Rumor Going 'Round (Lyrics and Love #3) - Lind, Samantha Page 0,40
he’s ready for bed, as well.
“Alrighty, then, let's get the two of you tucked in and sleeping,” I say, pulling away from Lindsay.
“Good night, Paisley, sleep tight,” she says to my daughter before we can leave the kitchen.
“Night, Lindsay, thank you for my gift today.”
“You’re so welcome. I’m glad you had a good birthday party. Thanks for letting me come,” she tells her as Paisley walks over and wraps her arms around her in a hug. My own heart beats a little faster, seeing my daughter including Lindsay so easily. She’s accepted her into our fold just as quickly as I have, and I couldn’t be happier.
11
Lindsay
“Hey, baby, whatcha doing?” Tucker’s voice comes across the speakers in my car.
“Just driving, what are you doing?” I ask as I flick my eyes to the rearview mirror before I change lanes on the highway.
“Just woke up. Are you on your way back home?”
“Yep, Allison, and I got everything we went after today. We had fun heading into the city and shopping at stores we don’t usually go to,” I tell him as I flick my eyes over at Allison. The smirk on her lips tells me she’s thinking about the adult store we stopped at on a whim.
“Glad y’all had a good time. How long until you’re back in town?” he asks.
“We’re about halfway back, so maybe thirty minutes or so, but it will be at least an hour before I can get to your place. I’ve got to drop Allison off, first, and help her unload all her things.”
“Okay, should I plan on you for dinner tonight, or better yet, how about I take my two favorite girls out tonight?”
“If you want, or we could order in pizza or something easy,” I suggest.
“Whatever you want, babe.”
“I’m easy. How about you ask Paisley what she’d want? She’s the picky one.”
“Easy, huh?” he quips, and Allison snickers next to me.
“Tucker!” I exclaim. “You’re on speaker. Allison can hear you. Keep it clean.”
“I’m not going to say anything she hasn’t probably heard out of Lee’s mouth.” He chuckles.
“Don’t be an ass, or you won’t be getting any tonight,” I tell him sternly.
“Damn, them some fighting words,” Allison interjects.
“I’d wear you down,” Tucker boasts.
“Don’t get too cocky, mister. I could always just go stay at my place tonight,” I remind him.
“You could, but then you wouldn’t have my arms holding you all night, and you know you want that.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I grumble, knowing that he’s got me on that point.
“I’ll find out from Paisley what she wants for dinner, and we’ll see you in an hour or so, drive safe,” he says.
“Sounds good; just text me if you call something in and want me to pick it up on my way over,” I offer before we disconnect the call.
“So, how is it dating a single dad?” Allison asks.
“It's fine. She’s actually a pretty cool kid, and we get along really well.”
“How’s his co-parenting relationship with her mom?”
“They seem to have a pretty good thing going on. I’ve only been around her at Paisley’s party, and that was fine. She was really nice to me, didn’t act like I was stepping on anyone’s toes. Tucker told me that they agreed before Paisley was even born to always keep her the priority and to work together to parent her,” I tell her.
“That’s so rare to hear, but refreshing. I’m glad that they’ve made it work.”
“It really is. I think that maybe because they were never actually together, just a friends with benefits kind of situation, that there wasn’t that hurt from a break-up involved. No backstabbing was going on.”
“Oh, that’s a good point. Shows off his mature side,” Allison states.
“I think that it makes him that much sexier. Knowing that he’s not one to play games or use his daughter as a pawn. She didn’t ask to be born into the situation, so why make her a victim.”
“Exactly, and I’m happy for you. You guys seem happy together.”
“He makes me happy,” I say, a smile pulling at my lips. “I know we kind of tip-toed around our attraction for a long time, and for a while there, I thought nothing would come of it. But I guess that if things are meant to be that they will be.”
“If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you, babe,” Allison says, reaching over and squeezing my arm.
“Right back at cha, girlfriend,” I say, looking over at her quick. “Speaking of being happy, how’s Lee treating you?”