Page 116 of Where We Stay

Blair laughs, giving mine a small squeeze before letting go.

“We’re taking you to the river beach, Miss Morgan!” Aspen announces.

“The river beach?” Blair repeats, looking at me for an explanation.

“It’s the river out back,” Aspen tells her. “But it has sand, so it’s also a beach.”

I shrug because who could argue with that logic?

A few minutes later, we’re down by the river, and I watch Aspen and Blair collect shells along the sand, dropping each one into the basket Pen brought from the house. Blair listens intently while Aspen explains why every new shell is better than the last.

Watching them together feels easy.

Too fucking easy.

“Look, Daddy!” Aspen comes racing toward me, holding up one of her finds. “This one has a hole in it. A bunch of them do.”

She tips the basket toward me, proudly showing off her collection.

“Miss Morgan said we can make a necklace with them,” she continues. “Do we have any string?”

“I’m sure we can find something.”

“Quick, let’s go!” Aspen shouts, already sprinting toward the house.

Blair follows a few steps behind her, laughing. “How does she have so much energy?”

“Aren’t you used to rambunctious six-year-olds?” I ask.

“For six hours a day,” she points out. “There’s a difference.”

As we reach the house, I make sure Aspen is already inside before catching Blair’s hand and pulling her around the corner.

“What are you doing?” she asks through a laugh.

“Something I’ve wanted to do since you got here.”

I cup the side of her face and press my mouth to hers. The kiss starts soft, but the second her hands grip my shirt, whatever restraint I had disappears. I pull her closer, deepening it until I have to force myself to remember that my daughter is only a few feet away.

When I finally pull back, we’re both breathing harder.

“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to do that,” I murmur.

Blair’s lips curve into a knowing smile. “Based on that kiss, I think I have some idea.”

I brush my thumb along her cheek. “I’m not trying to hide you.”

“I know.”

“I’m just not ready to do this in front of Aspen yet,” I explain. “Before that happens, I need to talk to her. She’s my whole world, and I don’t want to confuse her.”

Blair’s expression softens. She rests her hand against my cheek and holds my gaze.

“You don’t have to explain, Dean,” she says gently. “Aspen comes first. I understand.”

Something in my chest eases.

Of course she does.