Page 86
Story: Puppy Pride
Stephanie laughed. “You know, when I met her, she was a little shy. Cooper and I cured her of that.” She eyed Demetrius. “My older brother. A bit of an enthusiastic freight train.”
“You have to show Demetrius your engagement video.” Foster nudged her.
“Oh yes.” She again nearly squealed. “I brought a ring, and Taryn— Oh, let’s keep it a surprise. We can show it to you on Foster’s big screen.”
I smiled. “I would love that.” I was finding this woman, with her obvious enthusiasm, positively charming. “And you live on the street?”
“Yep. Right next door. Always available to babysit.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” Alaina glared.
“Okay.” Stephanie’s smile didn’t waver. “I never wanted one either. My big brother Cooper took care of me.”
Keegan puffed out his chest. “I take care of her.”
Alaina rolled her eyes.
A feeling of rightness settled in my chest.Can things really be this easy? I get the man of my dreams? The Daddy I always wanted? The partner I never dreamed I’d have?
As if sensing my thoughts, Demetrius snagged my hand.
Foster sighed.
“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Arnav entered from the kitchen. “Oh, you’re the guests Taryn was telling me about. Great.” He pointed to Demetrius. “You’re helping me barbecue. We have chicken and beef kebobs. With green peppers and onions.” He nodded toward the kids.
“Onions are my favorite. I’m Alaina. Are you his husband?” She pointed to Foster.
“He’s Foster.” Demetrius eyed me.
I couldn’t remember who all had been introduced. I said simply, “Dogs.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.”
Five hours later, Alaina and Keegan were hunkered down in the enby dorm because it was smaller than the other dorms—Alaina thinking camp was the coolest thing ever and Keegan feeling very grown-up giving her the tour.
Demetrius and I were in my cabin, with our phones on our respective nightstands. We’d be able to hear the kids shout, of course, but we were also a phone call or text away. Alaina was just a year younger than our youngest camper, and Keegan knew the ropes. I was pretty certain I was more nervous than Demetrius was.
Of course, I’d passed all this by Alessandra who had enthused.
A huge parcel of assumptions went into that statement.
That I’d still be with the family next year.
That I’d be camp director next year.
That it’d be okay for me to be camp director while Keegan and, and possibly Alaina, attended their respective camps.
That it was okay for me to have Demetrius stay with me another night.
Oh, and she was thrilled to hear the offer for the house had been accepted. Demetrius was contacting his mortgage person Monday, and the house inspector was also coming that day.
Demetrius had just made slow, languid love to me.
This time, we cleaned up right away—in case the kids needed us.
He held me in his arms. “You know, I’m not even sure I asked you to move in.”
I stilled.
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