CHAPTER FIFTY

Payton

I woke the next morning to an empty bed, but the smell of Alex still clung to the sheets. I checked my phone and discovered it was nine a.m., so I forced myself off the mattress and dressed quickly, before looking for my fiancé. I loved saying that. He was my fiancé.

I found him at the kitchen table with Lily and my brother, and he pulled me onto his lap for a kiss. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Lily climbed on top of me with a giggle. “Morning, Pay—Mommy.”

I pulled her close, even though her hands were sticky from syrup. “Morning, baby. How did you sleep?”

“Good.” She bobbed her head up and down, and then quickly jumped off my lap so she could go back to the pancakes my mom had made.

“Gotta run somethin’ by you, babe,” Alex said. “Let’s get coffee.”

He patted my bottom and I climbed off his lap. In the kitchen, I poured coffee and he leaned against the counter. “I’ve got some club business to take care of. Not sure how long I’ll be.”

“It’s Christmas.”

Alex smiled. “Technically it’s not, which means I need to take care of this.”

“Can I keep Lily?”

He laughed. “Yeah, baby, if you want to. It means I don’t have to drive her down to Kayla.”

“Us girls always go shopping today, so I’d love for her to join us.”

“That would be great,” he said. “I’ll leave the car seat.”

“Just text me when you know when you’ll be done. You’re welcome to stay here, obviously, or I can drive down to your place.”

He pulled his wallet out and pulled out a wad of cash… yes, a wad.

I pushed his hand away. “I have money, Alex.”

“Babe, take the money.”

“Nope, I’m good.”

“Payton,” he said, his voice dipped low.

“Alex.” I mimicked his voice. “Put your money back in your wallet. If I want to buy something, I’ll buy it. You pay for everything when we’re together anyway. Now it’s my chance to feel like I’m not a kept woman.”

He slid his hand to my neck. “We’ll play that game next time.”

I shivered and smiled up at him. “Can’t wait.”

He leaned down and kissed me quickly and then we walked back to Lily.

“Daddy’s gotta go to work, baby girl. Payton’s gonna take you shopping.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She hugged him and then went back to her pancakes.

“Thought that would go different,” Alex whispered.

I grinned. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Watch her, Payton. She sees something shiny and walks away and you won’t hear her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Wonder who she gets that from?”

He pulled open the door and smiled.

“You’re not doing anything dangerous are you?” I asked.

“I’m not doin’ anything I don’t do every week.”

“That doesn’t actually answer my question.”

He leaned down and kissed me. “Love you, babe.”

“Love you too.”

He headed to his truck and, after he handed me the car seat, I raised up on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Have a great day at work, honey.”

Alex laughed and took off.

I made my way back to the kitchen to find Bailey sitting at the table with Brock and Lily. “Good morning,” I said.

Bailey smiled sleepily. “Hey. What time are we leaving?”

“I think in about an hour. Anna’s going to be here around eleven.” I sat beside Lily and slid her hair behind an ear. “How were those pancakes?”

“Yummy.”

“Make sure you tell Nana and thank her, okay?”

She grinned. “’K.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll get dressed for shopping, sound good?”

Lily nodded her head and pushed away from the table.

“Go ahead and carry your plate into the kitchen and I’ll rinse it off for you.”

She grabbed her plate and I tried not to giggle as she gingerly carried it into the kitchen. Granted, it was kind of a big plate for a little girl, but still, cute as a button.