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“Found them!” He knelt to hold the slippers one by one as Abby put her little feet in them.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you. I love you.”

No one had ever told him love could hit like a kick to the chest. It knocked the breath out of him every time Abby or Ben uttered those little words.

“Colt!” Remi shouted.

He stepped out of the laundry room and bowed. “You rang, princess?”

She rolled her eyes, but a small grin told him she secretly enjoyed being regarded as royalty. “Camille just texted me. Asher and Hunter are playing at Barn Sour tonight.” She turned her phone over in her hands. “Would you want to go?”

It had been months since they’d been to Barn Sour. They used to go at least once a month, but he’d completely forgotten that things like going dancing or listening to live music even existed. His new family had consumed his life so thoroughly that the old days had faded away.

“Really? What about the kids?”

Remi shrugged. “I was thinking maybe Stella could come over and put them to bed.”

Colt rubbed his chin. “They’d like that. It sounds like fun. We can go if you want.”

The growing smile on her face told him that was exactly what she wanted. “Great. I’ll ask Stella now.”

“I need to get a shower.”

Remi already had the phone to her ear. “I’ll let you know what she says.”

After showering, he threw on a pearl snap shirt and a good pair of jeans. With his Sunday belt on and his hair combed, he rummaged in the cabinet under the sink, finally finding the cologne. He’d used the stuff a total of three times, and two were weddings.

When he stepped out of the bathroom, Stella sat on the couch already absorbed in a game of go fish with Ben.

Stella’s brows jumped. “Lord, have mercy. You clean up nice.”

Colt adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves. “You see me like this every Sunday.”

Stella closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “You don’t smell like that on Sundays.”

Remi’s bedroom door opened, and she stepped out wearing a brown sweater and jeans that fit her curves. She pushed her hair over one shoulder, and his gaze landed on the smooth skin of her neck. She was killing him slowly, and he wasn’t opposed to dying if it came at Remi’s hands.

She slid her phone into her pocket and glanced at him before quickly looking away. “You ready?”

Ready for what?“Huh?”

She stopped in front of him. “To go. Are you ready to go?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m ready. Just need to get my boots.”

Remi bent to kiss both of the kids while pulling one of his flannel shirts over her sweater. “Good night. Be good for Miss Stella.”

“We will,” Abby said as she laid her baby doll on the couch and adjusted a blanket over it.

Colt put on his boots and took his turn telling the kids good-bye. When they walked out of the cabin, the silent night hung in the air between them.

“Are we really doing this?” Remi asked on the way to the truck.

“I’m not sure, but I think it’s happening. The kids didn’t even try to talk us out of it.”

“They love Stella, and she’s just as energetic as they are. They know they’ll have a good time.”

Colt held the truck door open for Remi. “What about us? I’m not sure I remember how to have adult-only fun.”