Page 72 of Love in Mission City

“I did.” Then, without warning, he launched himself at me. Just before our lips collided, he grinned. “I love you.”

My response was lost in a kiss that turned into a hand job in the shower, and we barely made it to the meeting on time.

Epilogue

Orlando

Istraightened Knight’s dark-purple tie with rainbow unicorns.

He shifted.

“Babe, hold still.” I fluffed his hair. “You look great.”

He rolled his eyes. “I do not understand why I’m required to wear a shirt and tie to a birthday party.”

“Paisley and Axton’s birthday,” I corrected. “Their first birthday. Simone plans to take tons of pictures, so you need to look sharp.”

He glared at me. “I always look sharp.”

I grinned. “And so you do.” I stepped back to take in the entire picture. Lavender shirt, dark satin tie, dark dress pants, and loafers. Casual and yet smart. Much like my man. I knocked on the door.

A moment later, a harried Marvin opened it. He shoved a howling Axton into my arms and then booted back into the house.

Stunned for just a second, Knight’s nephew looked at me before he started to wail again.

I jostled him onto my hip. “Let’s see if we can find a soother, a bottle, or a CBD gummy for you.”

“Orlando.”

Knight used that warning tone I loved so much. The one that often advised me I was pushing a boundary. As always, I just pushed right past the line. In all this time, he’d never not forgiven me. “Knight.” I used the same exasperated tone.

He used his hand to guide me into Simone’s house and then shut the door behind us.

I toed off my Converse.

He left his loafers on. They were, of course, meticulously clean.

Paisley toddled up to us. While Axton steadfastly refused to walk, his sister moved lightning fast and got up to way more mischief.

Marvin swore those were Simone’s genes.

Knight never argued—apparently both he and Marvin had been easygoing babies.

I’d promptly tease him and ask whatever happened to that child.

He’d roll his eyes.

Simone appeared with a plate of sausage rolls. “At least Marvin didn’t burn them.” She kissed Axton who tried to squirm out of my arms. “No baby, just one more minute.” She disappeared back toward the kitchen.

Axton wailed.

I didn’t blame him.

Knight took a sausage roll from the plate Simone had dropped into his hands, blew on it, then popped it into my mouth. “The one way to keep you quiet.”

I snickered. And nearly snorted up the food, so stopped immediately.

My honeybun ripped one in half, blew on it, then offered it to his nephew.