I grab the rest of our movie snacks and follow her into the living room.
I set everything down on the coffee table next to her drink, and she bounces forward immediately to grab one of the popcorn-filled bowls.
In an effort to be a good influence, I take a slice of cucumber from the plate and pop it into my mouth before grabbing a bowl of my own. Before I know it, she moves forward to do the same.
“Tasty, isn’t it?” I say around a mouthful, making her laugh almost uncontrollably. “What?” I ask around my chipmunk cheeks purposefully. “Do I sound funny or something?”
She giggles some more and points to my mouth. “You’re not supposed to talk with your mouth full!”
“I’m not?” I ask, still not chewing my food. “Am I being rude?”
Her peals of laughter only intensify, and I can’t help but join in. Seeing her like this, spending this time with her, brings me to life and settles a lead ball in my stomach at the same time.
Because I’m blessed to be here, but after today, I know firsthand there’s a woman who’s had this privilege for five whole years and hasn’t even bothered to take it.
How? I wonder to myself. How on earth do you not fall in love with a little girl like this? How don’t you give your life, your blood, your sweat to making sure her dreams come true?
I didn’t understand it with my parents and the way they resented Sam and me, and I don’t understand it now.
This little girl deserves a mother who wants to lay the world at her feet.
Not someone who hardly acknowledges her existence.
If I ever start a family, have a family of my own, I’ll make damn sure I’m ready to be the mother my child deserves. The kind of mother Joey should have.
Rhett’s knock against the front door is strong and true, entirely different from his daughter’s knock just five hours ago. It’s the middle of the night, and Joey’s sleeping form is tough to scoot off my lap, but I make sure to manage it quickly in the hopes that I can stop him from knocking again and waking her up.
Once I gently set her head atop a cushion on the couch and sweep the small piece of hair that’s escaped her braid out of her face, I rush over to the door.
Unbolting the lock, I turn the knob and quickly open it, only to put a gentle hand on Rhett’s chest, push him back, and pull the door loosely shut behind me.
His eyebrows draw together at my actions, but I drop my voice to a whisper, put a finger to my lips, and smile. “Sorry. Jo-Jo’s sleeping on the couch. I don’t want to risk talking in there and waking her up.”
The corners of Rhett’s lips curve up affectionately, and my heart skips a beat in my chest.
Quiet, girl, I tell it sternly. Calm down.
“That’s sweet, darlin’. But my Joey could sleep through an earthquake and a tornado at the same damn time. In fact, I’ve never seen anyone sleep as deep as she does.”
“Oh,” I mouth, and he chuckles, reaching out to smooth my jaw back into a smile with his thumb. My back straightens at the rough feel of his callused skin against my smooth, and a jolt grabs my arousal by the horns and refuses to let go.
My breath feels shaky in my chest, but I do my best to cover it up.
“You wanna let me inside now?” he asks with a smile that borders on sexy. “I’ll get her out of your hair, and you can get some sleep.”
Before I even know what I’m doing, I shake my head, and his forehead pinches together.
“No?” he contests softly, something in his aqua-blue eyes I’m terrified to inspect.
“No,” I say through a hard swallow. “I mean, yes.” I shake my head again and start over. “I was just going to say, why don’t you leave her here? She’s already asleep, and you’re going to be just as busy in the morning as you were tonight, right?”
He nods. “Probably.”
“Well, I’m not. So, just let her sleep here, we’ll eat breakfast in the morning, and then go on the guest ride over at the lodge barn. She’s been begging me to ride horses with her for a while now, so I think it’s time. And then we can just meet up with you afterward for the exhibition and everything.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, almost disbelievingly.
“Yeah.” I smile. “It was really nice having her here tonight. She’s a great kid, Rhett, and it’s no trouble at all. This way, maybe you can actually get some real rest and recharge for another busy day tomorrow.”
Tension crackles between us, and I swear, for one short instant, we actually consider kissing each other. I can’t really explain how I know the feeling is mutual, but I do know that I feel it.