A Match Made in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 2)

Toby sniffled and then started laughing. “You bad table.”

Heath slapped the surface. “Shame. Shame.”

“Looks like you have everything under control here,” he said to her. “Dinner is about ready.”

“Are you hungry, Toby?” she asked.

Toby nodded and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too.” She bent down and kissed the other three. “I love you all so very much. Let’s go get our hands washed so we can eat Daddy Grant’s delicious meal.”

“What about my salad, Maude?” Greg sent her a wink.

She smiled. “And Papa Greg’s salad. Yummy. Let’s go, boys.”

He and Greg finished setting the table.

They all sat down and enjoyed the meal together.

Greg took more footage with the Super 8.

Maude got into the spirit of things quickly. “Wave to the camera, boys.”

All their little faces were covered in spaghetti, which was so cute.

When the meal ended and the boys’ faces were wiped off, she said, “Who wants to hear a story?”

“I do. I do,” Toby and Heath said together.

“The dishes can wait,” he told Greg. “I want to hear her story, too.”

Greg nodded and grabbed the camera.

Maude led them back to the play area. She picked up Heath’s toy horse. “This story is about Buttermilk and an adventure she had with a dog named Fred. They met at Mr. Owl’s birthday party when…”

The boys were completely mesmerized by her. So were he and Greg. This was where she belonged.

Nate and Seth fell asleep, and Toby and Heath began to yawn.

“…and they lived happily ever after.” Maude lifted Nate and Seth into her arms. “Time to go nighty-night.”

He lifted Heath up, and Greg pulled Toby off the floor.

The three of them put the boys to bed. They all kissed each of the boys and then went back to the table.

Greg poured her a glass of wine. “A busy night. The boys are crazy about you.”

“And I’m crazy about them.”

“Relax, sweetheart.” Grant looked into her gorgeous eyes. “Greg and I will clean up.”

“Not on your life. No way.” She put the glass down. “You’re both going to relax, and I’m going to clean the dishes.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he told her.

“Watch me.” Her tone was defiant and stern.

“Better sit down, bro,” Greg said with a smile. “She’s a feisty one.”