Page 76 of Lock

“No, I don’t.” I refuse to give her any leeway. She doesn’t get to second-guess us. I never intended for Shelby to discover my other secret, but at least this way, there will be nothing hiding in the shadows.

The way she’s looking at me cuts.

“I’m still the same man you kissed this morning,” I remind her.

“Are you?” she asks in disbelief.

Reaching for her hand, I pull it to my mouth and place a gentle kiss on the back of it.

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Leo . . .”

I wait, but she doesn’t continue. Instead, she shifts in her seat to look out at the passing houses.

The rest of the drive is painfully quiet. By the time I pull into the driveway, Shelby has stopped crying and wiped her face clean. My thumb runs back and forth on her palm, our fingers loosely linked.

“I have to pee.”

I frown at the statement.

“Riley!”

Both of my girls pause in pushing open their doors.

“What?” Shelby asks, confused.

“That’s not how we phrase that.”

“She has to pee. What else is she supposed to say?” She shrugs.

Riley nods along.

“You’re a doctor, you’ve heard worse.”

True.

Rolling my eyes, I climb out and hold the back passenger door, closing it after Riley is out. Shelby meets us at the front door.

“Quick, Daddy.” Riley wiggles.

“You were fine at the park.” I eye her.

“But now I’m not.”

My mouth drops at her sass. Shelby chuckles beside me.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that eye roll.” Shelby smirks.

I lighten at her teasing. Maybe we’re okay.

Riley pushes past me before the front door is even fully open.

Tutting, I throw my keys carelessly into a green glass bowl sitting on top of a side table beside the door.

“Hey, come here,” I say softly, catching Shelby by the hand. Pulling her in close, the smell of her perfume flirts with my nose. Will I ever get enough of her?

Cupping her face, I graze my thumbs over her cheeks with a featherlight touch. Her dilated pupils tell me I’m not in this alone.