Chapter 42
—Reed—
The pause that followed Kasey’s confession sucked the air from the room. It gifted me with another perfect opportunity to kiss her, and as I blindly set my water bottle on the coffee table, I intended to do just that.
Kase’s tongue darted out to moisten her sweet, plump lips. Magnetism pulled me closer into her orbit and past the point of no return. I eased over her with intention, hand flexing low on her hip and ready to claim her mouth, but a scuff at the front door made me pause.
I cocked my head to listen, then dropped my forehead against hers when I heard her mom’s and dad’s voices.
A torturous mix of relief and irritation swirled through me, and I took a second to feel Kasey’s body under mine before reluctantly peeling myself away.
After a last wistful glance at her, I stood. “Hold that thought, babe. This isn’t over.”
I jogged to the door and held it open for her parents as Georgia carefully eased the stroller into the entry way. I couldn’t help but check on Posie, finding her tucked up and sleeping like an angel beneath the cream wool blanket Connie had knitted her.
“Sorry we were M.I.A. for a while. We weren’t sure when you’d be back,” Georgia explained as she flicked the stroller brakes with her foot.
“It’s absolutely fine,” I lied.
“He was shitting himself, Mom,” Kasey called from the lounge, causing Posie to startle then stir.
While Georgia tutted her daughter, I lifted my sleepy one and held her to my chest. Love like I’d never known before Posie snagged in my chest and pulled the invisible drawstring tight. Kissing her warm head, I carried her to the living room and sat on the couch beside Kase. It wasn’t intentional or filled with purpose to make her uncomfortable—it simply felt right sitting with her while cradling Posie. Like we were finally whole again.
Kase side-eyed Posie, then shifted her attention to her parents. “Ready to go to Simone’s now?”
Georgia’s expression held reluctance as she lovingly gazed at Posie. “I’m not ready to leave her yet.”
I smiled and reassured her. “You’re more than welcome to come over whenever you want. Especially when you’re able to get her to sleep. That itself is no easy feat.”
Georgia’s wide smile appeared. “That’s because I had years of trying everything under the sun to get this one to sleep through the night.” She gestured at Kasey. “Like mother, like daughter, it seems.”
My heart lurched when Kase abruptly stood. “I’m really beat.”
“Okay, just let me have one last cuddle.” Georgia wiggled her fingers, then inhaled dreamily as I transferred Posie to her arms. “Can I visit again tomorrow morning, Reed? I’m trying to get in as many Grandma cuddles as I can before we head home tomorrow afternoon.”
I glanced across the living room to where Kasey had excused herself to, then returned my attention to her parents. “Of course. Actually, I’ve been meaning to run something by you both. I’d like to come to Denver soon to take Kase out on another date. If I brought Posie, would you—”
“Yes!” Georgia rushed. “Please do! We’ll look after her, won’t we, Art?”
The chill man lounging in the recliner across from us smiled. “Of course we will. It would be our pleasure to have you both visit.”
“So, when will this be?” Georgia asked. Her eyes filled with excitement and plans. “Oh, it will be wonderful. We can go for walks and set up the spare room as her nursery.” She gasped. “Art, you’ll need to secure the dresser to the wall, so it doesn’t accidentally fall over. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to our little angel.”
While I couldn’t control everything in Posie’s life, hearing Georgia vehemently speak of keeping her safe immediately set my mind at ease. I’d been a total fool to think her and Arty had kidnapped her. At times, I saw the worst in humanity, but with them, there was simply no way.
Arty held up his hands to slow his wife’s verbal dump. “Now, hold up, Georgia. Nothing’s going to tip over, but yes, I’ll anchor the damn dresser to the wall.”
“Thank you. That can be done as soon as we get home,” his wife declared, hugging Posie a fraction tighter and peppering kisses over her head.
I hid my grin. Kase was so much like her mom: impulsive ideas and needing to do shit right fucking now. And I couldn’t help but assume that Posie would be the same considering she arrived into our world completely unannounced and entirely on her own timing.
Arty rolled his eyes yet grinned as he stood and crossed the room. He smoothed his large hand over Posie’s little head, then pressed a sweet kiss to her crown.
He turned to me with unexpected tears in his eyes. “She’s an absolute blessing, Reed. Thank you. We’ll see you tomorrow, son.”
I offered a little smile and cleared my throat. “Of course.”
Georgia touched my forearm. “We’ll see you tomorrow, hon. Thank you for today.”
“No, thank you. Today was just what we all needed,” I said, locking eyes with Kase.
With Posie returned to my arms, I wished the Quinn family farewell and managed to snag Kasey’s arm before she bolted. Her parents gave us some privacy, and I waited until they were out of sight before laying a lingering kiss on Kasey’s cheek.
“Thank you for today, darlin’.”
“Thank you, too.” She smiled, then walked away from my house, only to look back over her shoulder when I softly called her name.
“And Kase?”
Expectant brown eyes met mine. “Yeah?”
I grinned and raised my middle finger. “See you later. I love you, babe.”
The most perplexed expression crossed her face. An odd mix of confusion and shock. Before I could question it, Kase was gone from view, leaving me puzzled and wondering if I’d taken it too far—again.