Page 75 of Always Be Mine
“She’s awake!” Lucy pulled away from his arms and sprinted down the hall right as Meri came face-to-face with the crepe paper streamers.
The little girl rubbed her eyes in confusion.
“Remember when I told you I had a surprise for you if you got up on your own to your alarm?”
Meri nodded, and Craig looked at her in surprise.
She hadn’t told him that she’d convinced Meri to try her alarm clock in the mornings.
“Here it is, kiddo.” Lucy waved her arms toward the decorated doorway. “It’s a big day, remember? You get to burst your way into a brand-new year.”
Through the streamers, Lucy saw the recognition dawn in Meri’s eyes.
“Did you forget it was your birthday?” Craig asked.
“Of course I didn’t! Can I do it now?”
Craig grabbed his phone and started to record. “Go for it, kiddo!”
Meri didn’t have to be told twice. She took a small running start and with a whoop, burst her way into a new year.
Lucy had done an amazing job making the morning special for Meri, but it wouldn’t be complete without Craig’s annual contribution.
He worked meticulously at the stovetop, pouring batter into a perfect 6. It only took him three tries before he had a pancake that he deemed acceptable.
“What is it?” Lucy peered over his shoulder.
“It’s the number six.” He stared incredulously at her. “See?” He gestured wildly to the pancake bubbling in the pan. It was almost the perfect shade of golden. “How can you not?—”
The words died on his lips as Lucy started to giggle. “I’m kidding. It looks great.”
It did look pretty good. “It was a whole lot easier than last year.”
“Easier than a five? I bet.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Craig spun around, but Meri hadn’t been there to witness the kiss.
“Don’t worry. The birthday girl is still getting dressed.” Lucy winked.
Of course she was. They’d gotten really good at sneaking in little moments while Meri was in the other room, or getting dressed, or even a few times, looking in the opposite direction. He knew they were taking too many chances, but it was getting harder and harder to keep his hands off Lucy.
They still had almost four months to go before they could reevaluate the situation but he already knew exactly how he wanted things to look going forward, and it had nothing to do with hiding their growing feelings. For now, however, it was so much easier to keep it to themselves rather than deal with the criticism and concern from his siblings and the questions from Meri.
There was something kind of fun about having a secret that was theirs and theirs alone.
Craig moved the pan off the heat and moved quickly to press Lucy up against the counter.
“What are you?—”
“Ssh.” He kissed her and let a hand travel down her body. His body responded at once to the taste and touch of her.
They still hadn’t been alone together, and although the anticipation of finally having her naked in his bed had given him more than enough material to fuel some very hot fantasies while he sought relief alone, Craig knew even his sexiest fantasy wouldn’t come close to the real thing.
Soon.
She groaned and pressed her body against his for a moment before pulling away. “The birthday girl is going to be here any second. And I don’t think this would be her idea of a present today.”
She was right. And sure enough, only seconds after he stepped away from her, Meri flounced into the kitchen.
