“They will. Jayden’s just very aware of…pretty people lately.” Connor grinned as he got up to go get dessert.
“If you only knew how many kids I’ve had to watch work through a crush on my wife…” Reese took Dana’s hand.
“I’m the first new person a lot of them spend any real time with. It’s special.”
“It’s adorable. I just didn’t expect to have so much five-year-old competition.”
Early laughed with Connor, even as Dana and Reese grinned at them.
They laid into Momma’s goodies, and the conversation slowed for a while, all of them focused on the sweet pastries.
“This is nice. Early and I were—are—so upset about this shit with Ian. But you’re good company. It’s hard to focus on it.”
Reese sighed softly, shook her head. “It sucks, having an asshole wandering around. At least we know what he looks like right? So we can keep him off the property.”
“That’s important. I don’t want him anywhere near the kids.” Connor shook his head.
“Of course not.” That was, surprisingly, Dana. “No predators around the children. Not under any circumstances.”
“So we know what we need to do here. Thanks, Dana. We appreciate the support. Sorry to drag you into this nonsense.”
Reese waved one hand. “I have reason to want him beaten down, no worries.”
“Turnovers?” Jayden hauled himself out of the pool. “Come on, Jax!”
“Uh-oh, here come the real troublemakers.”
Early snorted as Jayden went, “Da-aa-ad!”
“Take one each and go sit at the little table, guys. And when you’re done, it’s shower time.”
“What about the puppies? Should we take them out?”
Early rolled his eyes. “Tonight, yes. The dog run will be done tomorrow.”
“Oh. Puppies. Did you see my Sophie?” Connor’s eyes lit up.
“I did.” Dana beamed at Connor. “I’ll go pick up Molly this weekend. She’s so sweet.”
“We’ll have a whole pack running around.” Connor looked at him. “Demming will really have that run done by tomorrow? I don’t know if I can put Sophie in it; those Labs might mistake her for a chew toy.”
“His boys will, yeah. They’ve been together, babe. They’ll be okay. I bet Sophie is fierce.” Early thought that Connor was going to spoil that little girl to death.
“I guess we’ll see.” Connor shrugged.
Reese put her empty wine glass down. “We’d better get going. This has been a lot of fun.”
“It has. Y’all be careful going back to your place.”
“We will.”
Dana stood and looked toward the kitchen. “Can we help with the dishes?”
Connor stood too. “Thank you, but no. We’re good. I might be the only person on the planet that doesn’t mind dishes. Thanks for bringing the cheese. Anyone who shows up with cheese is a friend of mine.”
“Noted. I like to be friendly with my neighbors.” Dana gave Connor a hug, then came to him. “Do I have to call you ‘boss’?”
“Nope. Just Early.”