told him the truth. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I do.”
Ted nodded—approvingly—as Wyatt groaned.
“Then go ahead and marry her, Deck,” Ted said, “and ignore that pea-brained brother of yours.”
“Pea-brained?” Wyatt yelped. “You’re just upset that I’m going to take your money when you lose the bet about me being dumb enough to get married.”
I love her.
Slowly, Deck smiled.
I love them both. I love Bobbi and CJ.
He hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, but thanks to their time together, and the numerous texts, he’d fallen hard for her. He couldn’t recall ever being so scared as he’d been when sitting beside CJ in the ER, while waiting for Bobbi’s doctor to tell them how she was. But he’d held the little girl’s hand and had known he was right where he was supposed to be.
Because he loved them.
He met Pops’ eyes, and the old man was smiling as well.
“Tell me about her. About them, boy. I want to know about this Bobbi of yours and her daughter.”
Griselda nodded without looking up from her knitting. “I always knew you’d do well, matched-up with a single mother, dear. You need children in your life.”
“And so do I!” Pops blurted. “I’m going to get a great-granddaughter?”
Decker hadn’t even thought of that!
He straightened, his heart swelling with joy. “Her name is CJ. She’s six years old, and the cutest, smartest little thing you’ll ever meet…”
And as he told his family about the two ladies he loved, he realized they’d be welcomed into the Cauldron family with open arms.
Now he just had to convince Bobbi that marrying him was a good idea.
“Well, I’m glad I caught you alone, finally.”
Bobbi squealed and threw her arms around her bestie’s neck, happily letting Artie take some of her weight as they hobbled back toward the couch.
“I was so happy when you told me you were heading up here for a visit! I’ve missed you!”
Artie smiled as she deposited Bobbi on the couch, then plopped down beside her. Both of them propped their feet up on the coffee table, and Bobbi smiled to see the four sets of toes: her friend’s painted ice-blue and sticking out from sandals, while Bobbi’s left foot stuck out from the plaster cast, and her right foot was bare.
“Your purple is chipping,” Artie pointed out, nodding to Bobbi’s toenails.
“I know,” Bobbi sighed. “CJ brought down my polish yesterday, but then we got distracted.”
Artie twisting to the side, reaching for the end table. “I see it! Hold still, and I’ll touch you up.”
With a sigh, Bobbi rested her head on the back of the couch as her bestie unscrewed the cap from her favorite polish—come to think of it, Artie had given it to her, hadn’t she?—and bent over her pitiful toesies.
“So, you’re a busy lady for being in a cast.”
Busy? “No, I’m not. My friend Laura has been nice enough to drive CJ to and from camp this week so I don’t have to. But I had to take leave, since I can’t work for the next two weeks, which is horrible for my expenses, let me tell you.”
Wait, Artie hadn’t visited to hear her complain.
“I mean, all I’ve been doing is sitting on my butt for the last five days.”
Well, that, and hanging out with Decker.
He’d been the one to bring her the 1000-piece puzzle she was working on. He’d been the one to start it with her, and to make her lunch each day. He really was a good cook, if a little over-fond of bacon and not fond enough of leafy greens.
Decker had scrubbed the counters in her kitchen, which she hadn’t realized until after he’d left on Sunday, and he’d also fixed the leaky faucet and a half-dozen other small projects she hadn’t mentioned to the landlord. He’d made himself at home here in the living room, keeping her company each day since her accident, and yesterday, he’d even carried her outside to sit on the porch and enjoy the sun.
They’d talked about all sorts of things: favorite games and vacations and movies and childhood stories. She’d told him about her life back in Black Aces—though without mentioning Curtis—and he’d told her so much about some of the craziness surrounding his family, she felt as if she knew every one of them personally.
And he’d kissed her. A lot. He’d kissed her, and although each of them had broken apart, breathing heavily and unfulfilled, he hadn’t pushed her for anything more than kisses.
Which was good, because no matter how much she wanted