Me: Okay.
* * *
I glance up to find him smiling down at his phone before sliding it into his back pocket. Coral is also fussy. All the kids are ready for a nap, so Will goes to Reid, takes her into his arms, and snuggles her. She settles instantly. He’s just got that touch, it seems. All the ladies love him. Young or old, it doesn’t seem to matter.
Tearing my eyes away from him, I make sure to thank everyone for coming, and for the gifts for Mia, and hug them all goodbye. Foster and Eden are last as I take Mia from Foster. She’s almost asleep and easily rests her little head on my shoulder. When it’s just Reid, Bellamy, Will, me, and the kids, I turn to Bellamy and Reid. “Thank you. I love you guys. Opening your home for Mia’s party means so much to me. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”
Bellamy has her arms wrapped around Reid, and they both smile at me. “You’re welcome, Manda.”
“You’re our family,” Reid says. “You can stop thanking us.”
Finally, I turn to Will. “Thank you for coming, and for Mia’s gift.” I’ve hugged and thanked everyone else, so I slowly go to him. He’s standing with a now-sleeping Coral in his arms. We’re both holding a child, so I go in for a quick one-armed hug that he returns, and I quickly step away. “I’ll get this all out to my car and get this place cleaned up.”
“I’ll take this one.” Reid takes Coral out of Will’s arms and nods toward me. “You take that one,” he tells Will. He pecks a kiss on Bellamy’s lips.
“Oh, I can lay her down,” I tell Will.
“Let the old man feel useful,” Reid jokes, turning to take Coral upstairs for a nap.
Will chuckles good-naturedly and steps in close, lifting Mia from my arms. He hugs her closely, being gentle with her. “I got her, Momma,” he assures me. “I’ll hold her until you’re ready to go.”
“Thank you. I’ll be quick,” I tell him.
“Take your time.” He smiles, and I feel myself falling a little more.
This man, he’s too sexy, too sweet, too… everything. Bellamy and I pack up all the gifts and get them carried out to my car. I leave all the food, because there are two adults here, and I’m just one. Together, Bellamy and I get the house back in order, taking down decorations, putting away food, and I insist on sweeping and mopping, even though my best friend tells me not to bother. The least I can do is make sure their house is back in order before I go.
“Thank you again.” I hug Bellamy tightly.
“Stop thanking me. I’m glad we could do it.”
Stepping out of her embrace, I move toward Will. “Thank you for watching her while we cleaned up.” I reach for her, but he turns.
“I’ll carry her out for you. The less that we move her, the better.”
“Thank you.” I turn toward Bellamy and wave before grabbing my purse and the diaper bag, the final two things to take out to the car. I hold the door open for Will. He says goodbye to his daughter, then follows me outside to my car. He gets Mia settled, and she barely stirs.
“I’ll open the garage door for you,” he tells me.
“You sure this is a good idea?”
“I can come to you,” he offers. “But I have a bed for Mia to rest safely, and I need you in my arms, Mandy.”
I can’t resist him. I don’t want to. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He nods, leans in, but quickly pulls away and rocks back on his heels before turning and heading to his SUV.
Just in case Bellamy or Reid is watching, I lean into the back seat, as if to check on Mia in her seat, but Will is more than capable. I’m basically trying not to make it look like I’m rushing out of here to go be with him.
Thankfully, I need to turn in the direction of his house to head home, only I won’t be leaving this subdivision—if you call sprawling mansions on five-acre lots a subdivision. Instead, I drive a few roads over to his place. This is risky, but he’s the only one who lives back this far. The others are in the opposite direction. Worst-case scenario, I pass them leaving, but they’ll assume I was sticking around with Bellamy and Reid, unless it’s them that I pass. I push that worry to the back of my mind as I pull into Will’s driveway and drive straight into the garage.
Nineteen
Will
* * *
As soon as her car is parked, I hit the button to close the garage door and rush to collect Mia out of her seat. She’s still sleeping peacefully, and I hate that we have to move her again, but she’ll be more comfortable in a bed than strapped into her car seat.