Page 160 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

Diego looks at me. Eight. The age he was the last time I saw him. I don't let myself stay there.

Noah points toward the main field. "Do you want to see Goliath?"

Diego looks confused. "Who's Goliath?" Noah gasps. I put a hand on Diego's shoulder. "You're on your own."

"Helpful."

Noah is already walking. "Come on." Diego looks at me once, then follows him. I stand there watching my twenty-year-old son get dragged across the farm by an eight-year-old boy who has apparently decided they're friends.

"That's him?"

Maddy's voice comes quietly beside me. I turn. She's standing a few feet away, looking toward Diego. "Yeah."

"He came."

"Drove from Boston this morning."

Her eyes return to him. Noah has reached Goliath and is apparently beginning the official presentation. Diego looks back toward me. I lift a hand. He gives me a small wave. Maddy slips her fingers through mine. I hold on.

Diego and Noah come back several minutes later. Noah is doing most of the talking. Diego seems fine with that.

"Maddy," Noah says, "this is Diego. He's Uncle Martinez's son."

Maddy looks at me. I can see her trying not to smile. Apparently Noah has decided introductions are his responsibility now.

"Hi, Diego."

"Hi."

"I'm Maddy."

"I know." She blinks. I look at him. Diego's face changes. "Mom mentioned you." That surprises both of us. Maddy recovers first.

"Hopefully nothing terrible."

"No." A slight smile. "She just said you were important to him."

I close my eyes briefly. Diana. Of course she did. When I open them, Maddy is looking at me. There's warmth in her eyes. She turns back to Diego. "Well, I'm glad you're here."

"Thanks." That's it. Exactly enough.

Noah grabs Diego's sleeve. "You haven't met the dogs."

Diego looks at me. "Do I get a choice?"

"No," Maddy and I say together. He laughs. Noah leads him toward the dog area, where Atlas is stretched out in the shade and Ranger sits beside Emma, watching the crowd.

"That's Atlas," Noah says, pointing. "He's Uncle Martinez's. And that's Ranger. He's Jack's."

Ranger gets to Diego first. He sniffs Diego's hand, apparently approves, then leans against his leg. Diego laughs and scratches behind his ears.

"That means he likes you," Noah says.

"How can you tell?"

"He didn't walk away."

Diego looks toward me. "High standards around here."