And now we had to have pancakes to celebrate that.

I dropped my purse. “I love pancakes. And it was pretty fun. Your daddy snores, though.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “I know!”

“Hey,” Simon protested. “I don’t snore.”

“You can sleep with me next time. Or in the guest room. I guess Daddy was too lazy to make up the bed.” She shook her head. “He hates making the bed.”

I tried not to laugh again. She was adorable and funny.

Simon huffed under his breath. “She sleeps with me when she’s here. That’s the rule.”

“I don’t get much sleep with you. Maybe the guest room is a good idea,” I teased, keeping my voice low.

“I don’t think so,” Simon growled.

I met his dancing gaze. He was thrilled we’d been busted. In fact, I wondered if he had set an alarm at all. I narrowed my eyes and he grinned. He was never going to admit it even if the sneaky man had planned this.

“You do snore,” I said, just to piss him off.

“Yes, you do,” Mia agreed. “Big snores, Daddy.”

“Whatever,” he muttered. He leaned close and kissed my ear. “You make noises too. But those ones I like.”

I slapped him away and took Mia’s hand. “Do you like peanut butter on your pancakes?”

“Peanut butter?” she repeated. “With syrup too?”

“Yep.”

“Oh, can I try, Daddy?”

He scratched his head. “Peanut butter and syrup? That seems a little weird to me.”

“Don’t knock weird until you’ve tried it.”

“Yeah, Daddy,” Mia quipped. “You always tell me I have to try it before I decide I don’t like it. I think it sounds nummy.”

He threw up his hands. “Fine. We’ll try it.”

I grinned. “Good answer.”

“Sure, sure. Whatever makes my girls happy.”

That made me smile. And as I walked into the kitchen, I had a feeling today was the start of my future.

Simon, Mia, and me.

* * *

First day of school, I was up early and in my classroom, making sure everything was ready. The past while had flown by. I’d spent more time with Simon and Mia than anywhere else. More time at their house than my apartment. In fact, I hated leaving them, my little space now feeling empty when I was there. Lonely.

At Simon’s place, I was now part of the nighttime routine. Reading to Mia, both Simon and me on her bed, her cuddled between us. I helped her with her bath, brushed out her long hair. Showed her a fancy braid I liked to do. I loved her good-night kisses, morning snuggles, and how she just accepted me as me. Simon tried not to laugh the day she came downstairs wearing a bandanna in her hair like mine and boots on her feet with her skirt. He told her she was adorable and kissed her. Then he did the same to me. I was Chippy to Simon; she was Sweet Pea. I loved how she called him Daddy.

He loved it when I did the same thing, but for an entirely different reason.

Last night when I insisted I had to come home, both Simon and Mia were disappointed. But I needed to get some rest and be prepared for today. I hated driving away from them, even if it was only across town. I missed them right away.

I thought about Simon’s mutterings from last night while I straightened already perfectly lined-up chairs and triple-checked the snacks I had ready.

“You should just give up your place.”

“I have a lease,” I responded.

“Break it. Sublet it. I’ll cover it. I want you here. So does Mia. The place is just a house when you’re gone.”

“And what it is when I’m here? A submarine?” I laughed.

“A home,” he said simply, his words honest and steady.

It took all I had not to tell him yes.

“Slow,” was all I said, even though my heart rejoiced at his sweet words.

We hadn’t even been out in public much. Not in the town, really. A few dates at out-of-the-way places, spending time with Holly and Evan. But mostly, it was the three of us. We explained to Mia what private meant and promised her that soon she could tell people, but right now, it was something to be kept between us.

Her eyes had widened. “Like a family secret? Like Uncle E and Auntie Holly expecting another baby?”

Simon and I had glanced at each other in shock. We didn’t know that.

“How do you know that?” Simon had asked.

“Angela told me. Because I’m family,” she explained.

“Yes. Like a family secret,” Simon said. “When we say it’s okay, you can tell people.”

“Okay,” she agreed happily. “I like having a family secret of my own.”

I shook my head, hearing the sounds of the halls beginning to fill. I needed to concentrate on some other children today. I hurried to the door and began to welcome my little charges.

* * *

SIMON

Impatiently, I waited outside for Mia. I had walked her into her classroom today, but parents were to wait outside at the end of the day. I hoped her first day had been a good one.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Romance
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