Page 76 of Let You Love Me

“Just a little longer?” she pleads, taking my hesitation for weakness.

With a sigh, I glance at Teagan who yawns and stretches his arms dramatically above his head. “Man, I’m beat. It’s been a long day and I’m so tired. Maybe I should get going.”

“No, you can’t go yet.” Sophie pleads. “You’ll miss bedtime stories.”

“Oh, well . . . I mean, I do love a good bedtime story, but if I stay much longer it’ll be way past my bedtime too, and I don’t think your grandpa wants me to be tired tomorrow.” He winks at me before returning his gaze to her, and I stifle a laugh.

“Do you have five minutes?” Sophie asks, jumping down from her chair.

“I can probably spare it,” Teagan says, his tone solemn.

“I’ll just get ready real quick, so you can hear stories, too.” She glances at me as if it just dawned on her that she might need my permission. “Mom, can he stay for stories if I get ready now?”

My lips quirk. “I’m okay with it if he is.”

She turns to him, and the hope shining in her blue eyes is so obvious, it makes my stomach sink as I question whether this isa mistake—allowing Teagan around her so much when I know he won’t always be here. “Then you’re staying?” she asks.

“Anything for you, Sweet Sophie.” He nods and reaches out a fist that she bumps with her own, a new trick he taught her earlier.

“Mom does the best voices,” she says through a yawn.

“Does she now?” Teagan grins, and my cheeks flush. “I can’twaitto hear them.”

I groan. “Why don’t you clean up, or no one is getting stories,” I say motioning to the beads scattered about the table.

“You heard the boss.” Teagan begins scraping piles of beads in his hands. “Let’s clean up.” He dumps a huge handful into the plastic tub while Sophie pinches one at a time between her little fingers.

After they’re finished, Teagan scoops Sophie up with a growl while she squeals in delight. “Got you now,” he grumbles before tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I laugh as I follow behind them, directing Teagan to the first bedroom which is meant to be hers. “I just have to grab our stuff from the car.”

“On it.” Teagan sets Sophie on her feet, then starts to brush past me but I place a hand on his arm to stop him.

The swell of muscle meets my palm, and it takes everything for me to focus and not stutter as I say, “You don’t have to do that. I can go.”

“Nonsense.” Teagan rolls his eyes, then holds his hands out and wiggles his fingers. “Keys?”

I hesitate only a moment before reaching into my pocket and placing them in his outstretched hand.

“Be right back.” He winks, then disappears from sight while I focus on the mundane task of breathing.

I usher Sophie to the bathroom where I have her go potty and give her a quick sponge bath in the old, claw-foot tub I scrubbedlast time I was here. By the time I finish, Teagan knocks on the door and tells me the duffle bag I brought is outside the door.

I step out, grabbing the overnight bag with our stuff and quickly help Sophie change into PJs and brush her teeth.

Once she’s ready for bed, we return to the bedroom and I freeze.

The inflatable bed I brought with us for Soph sits in the corner of the room, all set up with her lavender sheets, unicorn bedspread, and pillow. In the outlet nearby, Sophie’s rainbow night light is plugged in and glowing, casting color onto the bare walls.

Something tugs on my chest and when I find Teagan messing with the baby monitor in his hands, my stomach turns in on itself, kicking my heart into my throat.

At our approach he turns, his forehead puckered. “I think I did this right, but—” He taps a button and his forehead smooths when the screen comes on. “Oh, there. I think I got it. You might want to check it just to be sure . . .” he trails off when he notices me staring.

For the second time today, this man—this beautiful, wonderful man—has me next to tears. First, it was boxed food, and now this.

I’m losing it.

That must be the reason.