ADAM
I dab paint on the edge of Rowan’s nose and make a run for it when he comes after me with the paint roller. Nova squeaks from the middle of the yard where she was dunking the other used paint rollers into buckets.
“Too slow, Ro,” I yell over my shoulder, zigzagging through the grass.
My son pumps his skinny arms and tackles me. I get a paint roller straight to the side of the face.
“Aha!” Rowan cries out in victory.
It’s a short-lived sound as a bucket of water gets poured over our heads, drenching us both. Shivering, we glance up into Nova’s grinning face.
“Oops.”
“Let’s get her!” Rowan yells.
“Charge!”
Nova’s eyes widen as she sees the folly of her ways, but it’s too late. I grab the hose, Rowan grabs another bucket and, with a common enemy, we become allies.
Nova doesn’t stand a chance.
We corner her near the edge of the porch steps and I turn the nozzle up. Rowan throws the rest of the water in the bucket.
Nova sputters and holds up her hands in surrender.
I cut the hose and grin when she gives me a stink eye.
“You were too eager to do that,” Nova points out.
I shrug.
She plucks her damp shirt away from her skin. “Ew.”
I wrap her in my arms, making us both doubly wet.
“What are you doing?”
“I’ve got a way to dry us fast.” Spinning her around, I grin when she wraps her arms around my neck and stops me.
“I’m getting dizzy.”
“It’s probably a side-effect from when you fell from heaven.”
“That’s pitiful.”
“You know you love it.”
She gives me an affectionate kiss on the lips. I try my best not to stick my tongue down her throat since we have an audience.
But it seems like I don’t do a good enough job keeping it PG.
“You two are so gross.” Rowan sinks to the grass and covers his face. “Aw! My eyes!”
Nova’s lips disconnect from mine. She smirks at him. “I think he got that overdramatic side from you.”
“Probably.”
I set her on her feet and we all dry off as best as we can before moving inside.
“This paint got all over my skin. I’ll have to take a shower,” Nova says, throwing an inviting look over her shoulder.
Instantly, I imagine hoisting her up beneath the streaming rain, slamming her against every wall in the walk-in shower and utterly ravaging her.
I take an eager step toward Nova when Rowan tugs on my shirt. “Adam.”
I glance down.
“You think my mural’s dry yet?”
“Not sure, bud.” I meet Nova’s gaze and give her a disappointed look.
She winks as if to say maybe later.
Oh, I will definitely be taking her up on that.
With a resigned sigh, I follow my son into his new and renovated room.
Technically, it’s the same old guest room.
Also, it’s not renovated yet.
I managed to get the in-demand and highly lauded Sunny Hastings to agree to redecorate the room for us. She only squeezed us into her schedule because of Nova, but I’ve seen the mock-ups and I already know Rowan’s room is about to be epic.
Even more epic than the furniture, however, is the mural Rowan designed with his cartoon characters. We’ve been painting the room together in the evenings. I use it as a way to bond with him and stretch my creative muscles.
But I’ve actually enjoyed it.
Since today was the last day, I invited Nova to help us finish up.
Now, the mural spreads out in all its colorful glory. There’s a skill to the design that puts a smile on my face.
Rowan is going to be a famous artist someday. Maybe someday soon. He’s already looking at starting his own art channel where he’ll take videos of himself making paintings.
Now that I’m seeing the design all together, I notice there are four cartoon figures.
“By any chance, Rowan,” I point, “are those… us?”
He turns shy, which is rare for him.
“I drew one for mom,” he says, “then I drew one for me and you. And it didn’t feel right without Nova…”
I hook an arm around his neck and bring him in for a side-hug. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want it to be weird.”
“What’s weird about this? It makes the mural even more awesome.”
He grins, getting back some confidence.
“Adam.”
“Mm?”
“Would it be weird if I called you ‘dad’?”
Dumbstruck, I freeze.
“Calling you Adam is weird.” His eyes skitter away. “Especially when I’m with my friends. Even Beth calls Mr. Stinton ‘dad’ and he’s not her real dad. Bailey and Micheal do it to Mr. Hastings too and their real dad died. It’s weird that I’m the only one not calling you dad even though we’re actually related.”
