“See now you’re a chicken and waffle fiend,” Roan teases me. I must’ve eaten more of his food than he did, but he seemed okay with that.

He opens the front door to his home, and I tense, still envisioning Georgia inside. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I tell him with a tiny shake of my head.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

We walk inside, and he calls for the girls. They come up from the basement and both smile when they see me. Each gives me a tight hug, and Roan sets the food on the table before moving to grab two plates.

“We’re happy you’re here,” Rianna says.

“Thanks. I’m sorry you both had to go through that.”

“It isn’t your fault,” Roan adds as he fills their plates. Maisy seems a bit quiet, and I want her to know that I’m here to help. That I feel bad for what she’s going through. I know what it’s like to lose a parent. I lost both of mine. So maybe I can shed some light on the situation and help Maisy see that she’ll be okay, no matter what happens with her mom.

I sit at the table with the girls as they begin to eat, and Roan stands behind me, gently massaging my shoulders.

“I want you both to know, that I’m here to help in any way I can. I know your mom being back is . . . difficult.”

“She’s not back,” Rianna says around a mouthful of food. “Dad kicked her out.”

Maisy drops her fork against the ceramic plate, clearly upset, and I touch Roan’s hand, knowing we have to make this right. He sits down as well. Now the four of us are at the table.

“Saying your mom could never see you again isn’t my choice to make. It’s yours. Mia helped me see that today.”

Tears fill Maisy’s eyes, and I hate the impact this is having on her. “If we let her back in, she’s just gonna eventually leave us again,” Rianna says.

And Maisy answers her, “But what if she doesn’t?”

The two girls look at one another as Roan and I sit back. They are both smart, capable girls who can make their own decisions. Yes, Roan and I will be here if they need us, but he’s right. This is their choice, not his.

“What if?” Rianna asks.

“Can we not talk about this now?” Maisy counters.

“You can do whatever you feel is right,” Roan reassures them.

They finish their food quietly, and I’m not sure what to say. Then they put their plates in the sink and give us each a hug before heading into the basement.

“Are they okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, they are. They just need time.”

* * *

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” I ask, giving him my undivided attention. I love surprises.

“Close your eyes.” I look at him and remember the time I told him to do the same thing. He just smirks and waits for me to comply. I finally close them and can hear him shuffle around. After an eternity passes, which was really only like thirty seconds, I can’t take it anymore.

“Can I open them now?”

“Nope!”

I place my face in my palms, hoping he hurries the hell up.

“Now?” I ask again. This time he laughs as I feel the bed sink under his weight as he settles next to me

“Sure.”

I open them, and stretched out on the bed next to me is a naked and sexy Roan. He doesn’t have a shred of clothing on him, but he does have a tiny teal box lying on his stomach. I swallow, recognizing the color from the jewelry store we were at the other day, and reach for it. He stops me with the gesture of one finger in the air and says, “Strip for me first.”

“Really?” I ask, and he nods so seductively slow.

I stand at the end of the bed, the plush carpet soft beneath my toes as I reach for the hem of my shirt. Roan’s dick is hard, and he takes it in his hand, slowly stroking himself while I strip for him.

“Like this?” I ask and drop my shirt to the floor.

“Just like that, baby.”

I turn my back to him, drop my shorts, and then hook my thumbs through the sides of my panties, and give him a coy smile over my shoulder. My movements are slow as I draw the tiny fabric down my legs, bending at the waist to give him a fabulous view. He makes a choking noise that borders on animalistic, and I know I’ve done my job well.

“So perfect,” he grumbles as I straighten and glance back to see Roan biting his bottom lip. I move to him then, and he lets go of his shaft as I climb onto the bed and settle so I’m straddling his hips.

My sex is pressed against his dick. I swallow watching him hand me the present. When I take it, his hands clench my thighs, and I hold my breath as I open the box.

Staring back at me is a single key on a chain. It’s as familiar as if I’d owned it for a lifetime. “Oh, Roan.”

“You like it?” he asks and sits up, looking in the box with me.

“I love it, how did you know I wanted it?”

“I saw the way you stared at it that night.”

“Did you buy it when I was there?”

“Yup.”

“I’m—”

He presses his forefinger to my lips. “Mia, this is the key to my heart, I’d like to give it to you if you’ll have it.”

“Is that even a question?” My words are quick and full of all the love.

He takes the chain from the box and unclasps it. I hold my hair out of the way and lean down so he can place it around my neck. He effortlessly locks it together, and I rise, looking not just at the necklace but also at him. The weight of it around my neck is something I’ll cherish and hold onto forever.