Page 159 of Buckin' Around

Ivy pouts. “Daddy, don’t call me that, people will hear,” she stage-whispers.

My little girl. All damn grown up.

“Okay. Noted.” I raise my brows as if reminding her of my question.

“She’s in the break room.”

I mess up the wavy blonde hair that’s past her shoulders now and stride for the back room.

When I don’t find her, I call out, “Riles?”

“Out here.” Her voice comes from the small, grassy backyard behind the building. I push through the screen door and spill out into the sunshine. She’s setting up a picnic table full of drinks and snacks.

“You ready for them?”

She turns back, running her gaze over the table. “I think so.”

I steal the last moment for my own, hauling her into my hold. “I’m so damn proud of you, Riley O’Malley.”

She huffs a contented sound. “Thanks.”

I shift, taking her face in my hands as she studies my face.

“But, baby, there’s one thing we forgot in all this chaos.”

“Oh, bollocks, what?”

I dot a kiss to her forehead and release her. “You’ll see.”

I give her the cringy wink I know she hates and make my way back through the clinic to invite folks out back for the social part of this opening celebration. Walking through the front door, I find Suze standing in front of a much bigger crowd than before.

“Suze, what on earth?”

She steps forward. “They say it takes one to raise a child. I’d say she’s all grown up. And some. This here clinic, however, is going to need a little helping hand to get off the ground. So, here’s your girl’s village. Lord knows she deserves it.”

Holy fuck.

I rub a hand behind my neck and swallow past the stone growing in my throat. This small-town shit is turning me into a sap, I swear.

It’s incredible.

It’s too much and not enough.

And I couldn’t think of a better place for Ives to grow up.

Without another thought, I hold the door open, and folks stream in. Chatter starts up about the pristine new clinic. Chloe welcomes each person as they walk through, looking around. She greets most by their first name, and some hugs are exchanged.

As the last person steps inside, I let the door shut.

The blue sky overhead meets the rolling green hills on the outskirts of this tiny town we call home.

I haul in a lungful of fresh air and steel my nerves.

The day is just unfolding.

And I can’t wait for tonight.

Ives and Chlo are having a sleepover at Declan’s tonight, so Riles and I have the entire house to ourselves.