26. Leslie

Chapter 26

Leslie

"Look at this big boy!" I gush as I lift Duke into my arms. He coos up at me, smiling like that's what he was born to do.

"Thanks again for watching them. I have an appointment and then I think Tucker needs a night out without kids." Skylar drops the diaper bag on the couch and watches Riley run over to Snow.

Snow rolls onto her back so Riley can pet her belly. Her tail is moving a mile a minute. She's so excited to have a kid in the house. I can only imagine how excited she'd be if we had a baby. I grin at the thought of having a family with Colt. It's so easy to envision.

"What are you smiling about?" Skylar eyes me.

"Colt told me he loved me last night," I whisper. I don't want Colt and Tucker to hear me and they're standing only a few feet away .

"That's adorable. I'm so glad the two of you are dating." She squeezes my hand and smiles. "From the second I met you, I thought you would be perfect for him. Now, we just need to get you married and popping out babies."

"Hold up. Leslie's not marrying anyone except me." Colt stops talking to Tucker and closes the distance between us. He loops his arm around my waist and tugs me against him. "This beautiful woman is mine."

"Do I need to know anything special about Duke?" I ignore Colt's comment and turn back to Skylar. I know he isn't serious about us getting married. We've only been dating for a few days.

"Ouch," Tucker hisses.

"I know. I thought I'd at least get a response," Colt grumbles under his breath.

"Oh my gosh, stop." I chuckle and shake my head. "I'm not being mean, but there's nothing to say in response to that. We just started dating."

"Could've at least agreed you aren't marrying anyone else." He sticks out his bottom lip in a pout.

"Fine. Colton, I promise I won't marry anyone else while we're dating. Happy?"

"I'd rather you stopped after ‘I promise I won't marry anyone else', but I guess that will do."

"You're impossible." I roll my eyes.

"He'll probably get tired around eight. Other than that, Colt knows everything else. He watches the kids all the time." Skylar brushes Duke's hair away from his face and plants a big kiss on his chubby cheek.

Skylar and Tucker say goodbye to Riley and Tucker kisses Duke, then they're gone.

"Uncle Colt? Can I take Snow home with me? I'd really like a dog."

"Not a chance, squirt. She's my puppy. You have to get your own."

"But Daddy said I can't get a puppy until Duke's house trained."

"Potty trained. Dogs get house trained, people get potty trained." Colt holds up a finger and corrects her.

"Whatever." She waves a hand through the air, dismissing him. "When the kid gets trained, we can get a puppy. Until then he said I could only have one if you gave me Snow."

"He only said that because he knows I'd never give you Snow." Colt settles on the floor next to Riley and pets Snow's thick white fur .

"Well, that's not very nice. Maybe you should give Snow to me just to teach him a lesson." She grins up at Colt like she just won something.

"Nice try, squirt. I'm not falling for that though."

"Oh, c'mon, Uncle Colt! I really want a dog!"

"We can talk to Daddy and Mommy. Maybe if I train the dog, they'll let you get one."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Of course. I'd do anything for my amazing niece… except giving you Snow."

Riley throws herself into Colt's arms and squeezes him tightly. She doesn't let go, but she keeps whispering something to him. Colt's eyes slide shut and there's a massive smile on his face.

Seeing him like this, I can picture him being a father to our children. The way he'll play with them and be goofy, yet love them with so much ferocity. He's going to be protective and gentle, exactly what his kids will need.

Colt must feel my gaze on him because he looks up and grins at me. Riley isn't releasing Colt and he doesn't mind one bit. He's willing to sit there and soak up the love she's giving him.

Snow leaps to her feet and races to the bay window facing the back of the house. Her ears are standing straight up as her eyes scan the area. The hair on the back of her neck stands up as she searches for the source of her unease.

"Colt?"

"It's ok. I'm just going to get my gun from the bedroom. Riley, go with Aunt Leslie into the playroom while I figure out what has Snow upset." Colt backs away, never taking his eyes off the backyard. "Les, pull up the camera feeds and let me know if you see anything."

My hands tremble as I take Riley's and lead her into the bedroom with Duke in my arms. She's quiet as she glances around nervously. I'm sure she realizes something is wrong and it's scaring her.

It takes me three tries to unlock my phone, then I'm scrolling through one video feed after another, looking for anything out of place.

Earlier today, I ran into town to pick up a few things for Christmas. When I was out, I swore it felt like someone was watching me, but I didn't see anyone. I probably looked like a crazy person with how many times I glanced over my shoulder, but I didn't care.

I pull up the last feed and stare as Colt walks around the house with Snow close at his side. She's sniffing the small amount of snow we got last night and he scans the area with his gun held tightly in his hands .

I swallow hard and try to stay calm. If I get upset, it's going to scare the kids even more. I won't be able to think clearly either.

The back door opens and closes. I freeze and listen quietly. I don't see Colt on any of the outdoor cameras, but I didn't see him come into the house either.

"Riley, I want you to sit on the floor and play with Duke while I go check on something." I carefully place Duke on the floor and pat Riley on the head.

If Jimmy is here, I'd rather he get me where no one else is, than go anywhere near Duke or Riley. I'll do whatever I have to do to protect the ones I love.

I tiptoe out of the playroom and silently tug the door shut. Movement in the living room echoes down the empty hall, making me tense. I don't want to go out there, but I'd rather face Jimmy alone.

Sneaking around the corner, I let out a shriek as someone grabs me and pushes me against the wall.

"Shh, baby, it's me. You're ok," Colt's soothing voice washes over me. My body trembles against his, as relief washes over me.

"I thought you were Jimmy," I cry into his chest as I fist his shirt in my hands.

"Where are the kids?" He asks quietly .

"They're in the playroom," I whisper. "I didn't want…" I choke on a sob as Colt runs his hand up and down my back.

"You didn't want anything to happen to them," he finishes my sentence and holds me a little tighter. "You're an amazing woman and you're going to be the world's greatest mom one day."

Colt pulls back enough to meet my gaze. He takes my face in his hands and brushes away my tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"I'll go play with the kids. Take your time to catch your breath and come down from your adrenaline high. There was no one around outside. I checked everywhere and so did Snow. If anyone was on our property, they're gone now. The house is locked up and the alarms are on. You're safe and I'll be right down the hallway."

"Thank you." I stand on my tippy toes and press a soft kiss to his lips. "I don't know how you do it, but you always know how to make me feel better."

"It's because I love you and I pay attention to what you need."

He holds me until he knows I'm calm enough to be alone, then he disappears into the playroom to be the world's greatest uncle.