Page 31 of Frog

He nodded and leaned into my side. “Did I do good?”

“Yessir,” I told him before turning to Angie. “Ma’am—”

“Thank you, Weber,” she smiled at me. “We haven’t had manners in this house for some time.”

“Oh yes, ma’am,” I agreed, leveling my gaze on Brett. “I am aware.”

He had the good grace to blanch as I rose and carried my plate to the sink, listening as the girls asked their grandmother to be excused behind me.

As I turned on the water to rinse the dishes, arms were wrapped around my waist and a head pressed into the middle of my back.

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothin’ to be sorry for,” I told Tristan.

“Are you mad?”

“No, sir,” I assured him. “Come help me with this.”

“Yessir,” he said, smiling up at me.

“Smartass.”

He grinned wide, his eyes lighting up.

“Weber, you don’t have to do that,” Angie called over to me.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said to acknowledge her.

I had all the kids helping when Angie joined us after a few minutes.

“Weber.”

I turned to look at her.

“I am enjoying having you here very much.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her as Cy joined us.

“I need to speak to you right now.”

“But I’m washing the—”

“Brett and Rachel can take over,” Angie said flatly, her voice rising.

I heard the quick scrape of chairs on the wooden floor as I rinsed soap off my hands and dried them quickly before following after Cy.

He led me out onto the patio, and after I closed the door behind me, I realized he was still moving. Catching up fast, I was surprised when he rounded on me.

I crossed my arms and looked at him.

“I had no idea that man was going to be here.”

“What man?” I teased him.

It took a second, but the tension drained out of him and he smiled at me.

“Ass.”