Daddy Undercover (Crescent Cove 9)

“We’re figuring stuff out. It’s new.”

“It’s way old.”

She emphasized way a touch too long as far as I was concerned. “Yeah, well, he’s been my best friend for so long I don’t want to screw it up.”

Especially if he finds out that maybe little Sami is his only chance at a family if he stays with me.

Frankie tapped the skin between my eyebrows. “Stop that. You’re going to get wrinkles. You’d tell me if there was something else going on, right?”

“What else would be going on?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Mami is staring holes into the back of your head. I don’t know if that’s because you were late or something else.”

I looked over my shoulder. “She’s probably just pissed I haven’t said hello to her and our abuela.”

“Oh. Yeah. You’re in trouble. Nice that it’s not me for once.” She stalked off toward the food and left me to deal with hurricane Bonnie headed my way.

Instead of shrinking away from dealing with her, I headed her off at the pass and kissed her cheek. “Mami, this place looks beautiful. You and Frankie did an amazing job.”

My mother preened. “Thanks, nena. You and Kayla did a lot too. She’s an angel.”

“She is.” I glanced over at my new sister-in-law. She was a bold column of gold compared to a room full of Italian and Spanish blood. But she fit right in immediately. And that gold glowed even brighter with all the new people in her life.

The Mills were a small family, but they’d taken to us like moss on the rocks around the lake. I could only imagine what Christmas would be like with the new baby in our family. The first grandchild.

My stomach twisted.

Sami could be the first grandchild.

The conversations between the women fuzzed to the background as blood rushed to my head. I was getting ahead of myself.

Just have fun. That was what I was going to do today.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I quickly pulled it out, worried that Jared might have had a meltdown without me there. Instead, I found a photo text from Brooks with Sami and Sadie in the car. Right after it was a request to meet him at The Mason Jar when I was done.

“What’s got you smiling so wide?”

I sat down next to my grandmother and showed her the photo.

“So, this is my great-grandbaby?”

“It’s Jared’s little girl.”

“Bah. Child of your heart is still a daughter. I saw you with them at Thanksgiving.” Her warm hand covered mine. “He’s a good man and a smart one to snap you up finally.”

I opened my mouth to try to dissuade her, but it just wasn’t worth it once my grandmother had her mind made up. It was just easier to nod.

“You go see them after this. Kiss those sweet cheeks for me.” She winked at me. “Both of them.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“That’s what your grandfather always used to say too. Why he died with a smile, Regina.” She squeezed my hand again at my wide eyes. “

Loosen up.”

How many times would someone say that to me today?

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “I can only hope I have a relationship like yours.”