Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

After they finished writing their apologies, the cops gave the paperwork a quick once-over. Seeing their remorse seemed genuine enough, they let them go home.

By the time they stepped out of the precinct, night had already wrapped the sky in its inky shroud. Little Henry, the tiny bundle of joy, had been snoozing, then fussing, then nursing, and back to snoozing, blissfully unaware of the day melting into night.

By the time they left those station doors, it wasn't just dark-it was cold. Mia touched her son's tiny fingers, ice-cold to the touch. She was about to shed her own coat to swaddle her boy when Andre beat her to it. He shrugged off his black trench coat, wrapping the little guy into a mini cocoon. ""Honey, you'll be cold," she fretted.

Andre's voice was cool but firm, "I'm fine." No way was he, a grown man, going to let his wife strip off her layers for their son. That'd be admitting defeat!

Dressed in just his thin suit jacket, he scooped up the bundled-up baby and made a beeline for the car. Once inside, Andre cranked the heat up high. Holding his son, he gazed down at the cherubic face peeking out from the folds of his coat, sleeping soundly. Totally oblivious that his very first brush with the law had just been as an infant.

Mia kept mum the whole ride, lips sealed. When the car warmed up, Andre handed the sleeping tot to Mia and drove off, not waiting for his sister. Leo picked up the phone to Anya's call, skipping out before his sister Molly could join him.

Molly stepped out into the cold and without hesitation, slipped her hands into Chad's coat pockets. Chad tolerated every bit of her boldness. Jade looked around the precinct entrance, "Huh, where's my ride?" Her brother had scooped up his family and left, and her nephew had bailed on her. In the end, Molly turned to Chad with hopeful eyes.

Resigned, Chad fished into his pockets, found her icy hand, and led her to his parked car. Molly hopped along behind him, clearly delighted. Midway home, Chad threw her a curveball, "So, not marrying me?"

back with

side to Molly. But today, he demanded an answer, his tone laced with frost. Molly wilted under his gaze. "Why'd you

the mastermind today,

words. It's overkill. Why not just 50? You promised me the moon and stars when you wanted to marry me, and now you're showing your true colors before we're even hitched!" Chad was silent, then admitted, "I shouldn't have

"See? You admit

his thought, "I should have made you handwrite 5000 words. Teach

hard they nearly got lost. Back in the car, Chad's grip on the steering wheel tightened then relaxed. In the heart of winter, he cracked the window, letting the icy air calm his nerves. Sometimes, Chad wondered about his own sanity for falling

if you love the cold that much, why don't you step outside? Close the window, turn on the heater, and let me warm up a

he cared for was out and about even his precious grandson Henry was MIA. Finally, he saw his grandson return, but it was Andre carrying the baby with one arm and pulling Mia along with a scowl. "Huh, trouble in paradise?" Hansen's

his daughter had been out on a date with the Byrne lad instead of keeping him company. "Molly,

she didn't want Chad hurt. On her way out, Molly still felt the need to remind her dad of the Cedillo way: no roughhousing. Hansen raised his cane in mock threat, and Molly scampered away. Leaving Hansen alone in the living room, leaning on his cane, eyeing the young man

girl, but I haven't given my blessing either. You took her out all day. Did you ask my