“You have fun today?” Vic asked. He ruffled his little—big—man’s curls.
Kian turned to him with his infectious grin. “Today was the best day ever!”
Vic’s eyes met Tachina’s over their son’s head. Kian went into a summary of all the games he’d played, but Vic didn’t hear a word he said. She was following what their son was saying and commenting.
He agreed with his son.
Today had been the best day ever.
There was no denying what he felt every time he looked at Tachina.
Not anymore.
Maybe he hadn’t wanted a true future with Sydney. Not marriage. Not children. He had never been able to give her a real reason why when she’d questioned him.
But maybe he’d been waiting on the right person.
He’d been waiting for her.
Tachina.
As she glanced up and caught him staring at her, something inside him whispered the one truth he had never been ready to admit.
He was falling.
Hard.
And he didn’t think he wanted to stop.
Tachina hadn’t planned to stay the night. She’d told herself at least four times that she would help get Kian settled down for the night, then she’d go home. But now here she was sitting on Kian’s bed in his father’s home, not wanting to leave.
“Happy birthday, baby,” she whispered. She leaned down and placed a kiss on the freshly washed skin of her baby boy. She combed her fingers through his curls and inhaled his soap-scented little frame. How had her baby grown up so fast? “Ilove you.”
Another kiss.
Vic stood behind her in the doorway, silently watching. He’d been doing that a lot lately. She’d looked up at the party and he’d been watching her. She didn’t know what was going on in that head of his, but she was sure she’d find out soon enough. The man was always a thinker.
“I love you, too.” Kian yawned. He snuggled down underneath is Iron Man comforter and blankets.
She moved to stand, but he grabbed her arm.
“Mom, are you sleeping here, too?” he asked. There was hope in his tired eyes.
She shook her head, but apparently Vic had other plans for her.
“It’s late. She’s staying,” he answered.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. He folded his arms and met her gaze. There was a challenge in his eyes as if he dared her to say otherwise.
“Yeah, I’m going to stay, too.” She offered a tight smile and turned back to Kian. She kissed him again and breathed in his scent before she stood.
Maybe Vic was right. It was late, and she was tired. She lived about thirty-five minutes from Vic and dreaded the thought of the ride at the moment. She turned and headed in Vic’s direction. He flicked off the overhead light, basking the room in darkness. Only a single nightlight provided their son with a little light.
“Mommy?” Kian’s voice broke through the silence.
“Yeah, baby?” She arrived at the doorway next to Vic.
Kian’s head popped up from where he had been lying.