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Jai rolled his eyes. “Older sister to Sunshine.”

The woman who worked at The Owl’s Nest. See? I was getting it. “Let’s rescue the dog first. There are several animal-control offices across the Vancouver area and into Cedar Valley. Obviously we want a dog who is good with kids.”

Alaina put her hands on her hips. “We’re not kids.”

Jai blinked.

I smiled. “Sorry. Young adults.”

Alessandra chuckled. “They grow up so fast.”

Wesley chortled.

Cadence and Smith laughed.

I held Jai’s gaze.Break the news to the kids now or in private?Alaina’d been quite taken with my…friend? Boyfriend? Lover?

Keegan kept casting his gaze between the two of us.

Yeah, he knew.

“So…”

“Okay, I’ve got everyone’s food. Going to take a couple of trips.” Sarabeth spent the next few minutes getting everyone settled.

When everyone was happily munching, I ventured, “How would you feel if Jai spent time with us?”

Alaina rolled her eyes. “It’s so obvious you’re a couple. Like, finally.” She continued eating her fries.

Keegan blinked.

Shit.

“Mom wanted you to find someone else after she died.” He sighed.

“You knew that?”

“She asked me to make sure you did. Like I was a little matchmaker or something.” He rolled his eyes. Then he smiled. “She was a romantic.”

Love bloomed in my chest. “Yeah, she was.”

Smith subtly pressed his shoulder to mine.

I blinked.

Jai smiled shyly.

Alessandra winked.

Yeah. We’re going to be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jai

Iwould never have suggested Demetrius drop that little bombshell in a crowded restaurant in front of strangers. His kids needed time to process. To express how they really felt.

Or so I’d believed.