bounced happily beside him. “Yo, Ghost. Your woman was looking for you.”
“Ah, thank you. I’ll—” He stopped when Saxon glanced to the right and slowed.
“I see Saxon!” Seven-year-old Connor sprang out from a clump of bushes. “Get ’im, Grant.”
Charging from the opposite side, Grant tackled Saxon.
“Ooof!” The man helpfully fell over—and Connor piled on, too. Thrilled with the fun, the fluffy black-and-white dog danced in and out, licking faces and hands.
The children—and the giant Dom—were laughing so hard Ghost doubted any of them could breathe.
Kids, dogs, and Doms were an unbeatable combination.
Grinning, Ghost headed back to the lanai to see what Valerie needed.
Ah, Hailey was here. The young woman was sitting beside her mother, talking animatedly.
In the three weeks since the blow-up at the park, both of Valerie’s children had dropped by a few times. Probably to get reassurance they hadn’t irrevocably ruined their relationship with their mother.
Valerie had, of course, forgiven them.
And they’d accepted she’d essentially moved in with Ghost. He grinned, remembering their questions about the mansion. Hearing the downstairs was used by a private club, they’d hastily abandoned the subject. It seemed the concepts of parent and sex were mutually exclusive.
Spotting Hailey’s husband, Rom, near the food table, Ghost veered in his direction.
“Gose!” From under the table, Luca ran over, bounced off Ghost’s legs, and put his arms up.
Laughing, Ghost picked up the pocket-sized squirt and tossed him in the air. Giggles filled the air—and when Luca laughed, everyone within hearing smiled.
Including Valerie.
“How are you, lad? Have you been a good boy?”
Luca slapped a hand on his tiny chest. “Good.”
“In that case, you deserve a cookie, hmm?”
Rom grinned. “Being a grandparent sure beats being a dad. No one yells at you for handing out cookies.”
A grandparent. The title set up a warm feeling in Ghost’s chest, and he glanced at Valerie.
Her eyes were warm and pleased. His generous woman was happy to share her family with him.
Was it any wonder he loved her?
He smiled at her and then settled down to the serious business of helping Luca select the perfect cookie.
A sugar cookie with bright red frosting won. After giving the boy another one to take to Gammy, Ghost tossed a few broken pieces to the two exhausted dogs sprawled under the table. A fluffy black-and-white pooch was Rainie’s, the one that resembled a giant terrier was Cullen’s Airedale.
Had all the childless couples brought their pets as kid-substitutes for Valerie’s children’s day gathering? Sneaky maneuver.
Leaning against a post, Rom nibbled on a cookie. “Thanks for letting us break into your party. Hailey… She needed to talk with her mom for a few minutes.”
“Problems?”
“Not really. It’s—”
Rom was interrupted by the shouts of glee as Connor and Grant charged through the door and onto the lanai.
“You got another little kid!” Grinning, Connor asked Ghost, “Who’s that?”
“He’s Luca, Valerie’s grandson.”
“Can we play with him?” Grant motioned to the designated toddler area where balls and trucks dotted a large, plush rug.
Ghost saw Rom nod permission. “I know you two will be gentle with him, so yes.”
“Hi!” Connor ran over to the two-year-old. “Wanna play trucks?”
That’s all it took.
Grabbing Connor’s hand, Luca dragged him over to the rug.
“Well, damn.” Rom exchanged disbelieving glances with Hailey. “He’s usually real timid.”
Ghost chuckled. “Connor’s a charmer. His brother, Grant is quieter but careful. He’ll keep your boy safe.”
“I see that.” Rom smiled. “Nice. Usually whenever we try to have a conversation with someone, Luca’s underfoot and wanting attention.”
“Since he’s not…” Ghost eyed Hailey. Like the two teenagers who’d snuck into the Shadowlands, Hailey looked as if she wanted to sit on her mom’s lap. “What unsettled your Hailey?”
“We were here to visit a buddy who busted his leg jet-skiing, and”—Rom’s mouth tightened—“stopped by to see Barry.” Rom held no respect for Valerie’s ex.
“Ah. How is he doing?”
“Better, actually. Kahlua is gone. He’s sober and attending AA meetings.” Rom shook his head. “Since he trashed his rep as a contractor, he found a job with a remodeling company. Seems happy. Said he’d always hated the business part of being a contractor.”
Ghost considered that for a moment. “What do you want to bet Valerie handled the paperwork and scheduling?”
“No bet. Your woman did a hell of a lot more for him than he ever admitted.” Rom snorted.
Hmm. “And now he’s come clean?”
“Yeah.” Rom grimaced. “I gotta say, it was nice to see him off the pedestal Hailey had put him on.”
Ghost tilted his head. Now there was an aspect he hadn’t considered before. “Difficult to live up