Little feet go pounding down the hall, this way, then that, before Mila confers with her brother, who yells, “Daa-dee! We find Daa-dee!”
I smile. My kids are so stinkin’cute.
A minute later, when the closet door swings open, I jump out with a roar, and my kids scream bloody murder and attack me with hugs andtickles.
With one child under each arm, I stomp into the living room, pretending to be a troll like that show they watch. “Who dares to cross mybridge?”
They giggle and squirm and screech until Logan and Joey run in from the other room and stab me with swords made out of old paper towel tubes and duct tape. Not sure when this game became ‘let’s hop on Ethan and beat the crap outta him,’ but we end up in a body pile on the floor with Cody wrapped around my head like an octopus, Logan giving me a wedgie from hell, and my daughter jamming her finger up mynose.
“I give up!” I’m laughing so hard, my guthurts.
Suddenly, everyone stops and, like a family of meerkats, turns simultaneously toward the front door, where Tori stands staring at us withamusement.
“Tori!” My children release me and careen across the room, where they smash into her and take her down to the floor. Ohshit.
“Ohhhh, Toh-wee! Meees you,” Cody announces proudly as he sits on her.Aww, my little dude is telling her he missedher.
The woman left yesterday evening, but by their welcome, you’d think she’s been gone aweek.
I trot over and help her up, so taken by her when our eyes connect, I almost forget we’re not doing any PDA in front of the kids. When did it become so hard to keep myself from kissingher?
“Guys, be gentle. Tori’s not your personal jungle gym.” She’smypersonal jungle gym. Or maybe I’m hers. Doesn’t really matter how you break itdown.
Once she’s standing and dusted off, I give her a wink. “How’s yoursister?”
“Pregnant and emotional, which makes menotpregnantbutemotional.” She leans back down to wipe something sticky off Cody’sface.
Funny how the thought of Tori being pregnant doesn’t shoot terror through my bones. Always thought after Mila and Cody, I wouldn’t want any more, but the idea of having babies with Tori makes me strangely open to the idea. If I can ever afford it, thatis.
Tori would make a fantastic mother. She’s patient and kind. Loving and open-minded. Tender butpassionate.
The idea of seeing her swollen with my child does something crazy to myheart.
Take it easy. You just starteddating.
“Thanks for coming back to help us out. I’ll make it up to you. Ipromise.”
My children bounce around us like a pack of wolves raised them, and she gives me that secret smile, the one that promises late-night touches and out-of-this-worldsex.
Clearing my throat, I ask Joey and Logan to keep an eye on my tribe while I show Tori how the filing cabinet is organized in ouroffice.
Logan snorts. “Sure, bro. ‘Show her around.’ Show herallthe ins and outs backthere.”
Joey smacks him in the gut and smiles sweetly at me and Tori. “We got it covered. Take yourtime.”
As soon as we’re in the office, I pin her up against the closed door. Her hands are in my hair. Mine are on her curvy ass. Our mouths connect, and somewhere in the distance, fireworks gooff.
“Missed you.” I fist her hair and taste her neck. The curve of her shoulder. The sweet spot behind her ear. She smells like sunshine and flowers. Sweet and sexy andwarm.
“Missed you too. Somuch.”
I pull back so I can see her expression, and she gives me that breathtaking smile that makes me feel like a goddamnking.
“If my kids weren’t awake in the other room…” I groan, hating that I need tostop.
“I know.” She heaves out a pained sigh as I put her down, but before I can drop my hands, she pushes up on her tiptoes and whispers against my lips, “But I’ll let you tuck me in bedtonight.”
“Promises, promises.” I smack her ass as I move past her. God, she’s fun. With her around, I almost don’t mind having to organize thispigsty.
