Gage smiled. “Let’s go. You can use the phone in my office.”
Brylee took the hand he held out to her. Once in his office, he sat down in his chair and pulled her into his lap before dialing the phone.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I … would it be possible to talk to her … alone?” she asked and bit her lip.
“Of course.” Gage swept the hair off her face. “Elder will answer the phone and give it to Darian, who will call Larkin.”
“If this is too much of an imposition…”
“It’s not at all. You may call her any tim—”
“Marsh Residence.”
Gage smiled. “Hello, Elder. Brylee would very much like to talk to Larkin.”
“I will hand you off to Darian. I hope Brylee is doing well. She’s an exceptional person.”
“I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.” Gage looked down at Brylee when he heard her sniff. He gently wiped a tear away with the back of one finger. “He’s right. You are exceptional.”
“No one’s ever told me that before,” she said with a tearful smile.
“Gage, hey, what’s up?” Darian said through the phone.
“I have a certain someone that wants to talk to Larkin. Is she available?”
Darian exhaled. “You have Brylee?”
Brylee heard the worry in his voice and frowned.
“Yes, I have her, and I promise to take good care of her.”
“Good. If you don’t, I’ll have to hurt you. She’s a part of our family.”
Brylee’s hand covered her mouth, and she stared wide-eyed up at Gage.
“I’ll tell her you said that.”
“Please do. Let me go get Larkin. She was playing hide-n-seek earlier and forgot to tell me so I couldn’t find her.”
Gage chuckled at Darian’s disgruntled tone, and Brylee covered her mouth with both hands to keep from laughing out loud.
“Brylee?”
Brylee smiled when Larkin came on. Gage handed her the phone. “Yes, hi.”
“Hi. Daddy said you’re with Gage?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me everything. And I mean everything. Is he a good kisser?”
Both Brylee and Gage laughed out loud.
“He’s right here,” Brylee told her between laughs.
“Oh, um, well. Hello, Gage.”
Gage grinned. “Hello, Larkin.”