Page 66 of Jay Bird

Jay Bird barely had time to set his bag and the orchid on the entry table before Lily came barreling toward him as fast as her little legs would carry her and wrapped both arms around his leg.

That familiar tightness hit his chest again, and before he could think too much about it, Jay Bird bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

“Hey, peanut.”

Lily immediately looped an arm around his neck. “Jay work.”

“Yep. Jay had to work.”

“Home now.”

He smiled. “Yeah. I’m home now.” He shifted Lily onto his hip.

“Where’s Mommy?”

Lily pointed dramatically toward the kitchen.

“Momma cook taters.”

He headed toward the kitchen, but when he passed the dining table, he stopped. A vase sat in the center, filled with bright flowers in shades of yellow, pink, purple, and white.

Jay Bird stared at it for a long moment, then let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite believe what he was looking at.

Of course, he had left the woman alone for one day, and she had already started decorating.

“Flowers,” Lily announced.

“I see them.”

“Pwetty.”

“They are very pretty.”

His gaze moved toward the kitchen. Willow stood at the counter whipping mashed potatoes in a large bowl, her back partially turned to him. She wore jean shorts and a T-shirt, and her brown hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.

He walked into the kitchen. “Hey.”

Willow turned, and a smile immediately spread across her face.

“Hi.”

Damn, her smile did something to him. That was dangerous territory, and Jay Bird quickly looked away, turning his attention back toward the stove instead.

“What smells so good?”

“Fried chicken.”

He groaned appreciatively. “Marry me.”

Willow froze.

Jay Bird closed his eyes. Well, fuck.

Then Willow grinned. “I’m pretty sure we’ve skipped several steps.”

He smirked. “Still, it smells good.” He kissed the top of Lily’s head before lowering her to the floor. “Go finish coloring.”

Lily immediately ran back toward the table.