Emmy

“Baby, I’m getting tired of this.”

Standing in the dark of midnight on my tiny front porch, my hands linked behind Cooper’s neck as the crickets sang, I leaned back, frowning as I blinked up at him.

“You’re getting tired of . . . what?” I dropped my hands and took a small backward step. “Of me? Of us?”

“No, no.” Laughing softly, Cooper pulled me back to him. “Never, baby. I could never get tired of you. Of us. Of this.” He pointed to me and then to himself.

“Okay, good.” I allowed him to nuzzle my neck. “But then what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about having to leave you each evening. I’m tired of going back to my silent house and wishing I was climbing into bed with you instead of going to sleep by myself.”

“Oh.” I was more than a little taken aback. “But I thought . . . you always said you didn’t want to get tied down again. I thought you loved being on your own and free.”

“Em.” Cooper brushed my hair over my shoulder. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m already totally tied down with you. And your kids. In the best way possible.” He grinned. “I mean, I’m here for breakfast more days than not, and dinner just about every night. I help the kids with their homework, drive them to school, drop them at dance class or football practice . . . baby, I love all of that. I love the family that we’re making together.”

Hearing him say those words gave me a warm glow from the inside out. “I do, too,” I admitted. “And okay, I’ve thought a couple of times that it would be easier if we had one home base instead of you running back and forth, but I didn’t want to rock the boat.”

“Sweetheart, I love it when you rock my boat.” He mock leered at me, making me laugh. “So would you be okay if I were to move in with you and the kids? Do you think it would be weird for them? I don’t want them to feel like I’m trying to take their father’s place.”

I snorted. “Honey, they love you already. You’ve been a better dad to my three babies than Eddie ever was, bless his wandering heart. If I tell them you’re going to be living here, they’ll probably throw a party to celebrate.”

Cooper’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Okay, then. Wow.” His hands slid down to press into my lower back. “So when do we want to make this happen?”

“Oh.” I cast my eyes upward. “Well, let’s see. Are you good with us keeping this house, or were you thinking of looking for something else?”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to ask the kids to move. I thought maybe I’d just move into your bedroom with my clothes and shit, and if there’s anything from my place that you want me to bring over, I can do that. But otherwise, I’d keep the workshop, and maybe I’d use the house for office space or something like that. I could even rent it out, you know? Like for short-term housing.”

I nodded. “That makes sense. You’ve owned the property for a long time, and it’s been a good investment.” I patted the porch railing. “And I know my house is pretty small, and it could use some work, but it’s mine, and I love it. It’s the only house my kids have ever known.”

“Then it’s settled.” He dropped a quick, hard kiss on my lips. “This coming weekend, I’ll pack up all my stuff . . . and officially move in here.” He let out a long, happy breath. “What do you say, baby?”

I leaned back in his arms, looking up into the eyes of the man I adored. The man with whom I couldn’t wait to share a home.

“I say . . . well, it took you long enough, didn’t it?”

Keep the Small Town Love Sizzling!

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