Page 112 of The Spare

I cross my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes in her direction.

“Ah, don’t get so territorial, Mrs. Lee. She only wanted my business.”

“Ha. Right. The grapes weren’t the only things she wanted naked,” I mutter under my breath.

Both Sam and Shep burst out laughing, the sound drawing a few amused glances from nearby guests. Sam pulls me tight against his side, pressing a lingering kiss to my temple. “You know I only have eyes for you, Lex,” he murmurs, his voice rich with amusement. He pauses, his grin widening a bit. “Well… you, and one other girl.”

I turn to him and huff… until I see the girl in question.

Gavin approaches with a toddler perched comfortably on his hip. She has wild, dark, curly hair and a mind ready for mischief. She’s happily munching on a small cup of grapes that Gavin more than likely meticulously cut himself.

“Look who I found raiding the fruit platters.” Gavin grins, adjusting her position.

I reach out for her, taking my squirming daughter into my arms as she giggles. “Blair, it’s not nice to keep your big brother wrapped around your little finger like that,” I tease, kissing her sticky-sweet cheek and winking at Gavin.

Named after my mother, Blair blinks her big, blue eyes up at me, popping another grape into her mouth. Looking down at her, a quiet wave of emotion swells in my chest. I think about my mom and dad. How incredibly happy they’d be to see us here, holding their grandchild on this land they loved so much.

“How’s Daddy’s little princess doing?” Sam asks before leaning in to blow raspberries on her neck.

Blair wriggles in my arms, reaching toward the lawn. “Down.”

I set her feet on the grass, and she instantly takes off, her chubby legs moving as fast as they can until she collides directly with her great-grandfather’s legs. Grandpa laughs, squatting down to catch her before she topples over.

Sam buries his face in my hair. “And how’s my queen?”

I narrow my eyes at him playfully, crossing my arms in indignation. “You know I hate that nickname.

He kisses my lips tenderly. When he pulls back, his voice drops into an intimate whisper.

“Ah, don’t be like that, Lex. I mean, it was just a matter of time.”

Why am I afraid to ask?

“What was?”

He chuckles, looking down at me with a dreamy expression etched on his handsome face. That mischievous little dimple blinking at me beneath his sexy stubble. “I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d make Queen P, my Queen Lee.”

The End