Val grinned at me before crouching to her level.

“Hi, Peyton. I’m Valentina. You can call me Val. All my friends do.”

Peyton tentatively tilted her head to one side, but when Val held out her arms, she stepped out.

“I’m your friend?” she asked suspiciously.

“If you want to be. I would love to be your friend.”

Peyton inched closer, then threw herself in Val’s open arms, kissing her cheek. It was sloppy and wet, but Val didn’t seem to mind. Warmth spread in my chest as I watched the two of them.

Val had cheated. She’d brought the girls sweets, and both April and Peyton munched on them happily.

“Val, you’re my hero,” April exclaimed. “Carter, take notes.”

I scowled at my niece. When April was out of earshot, I turned to Val. “Sweets?”

“Comfort food.” She shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I usually make them something healthy when they have a cold.”

Val looked as if she was fighting a smile, then whispered, “Tell you a secret. No one actually wants healthy food when they’re out of sorts. It just drives home the fact that you’re feeling like crap. Not the best mood lifter, if you ask me.”

“Interesting logic.”

She grinned. “It might be a little... different, but hey, worse than being ill is being sick and grumpy. And grumpiness was just as contagious in the Connor household as a cold. So I cheated and twisted rules to the max to keep that from happening. But hey, everyone grew up to be healthy and responsible adults, so I’m not feeling too guilty.”

She was lovely. I leaned in to kiss her, intending only to give her a quick peck, but at the first taste of her mouth I became hungry for more. I wanted to lose myself in this woman, explore her for days. When she rewarded me with a small moan, I became even greedier. But I couldn’t touch her right now, so I took a step back.

“You make me lose my head, woman.”

“Hmmm... I wonder why that is.”

“Could be your soft skin.” I kissed her shoulder. “Or this gorgeous ass.” I squeezed it once before moving my hand slowly around the front. “Or your tight, delicious—”

“Carter.” She almost hissed my name. I grinned. “You can’t say things like these when there are kids around.”

“They can’t hear us. And I can’t help myself around you.”

“You say that as if I’m some sex goddess.”

“You are.”

She narrowed her eyes, tapping her fingers against her cheek. “I can’t tell if you mean it or you’re buttering me up for something.”