Page 133 of Revenge Is a Dish Best Served… Wearing Heels?

"Oh, this was last year," I joked. At her look of horror, I grinned at her. "Just kidding, baby. He was three and fresh out of potty training, just barely made that start of preschool deadline. We seriously had a week to spare. No joke."

Astrid's eyes softened, so much so, I could practically feel the emotion emanating from her.

"What?" I asked. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking you're going to make a great father, Tristan."

That destroyed me, in the best possible way. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

I began to show her, again, but thought better of it. I needed her naked on my bed, totally comfortable with lots of space to explore every inch of her body, to do everything I wanted to do with her.

So I pulled her upright. "Speaking of my brother... he's spending the night at his friend's house. So what do you think of coming over to my place?"

"I'd love that."

I kissed her nose, then helped her with her dress, the two of us working together to look somewhat presentable. As we were leaving, we took one last look around the room.

"I might have to see about buying this room or something," I said, glancing at the mess we'd made on the couch. "Or at the least have it professionally cleaned."

Her laughter was everything to me. "I'm not sure it can be salvaged."

"Maybe we'll just have to set it on fire."

She laughed again as we left the room, the door clicking shut behind us, something about it final, like a goodbye to the past and ten years of misunderstanding.

Together, we walked down the hall, hand in hand, and she leaned into me... warm and soft andmine.

???