Page 80 of One Little Kiss

“I-I,” Winnie stumbles as she shakes her head, clearly at a loss, too.

“Are ya in for good, Pan?” GG’s voice carries loudly from the kitchen.

“Yes,” I say adamantly.

“Then let it be. Don’t worry ’bout it so much. If your willin’ to be that boy’s daddy, just love on him, and let things play out naturally. If you’re not comfortable, then ya repeat your name when he says it. Keep it simple, Pan.”

My gaze cuts to Winnie, who shrugs.

“I don’t know what the right thing to do is,” she admits.

Wes wiggles in my arms, and I set him down. He’s immediately absorbed in his show again, and Winnie and I gape at each other until we both laugh.

“That’s not the welcome home I was expecting, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love every second of it.”

Winnie’s shocked gasp makes my chest fill with a possessive need to make sure she always knows she’s wanted.

“We’ll get out of your way.” Rylan grins between us.

“Thanks, Ryguy.”

“That stupid nickname,” she grumbles, but pulls me in for a hug before turning to do the same to Winnie.

I grab hold of Winnie’s hand as we walk Rylan and GG out. Closing the door behind them, I remember Preston. “Ash said Preston was here. Did he leave?”

“Oh, no. He’s in your office. I hope that’s okay?” The uncertainty of her words cuts deep.

“CC? This is your home, too. If you’re okay with something, then so am I. Why don’t you get Wes ready for bed while I check on Pres, and then we can talk?”

Winnie’s shoulders sag, like the events of the day are physically weighing on her, and it makes me hate her father even more.

“Hey.” I catch her arm and turn her toward me. Cradling her face in both hands, I lower my lips to hers. The kiss is gentle, but firm. My lips hover over hers as I speak. “I won’t let anything hurt you or Wes. That includes your asshole of a father. We’ll do everything in our power to fix this.”

She shudders under my touch. “But, what if—”

I cut her off with another kiss, then pull back a couple of inches. Our breaths mingle as I stare into the misty gray depths of her eyes. “There is no other outcome, CC. I won’t allow it. You and Wes are my family now, and I’ll fight ’til my last breath to keep you happy and safe.” Even as I speak, my plan solidifies in my heart.

This right here, with Winnie in my arms, is where I’ll spend the rest of my life. Love at first sight, last sight, she’s all I see in this world. For the first time in my life, I have a purpose. I have a reason to be the man my father raised me to be, and I’ll be damned if I let some jackhole screw this up for me.

“Go get Wes ready. I’ll check on Pres and then come find you both.”

She nods, her chest rising and falling in an uneven tempo. I like that I affect her like this because she sure as hell knocked me on my ass. She turns to Wes, and I head to my office.

I find Preston sitting behind my desk with steepled fingers. A folder sits in his lap, and dread fills my soul.

“What’s going on?” I ask, swallowing an unease that’s attempting to claw its way out.

“Are you going to marry her?”

Immediately my defenses rise. Crossing my arms across my chest, I prepare for battle.

“If she’ll have me.” My tone is clipped, but he remains impassive, unreadable.

“You haven’t known her long, Colt.”

“Did that stop you? Or East? Jesus, Preston. Halton was the only one of our brothers who knew his wife longer than a few months before they married. Did you give them shit? Or is it because I’m the screw up of the family?” My teeth grind and every muscle in my body tenses as I wait for his reply.

The asshole just stares at me for so long my eyes go dry from refusing to blink first, but I hold my ground. I’m not the imbecile he obviously takes me for. Preston’s lips twitch at the corner, and we both break out in a grin.