Page 115 of Before and After

In the living area, two males—one big and one small—sat crouched by the coffee table.

God, could a heart burst open with happiness? They were making a LEGO build together. Ollie was chattering away as he placed blocks, and Caden was nodding.

“Hello, what are you two doing?” I asked.

“Allie!” Ollie bounced up, raced over for a hug around my waist, then raced back to the table. “Caden got me a LEGO set.”

“I see that.” A large set, by the looks of it.

“It’s a police station. It’s got a prison cell and everything. I’m going to lock the bad guys up in there. Then they can’t hurt anyone.”

My heart squeezed. I knew he must be working through what had happened. I’d need to talk to his therapist to make sure he was processing it. When he smiled up at Caden, I was happy to see that he seemed fine.

Caden rose, his dark gaze scanning my body from head to toe.

I held my arms out. “I’m fine.” My face was throbbing a bit, but Caden had iced it earlier and given me several painkillers.

Gently, he ran his knuckles over my cheek. Then his mouth was on mine, and the kiss was slow and thorough.

“Mmm.” I pressed my hands to his chest, enjoying the drugging warmth.

Then I spotted Ollie watching us, grinning.

“Is Caden your boyfriend now?”

“Um, well?—”

Caden slung an arm across my shoulders. “Yes, I am. Is that okay with you?”

The little boy cocked his head. “So you’re not leaving Windward?”

Caden looked down at me. “No, I’m not. If that’s okay with you two. I’d like to stay with you.”

I leaned into him. “Yes. It’s more than okay.”

“I might have work trips away sometimes, but I’ll always come home.”

Ollie nodded. “When moms and dads go on trips, they bring presents home for their kids.” He paused. “Like LEGO sets and stuff.”

I laughed. My kiddo.

“Right.” Caden nodded. “I can do that.”

Ollie beamed. “Good.”

“Girlfriends like gifts too,” I murmured.

He nibbled my lips. “I can handle that.”

“But you coming back to us will be the best gift of all.”

He touched my hair, running the strands through his fingertips. “I want that. I want to move in. I want to sleep beside you, cook together, help with Ollie.”

Everything inside me melted. I felt those tingles again that had freaked me out at first, but now, I loved.

“I want that too. You’re mine, Caden Castro. Every overprotective, paranoid inch of you.”

A few weeks later