the ball was in her court, and out of respect for her need for space, he’d take his cues from her.
She closed the girls’ door most of the way and came to him.
“I didn’t intend for the night to go on so long,” he said quietly. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t you dare apologize. Everything about today was wonderful. I talked to so many people about River and the girls, and it helped a lot. The girls have never had so much love in their lives.”
“I hope you felt that affection, too.”
“It would be hard not to. I’ve never known a family like yours, or people like the ones you introduced me to today.” She stepped closer, nibbling on her lower lip, which he was aching to kiss. “I’ve never known anyone like you, Tank.” She gazed up at him with trepidation and what looked a hell of a lot like hope in her eyes. “I was wrong about needing space. I missed you last night, and the whole day felt off. I felt off. The girls asked for you a million times. I don’t know how to protect them, but I don’t think staying away from you is the answer.” Her brows knitted, and she spoke just above a whisper. “That is, if you haven’t changed your mind, because I’d understand if you—”
Her words were silenced by the hard press of his lips. He crushed her to him, pouring all the emotions he’d been holding back into their connection. She tasted sweet and strangely familiar, like their kisses the other night had obliterated everything that came before them. She made lustful noises that burned through him. He lifted her onto the counter, wedging himself between her legs, and buried his hands in her hair, deepening their kisses. He fucking loved the feel of her hair wrapped around his fingers, her sensual mouth devouring his. He wanted to strip her naked and bring her so much pleasure, she would have no space for sadness, but a voice in his head warned him to slow down. He fisted his hands in her curls to keep from running them down her gorgeous body, but he didn’t want to pull back. He wanted to soak up every kiss she was willing to share, to bury himself deep inside her and stay for fucking ever.
But that would make him a dick, so he forced himself to draw back and touched his forehead to hers, careful not to brush her stitches. “I haven’t changed my mind,” he panted out, and drew back just far enough to look into her eyes. “I won’t change my mind, Lee, and I’ll do my best not to let the girls get hurt. That’s a promise.”
“I know you will.” Tears dampened her eyes.
His chest constricted. “Aw, hell. You’re crying. I shouldn’t have kissed you so aggressively. I’m sorry. I got carried away.”
“It’s not that. I love the way you kiss me. It’s just that I’ve been trying to get up the courage to tell you how I felt all day. Now it’s like a dam burst, and that’s a great feeling, but on the heels of all that goodness are thoughts of today, the cemetery, knowing this was it. This was goodbye to River.” She buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry. I promise it’s not you.”