Chapter 54

Mia untangles herself and crawls out, caught by her father, who walks her back, holding her by one arm while retrieving her clothes. He moves close to Emma, leaning in to kiss her tenderly on the mouth, before sitting down on a chair, pulling Mia onto his lap, and once again dressing his child. Emma shakes her head and quietly chides Mia out of my earshot to not embarrass her. The little girl stares wide-eyed and on the verge of tears as her mommy gently asks her to stay dressed. Emma always did have more control over Jake’s offspring than he did. Mia is his ‘mini-me,’ and it’s no surprise that Emma can manage both equally well.

She moves to a lounger near me and awkwardly tries to maneuver into it. Jake is fast on his feet, letting Mia go while only half dressed, and helps his wife settle down into the chair, nuzzling her neck and whispering something to her before fully letting her go. Emma’s face heats, and she nudges him lightly in the ribs, eyes locked for an intense mome