Just as Ethan leaned in to whisper his possessive message, their daughter Abby appeared in the kitchen doorway. The moment was shattered, and Petal hastily pulled away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Abby looked at them with wide, curious eyes, her teddy bear clutched under her arm. "Mommy? Daddy?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Ethan's demeanor changed instantly, a hint of irritation replacing the heat from before. He stepped back, turning his attention to their daughter.
"What are you doing up, princess?" he asked, his voice still gruff but softer in a way only Abby could bring out.
Abby padded into the kitchen, her small feet making soft footsteps against the cool flooring. She wrapped one arm around Petal's leg, looking up at her with those big, innocent eyes that always melted her heart. "Woke up," she said simply.