“Oh.” I blink at his astute explanation. “I mean, that makes sense.”
“Dad,” Rowan says suddenly.
My heart climbs all the way to my throat and blocks any air from coming out.
“Dad.” Rowan scrunches his nose. “It’s weird.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I say quickly. There’s no way I can go back to being called ‘Adam’ after hearing that.
His lips curl up. “Dad?”
“Hm?”
“I’m really glad mom put me on that bus. I’m really glad I knocked on your door. And… I’m really glad I found you.”
My eyes start welling with tears and it takes all my strength to keep them from falling. “Me too, Rowan.”
The mood is way too sappy, so I clap his back. “Now take a shower and get ready to go to the farmhouse. And make sure you get all the paint behind your ears. Niko’s got sharp eyes. She’s not going to like you if you’re dirty.”
His ears get extremely red. “Who said I want Niko to like me?”
“I just meant as friends, bud.”
I did not.
But it’s clear Rowan can’t handle being exposed yet.
His entire face turning red, Rowan shuffles into his adjoining bathroom.
I chuckle and find my way into my room.
Nova is sitting on the bed. Sadly, she’s fully dressed but when she greets me with a small, welcoming smile, I forget my disappointment. The woman makes me weak in the knees just by breathing.
I slide my gaze up. Her hair is contained in a plastic bag and I smirk at it.
“Do I want to know?”
“It’s a black woman thing.”
“I want to know.”
She rolls her eyes. “This is day two of my wash-and-go. If I rinse out my hair, my products and gel will wash out and then all my hard work will be for nothing.”
“I don’t understand.”
“And this is why you didn’t need to know.”
Have I mentioned I find this woman sexy as hell when she scowls at me?
Nova looks so beautiful sitting in the sunlight, her dark skin on fire and her eyes alive with purpose. I draw in a steadying breath, hoping to slow the thudding against my ribs.
It doesn’t work.
“What?” she asks, still a little snappy.
Rather than answer, I walk over to her until I can feel her breath skittering over my cheek. My lips find hers. At the first touch, she draws me in, stirring a hunger inside that can only be satisfied by one woman—Nova freaking Delaney.
My breath catches when she twines her fingers in my shirt. I feel myself being pulled toward the bed and nearly lose my balance. Propping my hands into the mattress, I step over her and delve into the sweetness of her mouth.
As her kiss turns insistent, I start unbuttoning her shirt, eager to feel her skin, grip her from behind and hammer the life out of her.
Heat fills the room and I’m one layer away from paradise… when I hear Rowan’s bathroom door thudding open and remember we’re not alone.
Nova gives me another, quick kiss before pushing herself up.
I notice her chuckling and frown. “What?”
“I’m wearing a literal plastic bag on my head and that isn’t enough to stop you.”
“Darlin’, you could be wearing a potato sack and I’d still take you on every flat surface.”
She smirks and pulls her clothes back on.
I sit beside her and run a hand through my hair. As my body settles down, I remember what I wanted to share with her. “Nova, you won’t believe what just happened.”
She glances pointedly down at my pants and looks back up. “Is this about to be a dirty joke or…”
“No, no. Nothing like that.” I blow out a breath. “Rowan just called me ‘dad’”
Her eyes widen. She understands without me having to explain more. “Adam, that’s… wow. I’m so happy for you both.”
“I was so shocked I kind of short-circuited for a minute.” I shake my head. “I promised myself I wouldn’t rush him and I’d let him call me ‘dad’ on his own time, but when it actually happened, I wasn’t prepared for it.”
“That’s a sign of how much you’ve gained his trust and respect,” Nova says softly. “You should be proud of yourself, Adam. You’re a good dad. Even if you haven’t been with him all his life, you’re with him now. That’s what matters.”
I squeeze her hand, feeling complete and more grateful than I’ve ever been in my life. I have the woman I love beside me and my son is safe, happy and healthy.
Really, a man couldn’t ask for more.
After Nova’s finished with her hair, I stand and extend my hand to her. “Let’s go celebrate this momentous occasion with our friends.”
She places her slender hand in mine and I whisk her out the door.
