Page 108 of The Bluffing Game

“We won’t make a mess, will we? At least not too much more of a mess.” She ruffles the top of his hair. “Do you want to tell me how many chocolate chips you want?”

“I want all of them.”

“I don’t think you can have all of them, Toby.”

“Yes, I can. I can eat every single chocolate chip in the world, even if I become a chocolate chip myself, which Daddy says will happen if I keep eating them.”

“Oh, really. Is that so, Daddy?” Sage says, and the words make me want to grab her and pull her into my arms.

Sage raises an eyebrow at me, and I grace her with a wicked smile in return.

“Well, you know, there are things that are good for you, and things that are bad for you. Chocolate chips are not good for you. Other things,” I say, “are much better for you.”

“Sage, can I tell you something?” Toby says, tugging on her hand.

“Of course. You can tell me anything.”

“I wish you were my mommy.” He looks over at me. “I wish you were married to my daddy, and I wish you lived with us always and made me pancakes with chocolate chips every morning and played with me and read me stories.” He beams at her. “Will you be my mommy?”

“Oh, darling,” she says, looking at me with a nervous expression. “I’m your friend, and I love you, and I’ll always be here for you.” She bends down and gives him a warm hug. “You’re such a cutie pie.”

“Are you Daddy’s friend too?”

“Yeah, I suppose I am.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” I say with a laugh, though friend seems lackluster for what we already are to each other. “I will say that Daddy’s hungry right now. Real, real hungry.” I wink at Sage. “I’m hoping you’ll make me a special meal.”

“Yeah, well, you’re going to hold me to a number of things, aren’t you?” she says with a sassy smile. “I really should go and freshen up real quick.” She looks down at Toby and then at me. There’s water in her eyes, and I think she is overwhelmed. The last twenty-four hours have been crazy. “I’ll be right back, okay?” she practically whispers as I nod.

Toby runs over to me and grabs my hand as she leaves the room. “I love her, Daddy. She’s so pretty, and she’s so nice. Do you think she’ll stay?”

I look down at him, at his innocent expression, at his innocent face, at the hope in his eyes, and I realize that Toby has completely fallen under her spell. I recognize the expression on his face because it’s the same way that I feel. I’ve fallen for her as well, and I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do. I have to protect her, and I have to protect Toby, but more than anything, I wish his dreams would come true. I wish she would stay here forever. My heart belongs to her. Every single fragment. I don’t just want to be her protector. I want to be the man she comes to every single time. I think about checking on her when I see my phone buzzing. Brett just texted me, and I open it quickly.

We need to talk. It’s about Sage. And it’s not good.

I stare at the message and ignore the thumping in my heart before putting the phone in my back pocket. I’ll deal with that later. Right now, I want to keep on playing happy family, even if it’s just for one morning.

Chapter 29

SAGE

“I can’t believe you’re living with Dalton now,” Rosie says to me as we hang out near the bar, waiting for some customers to come into the restaurant.

“I’m not living with him forever. You already know why I’m staying with him for a temporary amount of time.”

“That’s crazy that the guy became such a psychopath,” Rosie says. “What has gone on in the world that men think it’s okay to stalk women just because they’re no longer interested?”

“Tell me about it,” I say. “But I guess he got upset because Dalton had given me information, which is the reason why I dumped him. And then he had Dalton investigated, I suppose. That’s rich-people games.”

“Not anything we know about,” she says with a giggle.

“Exactly.”

Izzy and Lucia walk up to us, and Lucia gives me a big hug.

“I’m sorry you’re staying with my brother. I can’t imagine it’s fun. Or maybe it is,” she says, winking at me.

“Nothing like that is going on. I’m only staying there because that Parker dude threatened me and basically threatened Toby and Dalton as well.” I lower my voice just in case the one customer who’s sitting in the dining room is listening.