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Tori nodded.
“Of course.” Miranda straightened her back when the water boiled. “Rebel! Harley! It’s time to add the pasta.” She threw in a dash of salt before the girls got there, climbing up on the chairs they had dragged over so they could reach everything.
Tori was unsettled by the tone the conversation had taken, but she’d gotten the confirmation that she was looking for. Miranda might not believe in soulmates, but she did believe in love. There was more in that one statement than she could imagine, and it was the essence of what Tori was looking for.
By the time they sat down to dinner, the conversation had dropped. Tori pressed her hand to Miranda’s knee, squeezing lightly to offer whatever support she could. Rebel made an absolute mess of herself, and they all giggled over it.
Before she knew it, it was time to go. Rebel was overtired and cranky, and Harley was too. Tori had stayed way too late. She got Harley into the car, buckled in and safe with the engine running before jogging back into the house. She’d forgotten one of Harley’s toys. Miranda cradled Rebel next to her, but she was already asleep.
“That was quick,” Tori commented.
“She’s been tired since her shots.”
“Harley does the same when she has to get hers.” She snagged the toy and held it awkwardly in her hands.
“Do you have a minute?”
Tori glanced out at the car in the driveway. Harley would be fine, and she could see her from there. She nodded to Miranda, who walked toward the bedrooms. When she came back, Rebel wasn’t with her. Miranda said nothing as she walked straight into Tori’s arms and kissed her. Passionately, Miranda teased and tested, pushing the limits of Tori’s resolve.
“When can I see you again?” Miranda murmured. “Without Harley around.”
Tori hummed, kissing Miranda again and keeping her eyes closed. She wanted to say tonight. And tomorrow. And the next day. She groaned. “Next weekend.”
“I can wait.” Miranda cupped her breast, squeezing delicately before sliding her thumb gently over Tori’s nipple.
Tori sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re evil, woman.”
Miranda chuckled, the sound low in the back of her throat. “I think you like to be teased.”
“Some days.” Tori kissed her again, pulling Miranda’s lip into her mouth and scraping her teeth against her. “When you can follow through on what you’re promising.”
“Oh, I can follow through.” Miranda dug her fingers into Tori’s sides. “You’re the one who has rules.”
“Good rules.” At least she kept telling herself that. Though right now, she wanted to damn the rules and bring Harley inside, put her to sleep next to Rebel, and take Miranda into the other room.
“So you keep saying.” Miranda kissed Tori’s neck. “Seven days is a long time.”
“Friday,” Tori choked on the word. “I’ll come Friday.”
“Yes, you will.” Miranda kissed her again, lingering this time before pulling away slowly. “See you in six days, Tori.”
What had she gotten herself into? Tori had to calm her racing heart, and libido, and force herself to walk out that front door. It was harder than it should have been. On her drive home, she couldn’t help but think about that final interaction. Maybe she hadn’t been wrong about Miranda at all.
Maybe Miranda really was her soulmate.
twenty
“I know! I’m sorry.” Miranda tried to speak in the soft tones she often used for the families she worked with.
Right now, the tone did nothing to soothe a cranky and overtired two-year-old. She was late again to pick Rebel up, and her screaming let Miranda know in no uncertain terms her opinion on the matter.
“Okay, let’s get some food in you before we head to bed.” She swung past the fast-food place again, and while Rebel was almost dozing in the car, the minute Miranda took her out of her car seat, she screamed.
Food eaten and tears dried, Miranda finally breathed a little easier as Rebel’s weight slumped against her chest so close to but not quite asleep. By the time Rebel snored in her arms, Miranda was ready for a bath and a drink, her muscles were tight, and her nerves were frayed to a wire.
She had just started running the bath when the doorbell rang.
“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” She slapped off the water, dried her hands roughly on the towel, and stormed to the front door. “If you wake up the baby…” She muttered beneath her breath, unsure what threat she would like to throw at this uninvited visitor.
