Laiken grinned. “I think that meansscrew you.”
I chuckled as I grabbed my keys and headed for the door. “She never listens to a word I say.”
“How does it feel to know there’s a woman you can’t win over with your charm?”
I tugged Laiken out the door and locked it. “I won you over. That’s what matters.”
She scoffed as we headed down the steps. “Maybe I’m still making up my mind.”
Opening Laiken’s door, I moved in close as she got in. I buckled her seat belt and took her mouth in a slow kiss. “I’ve got you. No use in denying it.”
She huffed. “Bragger.”
The corner of my mouth kicked up. “Secure in the knowledge you’re mine.”
Laiken gripped my sweater, pulling me back to her. “Just remember, you’re mine, too.”
“You’ve got all of me. All the time.”
A shadow passed over her eyes even as she smiled. “Glad to hear it.”
As I rounded the front of the truck and climbed behind the wheel, I had to wonder if Laiken was thinking about the future. How things would work when I had to leave for this movie and all the days after that. I couldn’t imagine being away from her for a week, let alone months. But I wasn’t sure she was ready for an invitation to come with me, either.
I backed out of the makeshift parking spot in front of the cabin and headed for the gate. As I waited for it to open, I took Laiken’s hand in mine, resting it on my thigh. “We’ll figure it out. One day at a time.”
Her hand tightened around mine. “One day sounds good.”
The drive into town was quick. We hadn’t gotten any more snow, and the roads were clear. Laiken pointed to a white farmhouse. “That’s Addie and Beckett’s.”
I pulled behind another SUV and shut off the engine. “Let’s do this.”
“Prepare for chaos.”
“I love a little chaos.”
As we walked up the path, the front door burst open. “Laiken!” a little girl shouted, running down the front steps.
Another girl, who had to be her twin, followed behind, shutting the door softly behind herself. “Birdie, you left the door wide open.”
“I knew you’d get it.” Birdie flung herself into Laiken’s arms. “It’s been forever.”
Laiken ruffled the girl’s hair, a big smile on her face. “Way too long. I need to see what new tricks you’re working on.” Her gaze lifted to me. “Birdie here is an amazing skateboarder. And Sage is an expert botanist.”
Sage sent Laiken a shy smile. “I’ve been working on my photography of the new plants I find in the woods. I want to show you.”
“Of course. Girls, this is Boden.”
Birdie looked up at me with an assessing expression. “Is he your boyfriend?”
I choked on a laugh.
Laiken squeezed the girl tighter to her. “I guess he is.”
Birdie’s eyes narrowed. “You better treat our Laiken good. She deserves the best.”
A flare of warmth lit in my chest at the fierceness of the little girl’s words. “You’re right. She does. And I’ll be working every day to make sure she gets it.”
“Good,” she harumphed.