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I don’t know what the hell she’s doing to me and why the hell I want her around.

“Well, that might make your love life a little awkward.” Her laugh breaks through the silence and tension. “I’m not sure how anyone you’re dating would feel about your kid’s mother staying at your house too.”

Goddamn, I love the sound of her laughter. The way the corners of her eyes crinkle and the apples of her cheeks lift. I run my tongue over my teeth, my gaze not leaving hers. “I’m not dating anyone, Andi.”

The laughter dies down, and I don’t miss how her lips part before her tongue darts out to wet them. Her throat bobs as she swallows hard. “I didn’t know.”

“Well, now you do,” I tell her, my voice hoarse as my heart pounds harder against my ribcage. “What about you? Do you have anyone in Starling Falls who’s been occupying your time.”

She shakes her head. “Nope,“ she says, popping thePsound at the end.

My chest expands as I suck in a deep breath and hold it a second before blowing it out. Lifting a hand, I drag it through my hair. “I’ve always kind of lived by a ‘no strings attached’ mentality.”

She stares at me for a moment, then her face cracks as laughter spills from her perfect lips again. “So much for no strings, huh?”

I join in with her, my own chuckle vibrating in my throat. “I’m beginning to wonder if they might not be such a bad thing after all.”

The bathroom door opens, almost as if on command, and Matteo comes bounding out, already dressed in his pajamas. He comes galloping over to us and jumps onto Andi’s lap.

“Speaking of strings,” Andi giggles, her eyes finding mine again before she turns her attention to Matteo. “Are you ready to brush your teeth and get settled in a bed for a story?”

“Yep!” Matteo pops thePsound, just like Andi did. I smile to myself. “Can my dad read me a story tonight?”

My chest constricts as they both look at me, waiting for an answer. I stare back at them in shock, my eyes shifting between my son and his mother. “I’d be honored.”

Matteo climbs off Andi’s lap and runs back into the bathroom like a fire has been lit under his ass. Andi stands up and tilts her head down at me as she holds her hand out to me. My heart betrays me again, stumbling over itself as I slide my palmagainst hers and allow her fingers to caress my hand as I rise to my feet.

Andi’s hand lingers in mine. Her skin is so soft under my fingers. I don’t want to let her go, but she releases me and heads into the bathroom. I watch the two of them from across the room as butterflies flutter to life inside my stomach.

I don’t know what she’s doing to me, but I can feel her creeping beneath my skin, crawling in between my ribs and infiltrating my heart...

And fuck me—because it’s beginning to feel like that’s exactly where she belongs.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ANDI

“Are you sure you want to go with us?”

Carson tilts his head to the side as he stands inside the foyer and slides his feet into his sneakers. “Do you not want me to go?” He purses his lips. “I don’t have to.”

“No, no, that’s not it.” I shake my head as I grab my purse and sling it over my shoulder. “I just don’t want to bother you. I don’t want you to feel like you have to come along with us.” I pause when I realize I’m rambling. I take a deep breath and blow it out to slow myself down. “I don’t want us to be a bigger disruption in your life than we already are.”

He rolls his lips between his teeth and pulls his eyebrows downward before his face relaxes. My breath catches in my throat as he lifts his tattooed arm and his hand reaches towards my face. His fingers graze my skin as he brushes a piece of hair away from my cheek and tucks it behind my ear. “What if I told you I want you to disrupt my life?” His eyes find mine. “You aren’t bothering me, Trouble. My time belongs to the two of you.”

My heart stalls in my chest. His fingertips linger along the skin just below my ear. My stomach performs an acrobatic routine inside my abdomen.

“Matteo, I get, but why me?”

His stare is so intense it feels like his eyes are burning holes into mine. He lifts his shoulders in a shrug and drops them with a sigh. “Because you’re you.” A ghost of a smile dances across his lips.

His gaze doesn’t falter and if he doesn’t stop looking at me like that, I’m afraid I’m going to melt into a puddle by his feet. Carson Ford is smooth with his words, but I have to remind myself that’s all they are. He doesn’t do relationships or attachments.

He’s the type of guy you have your fun with and then he sends you on your way for another man to swoop in and meet you at the altar.

Carson finally tears his gaze from mine and crouches down to help Matteo tie his sneakers. I watch them for a moment and again, I’m afraid I’m going to melt. I love these tender moments between the two of them. The way Matteo’s gaze is fixed on Carson’s face, hanging onto every single word that falls from his beautiful mouth.

And the way Carson is captivated by our son. Always watching, studying, admiring him. It’s like he’s constantly trying to memorize his expressions and his facial features.