Page 95 of Buckin' Around

“I—”

His phone vibrates in his pocket, and he slips it out, swiping the screen. Whatever he was waiting on must have been important, judging by the disappointment that drops his face.

“Not any more,” he says softly, tucking his phone into his back pocket. “You good to lift?”

I toss the level back into his tool bag. “Sure. You okay?”

“Yeah, nothing new.”

“Brade—”

“Lift, super daddy.”

I shake my head with a chuckle. “Only if you never call me that ever again.”

The shit-eating grin that splits his face seems to cure the disappointment from a moment ago. He leans down and lifts his end. I do the same, wincing even as I take most of the weight on my left arm. By the time we have it up and a few bolts to hold it to the bracket on the wall, my arm is aching so bad my gut churns.

This is worse than I thought.

I glance back to Ivy’s play mat.

She’s fucking gone.

“Ah, shit,” I growl.

Brades leans around the TV. “What is it?”

“Ives has crawled off.”

“How far can she get? The back door’s closed.”

“Yeah, but she gets into everything.”

“Two more bolts and you’re off the hook, dynamo dad.”

I roll my eyes at him, and he twists in a bolt on his side. I do the same, checking that the weight holds before I bolt down the hallway.

Riley will have my guts for garters if I let anything happen to Ivy.

Ivy is down for her afternoon nap, and I’m sitting on the front porch when Riley’s little car rolls into the driveway. Sunlight streams through the old weeping willows dotted around the cottage. Not moving from the seat, I watch her as she kills the engine and sits staring at the little house.

“Come on, Riles,” I whisper.

As if reading my mind, or possibly my lips—who knows, the woman has many talents—she grabs her bag and pushes from the car. Closing the door behind her, she crosses the small grassy area in front of the porch. A moment later, she sits on the swing by my side with a heady sigh.

“Talk to me, O’Malley.” My voice is low and soft, a stark contrast to my stupid heart racing its way through my chest.

She purses her lips before her dark eyes lift.

“I’m sorry I bailed... I—” She swallows, her throat bobbing over and over.

I haul her into my side and press a kiss on her hair. “Don’t, Riles. We’re a team, remember? You are just as important to me as Ivy. I need you to tell me when I’m being an asshole or...” Fuck, I don’t want this to be true, but... “Inappropriate. Did I get this all wrong, O’Malley?”

She huffs a pained sound, her head leaning on my shoulder. “I’m not sure.”

Well, that doesn’t give me much to work with.

Clearing her throat, she sits up, her hands twisting her long dark ponytail below the navy velvet scrunchie. Pulling her hair over her chest, she shifts on her seat and meets my gaze. “I—” Her brows fall. “We should get the crib done before bed.”