Page 160 of Safe With You

“They do.”

His eyes stayed on mine when he said it, and for once, I didn’t feel the need to brush the compliment aside.

Before I could answer, a sleepy little voice drifted across the bookstore.

“Daddy?”

We both turned.

Mila was rubbing one eye, her curls a little messier than they were before she’d fallen asleep.

Ellis smiled immediately.

“Hey, Bug.”

She blinked around the bookstore, still waking up.

“...Did I miss everything?”

I laughed.

“Only the exciting part.”

Her tiny forehead wrinkled.

“There was an exciting part?”

“No,” Ellis said, walking over to scoop her into his arms. “She’s teasing you.”

“Oh.”

She rested her head against his shoulder with a dramatic sigh.

“I was gonna say...”

I smiled as I watched them.

“Looks like somebody’s ready to go home.”

Mila nodded against his shoulder.

“But can we come back tomorrow?”

Ellis chuckled.

“I think Miss Luna might like one day off from us.”

I opened my mouth to agree.

Instead, the words that came out surprised even me.

“I don’t mind.”

For just a second...

Nobody said anything.

Then Mila smiled.