Emily finished. “Now, Winston, you’ll have to leave while I hide these. Want to go into your bedroom?”
“Okay!” Winston ran into his room. The door smacked shut.
“He’s excited about this,” Julia said, sitting next to Patrick when Emily got up to hide the items.
She wagged the action figure in front of Patrick. “I need to hide this in the sofa. Could I use your pillow?”
He leaned away from it, and Emily reached around him, burying the toy in the pillowcase. She was close enough to catch his woodsy, spicy scent. It was more masculine than Will’s, and her breath suddenly became shallow so as not to breathe it in. Too much of that and her heart might beat right out of her chest.
She righted herself. That thoughtfulness flickered on Patrick’s face again, but he didn’t say anything. His sister seemed to notice, though, her attention moving between him and Emily. Sienna and Blair weren’t any better. Emily cleared her throat and went into the kitchen to hide the bouncy ball.
When all the items had been hidden, she called for Winston.
He raced out of his room.
“Ready for the first clue?” she asked.
The boy nodded excitedly.
“I’m quick and small, and I zoom on the floor, but right now, I’m hiding near the door.”
He ran over to the front door, lifting Patrick’s boots, and running his hand under the mat. He put his little hands on his hips and surveyed the area. “This door, right?”
“Yep,” Emily said.
Winston ran his fingers around the flowerpot on the shelf by the door, pulling the ball out from the back. “Found it!”
“Yay! That’s awesome. And quick,” Emily said. “Ready for the next one?”
Winston jumped around. “Yes!”
“I’m a tiny hero who’s taking a nap in a place where soft pillows fill in the gap.”
Winston ran down the hall and into Julia’s bedroom, making Sienna and Blair laugh.
“His enthusiasm is contagious,” Blair said.
“And look at Emily,” Sienna added. “Totally in her element and making us look like bumps on a log. The best I had for Winston was hangman.”
“She’s right,” Julia said. “I wouldn’t have thought of this.”
“I’m used to keeping kiddos busy,” Emily replied.
“You’re good at it,” Patrick said, his deep voice sailing across the room.
Emily swallowed. There went her pulse, racing. “Thanks.”
Winston ran back in, holding a bed pillow. He pushed it into Julia’s arms. “Nothing’s in there. You check.”
“Are those the only pillows in the house?” Emily asked.
“No, but I was in my room while you hid it, so it can’t be inthere.”
Emily looked around dramatically.
Winston gasped and dove over to Patrick, sinking his hand under the pillow.
“You think it’s that easy? You’re gonna have to find this one while fighting off the Tickle Monster.” And with that, Patrick bombarded him with tickles.
