She rubbed her hands up his chest. “Can’t you tell? We spend practically all our free time here.”
He loved that they’d made themselves at home. Last night, they’d showed up with shopping bags. The kids did their homework at the table while he and Sierra made dinner. He wished they could do that every day.
“I wish I could spend more nights with you, but . . .”
She needed to be home with the boys. They stole a couple of hours alone this week when Dede took over bedtime with the boys while he and Sierra had a “date.” They’d been in each other’s arms burning up the sheets. Until she had to go home to her kids.
He took a chance and asked a bold question, knowing he might be pushing things too far too fast. “You feel at home here, right?”
She narrowed her gaze and stared at him. “Yes. Of course. Why? Are the boys making too many messes?”
He shook his head. This wasn’t going the direction he wanted. “They’re fine. They’re kids. Messes come with the territory and they’re really good about cleaning up the best they can.” He held her hips and tried to get her to understand. “Do you ever think about staying here?”
Her smile dimmed. “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
Mason shook his head. “No. I mean, do you see yourself living here. In this house. With me.”
Sierra’s hands clamped onto his arms. “We haven’t been together that long.”
“We’ve known each other since we were teens.”
“I know. But . . .”
“But what? We’re great together. The boys love it here. You love it here.”
Her head tilted back and she stared up at the ceiling. “I’m still dealing with the house up in Napa and figuring out what we’ll do next.”
“Fair enough.” He put one hand at the back of her neck and tilted her head back to look at him. “But have you considered making us more permanent and making this your home?”
The wobbly smile and nervous laugh gave him hope. “Mason, I would never presume to think that’s what you want.”
“That’s exactly what I want.” He squeezed her hips. “Have you thought about us long term?”
It took her a second to work up the courage to say, “Yes.” The shy smile bloomed into a pretty blush on her cheeks. “We’ve always been friends. At one time, I thought maybe we could be more. But that was a long time ago. Now that we are together, it’s . . .”
“What?”
“So much better than I imagined. We have this easy way about us. It’s like everything is as it should be. I find myself leaving here and wishing I was still with you. I can’t wait to see you every day. I think about you constantly.” She brushed her hands up his arms. “When I watch you with the boys . . .” Her eyes turned dreamy and so sincere. “You’re wonderful with them. They really love you. The longing and missing their father I always saw in their eyes has dissipated. Don’t get me wrong, they still miss him and wish he was here, but now they have you to do things with them and show them how to be good men when they grow up. You filled a void in their lives. And in mine, too.”
“I love you. I love them.”
She sucked in a surprised gasp and leaned back in his arms, her eyes wide. “Is this happening right now?”
This time, he let loose a nervous laugh. “Yes. I want you to know how I feel about you. I want you to know I’m all in with you, the boys, and our life together.”
“Mom! Are you coming, or what?” Danny called from the kitchen.
Mason deflated, knowing the rest of this conversation would have to wait. He let loose his hold on Sierra and gave her some space.
She fisted her hand in his tee and held him still, then called out to the boys. “We’ll be right there.” She locked eyes with him and said the words he needed to hear. “I love you, too. I think I have since the beginning.”
He didn’t know if she meant since they got together or from back in the day when their friendship had been just as easy and essential in his life as it was now.
“As much as I want to leap into this with you, I have to think about the boys. Their whole lives have been uprooted. They’re adjusting to a new place, a new