Page 74 of Love in Mission City

I grinned. “Is there anything we can do?” Even as I asked the words, Axton wiggled out of my grasp, eased himself to the floor, and crawled away.

Paisley, not to be outdone, squirmed from Knight’s grasp. Even as her feet hit the ground, she was off in a wobbly run.

Knight met my gaze.

I offered him a genuine smile. “A lifetime of this?”

He winced. “They’re going to grow up…right?”

“Have you heard of the terrible twos? And what do you think the teenage years will be like?”

He paled.

I grasped his hand. “Just uncle.”

“Uncles,” he corrected. “Because I can’t do this without you.”

At that moment, Simone returned. She handed us each a chocolate cupcake.

I started unwrapping mine while Knight hesitated.

She smacked him on the back. “Nothing added. Just chocolate.”

“Yes…but why…?”

“Because it’s my way of saying I won’t be back.” She smiled as Paisley barreled into her legs. “Marvin got a promotion at work, and frankly, I want to stay home with the kids. I’m starting a consulting business online, but I’m not doing any in-person work. My own schedule. No crazy deadlines.” She shuddered. “No Jacqui Friars.”

I snorted. “That sounds like an excellent plan. We can hire you as a consultant, right?”

“Because you still struggle with cabinets?”

I tipped my chin up in defiance.

Everyone laughed. Including Paisley.

“I’ll be around.” Simone smoothed down her daughter’s wayward hair. “I just need time.” She pressed a hand to her belly.

Knight shot up. “Oh God, another one?”

Just before I bit into my cupcake, I muttered, “Could always be two.”

My boyfriend looked ready to pass out.

Later, when we were in bed and surrendered in the afterglow of an epic round of sex, Knight poked at my spikey hair. “No regrets?”

I met his intense gaze. “None. You’re all I ever wanted but didn’t know I could have. We’ll make this work.”

“I want you to become my business partner.”

For a long moment, I held myself still. “That’s…a nice idea. But, Knight, I can’t buy in. I’ve barely paid off my student loans.” And had managed that only because he refused to take money for anything so I’d dedicated myself to paying everything off.

“If we were married—”

“But we’re not—”

“But if we were,” he persisted.

“You did marriage, Knight.” I’d managed to put aside my…jealousy…of George, and we’d done two big projects together. He’d confided he wanted to remarry one day. And that he liked how happy I made Knight.