My mother warned me about giving in to her, but I had it under control. Now, I’m learning my daughter is the master of mind warfare.

“Okay, Daddy.” Hannah smiles. “But so I don’t forget . . . maybe you should take me by Nana’s and we should groom Sadie.”

She might have been the master’s trainer. She’s that good.

“I already said we have plans tonight and you can’t go see your horse.”

“But Mama said no candy, you forgot that.”

“Who are you?” I mutter as I go back to getting rid of all the evidence.

Grace has a very strict no candy policy in the house. She talks about the kids she teaches and how they’re always hopped up on sugar. I usually don’t fight her on it, but Hannah had those sweet eyes and pouty lip.

It’s the lip. It’s always the lip.

I’m in the middle of putting the last handful in the bag when the door flies open. “Hey, bab—” Her eyes zero in on my hand. “Trent!”

“It’s not as bad as you think. And she gave me the lip.”

Grace rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “She’s seven and you’re a cop. Unreal.”

I’m glad she knows I’m hopeless at this point. Hannah came into our world and flipped it upside down. She was a difficult baby that became a tiny terrorist. She never slept, crapped through more clothes than any human should, and was constantly puking. I swear, whatever went in was coming out one end or the other.

Not to mention Grace’s pregnancy was like Angie’s.

She was always sick, threw things at me, and told me I destroyed her soul at least once a day. I was never more grateful for my hovering mother. For some reason, she wasn’t mad at her. Mama came every day, cleaned the house, did some sort of exorcism on my wife, and made sure I didn’t have to arrest Grace for homicide. Although, it would’ve definitely been me she killed.

Hannah runs out and hugs Grace. “Hi, Mama!”

“Hi, sweet girl. I see you’ve already had dessert for the week with Daddy.”

“Yeah.” She smiles and gives me up. “He lets me have candy when you’re gone. Says it keeps me on his side.”

“Hannah!” I yell at my traitor child as she runs away. “I thought we had a deal.”

“You know you’re in charge, right?” Grace asks as she leans against the doorjamb. “I mean, you’re the parent and there are no sides.”

I never know with these women. “You say that now, but one day, she’s going to be a teenager, and I’ll be really freaking old.”

“You’re old now.” Grace points out.

“You’re no spring chicken, either, sweetheart.”

I probably shouldn’t have said that.

“That’s not going to help you win an argument.”

“She’s just so cute. I can’t help it. It’s like lookin’ at you, I can’t say no.”

I try to play to her sweet side.

“You say no all the time.”

“Not when you give me the lip,” I remind her. I’m a sucker for it.

She walks over and does the look I referred to. Her eyes get all gooey, her bottom lip juts out a little, and she tilts her head to the side. I melt. I can’t help it. “This face?” Grace asks as she comes closer. Her hands travel up my chest and rest on my shoulders.

I wrap my arms around her and hold her against me. “I’ll give you anything you want.”

“You’re a mess.” Grace laughs a bit and her fake pout breaks into a smile.

“But I’m your mess.”

“Lucky me.”

I kiss her lips and smile. “You had your chance to walk away, but you couldn’t resist me. I’m an irresistible man to you, Grace Hennington. You love me and wouldn’t trade me for the world.”

Life with Grace has shown me so much about myself. I never realized that I could be this happy. I drive her nuts, and she nags me, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. That isn’t to say there aren’t times I enjoy escaping with my brothers for a week, but I’m always anxious to get home.

She leans back, and her blue eyes hold mine. “Yeah, I’ve always had a soft spot for strays.”

“This is why people warn you not to feed the animals.”

Grace giggles and gives me a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

And I do. More than I knew was possible. When I promised Grace I would give her my heart, I did. I’ve tried to make each day with her special. I didn’t deserve another chance with her, but she gave me one. I don’t take that for granted.

“How did I get so lucky?” she asks completely rhetorically, but I’m going to let her know anyway.

“Well, one day, you realized how perfect I was.” She smacks my arm. The only thing that comes to mind is something my father said to me. “I don’t know the how or why, I’m just glad that it is. Because if it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be.”

I may not be good at many things, but I try damn sure to be good at loving her.