Page 101 of Playing for Paradise
“And aunts,” Carter added.
I watched a soft smile bloom across Eden’s face at that. “I’ve never had a nephew before, so you’ll have to let me know if I’m doing okay.”
“I will. But you know, I still don’t have any cousins,” Carter said.
It sounded offhand, but I caught the sidelong glance he sent me. “Nope, no cousins yet,” I replied, widening my eyes at him over Eden’s head.
“Sure wish I had some,” he mused. “Cousins, I mean.”
“When my brother comes to visit this spring, you can meet my niece, Eve,” Eden offered. “You guys are kind of like cousins.”
Carter hummed, sounding impressively dejected despite the impish light in his gray eyes. “I really wish I had some baby cousins, though.”
Eden looked first to him, assessing his attempt at innocence, then to me, eyebrows raised. “Babies, huh?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I love babies.”
“Is this some kind of ambush?” she asked.
“No!” I protested.
“Yes!”
I dropped my head to the back of the couch with a groan as Carter’s shouted affirmative drowned out my response, but Eden burst out laughing. For a second, we both watched her, Carter looking both relieved and hopeful—the exact combination of emotions tangling in my chest. That full-throated laughter was too much for us to resist, however, so we both ended up laughing alongside her.
Eden slumped against my chest, still giggling, when my mom poked her head into the room. The smile that moved across her face was so sweet it made my chest ache, but she lifted a finger to her lips so as to not interrupt the moment.
When Eden finally caught her breath, she tipped her head to look up at me, the joy still dancing in her eyes. I couldn’t help myself—I leaned down to kiss her, ignoring Carter’s exaggerated gagging sounds from the other end of the couch.
“Consider the subject under advisement, kid,” Eden said.
“Don’t encourage him.”
She cupped my cheek in her hand, ruffling her thumb through my beard. “I love you.”
I nuzzled her jaw and murmured, “I love you back.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carter sneaking back into the kitchen, so I kissed her more thoroughly while I had the chance. We were still locked together when Maverick came in to announce it was time for dinner, heaving his own disgusted groan.
“Is this what life is going to be like now? Couples making out all around me?”
“Yes,” Eden said primly.
I threw back my head and laughed, tucking her against my chest. “What the lady wants, the lady gets.”
Maverick just shook his head as he turned toward the dining room and muttered, “Welcome to the family.”
