She nods excitedly. “I love cheese!”
“Okay, let’s put cheese all over our vegetables tomorrow night. If you eat them, I’ll let you put candy sprinkles in your pancakes the next morning. Deal?”
“Deal!” she yells. “Now, let’s go to the beach!”
“Sounds fun!” The words sound bright as they come out, like I’m excited.
Who am I? What part of this hellacious torture sounds like fun?
Is it the part where I spend my day off in complete agony as I sit next to this big, giant, inked-up man who looks handcrafted by a committee of women desperate to ruin everything? Or is it the part where I keep falling in love with two kids I’ll inevitably lose touch with once I go back to my real life?
I should’ve kept organizing Mom’s spice drawer. I think I would’ve gotten it right this time. Clearly, the oregano goes next to the paprika because that’s how they were forty years ago and now it’s tradition. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.
The wind blows gently, and I glance back toward Bella, offering her a death stare. “Why don’t you come along too? I know you’ve been desperate for the beach as well.”
“The more the merrier,” Cash says, still juggling the kids, as his big, strong biceps flex inadvertently.
“Oh,” Bella grins, “I’d love to, but I have—”
“But nothing!You’re coming to the beach.” I glance back toward the giant in front of me and smile. “We’ll meet you over there in an hour.”
“An hour sounds great,” Cash says, taking Cora’s hand in his again. “We’ll pick out some snacks for everyone.”
“Awesome!” I grin and nod as the little family I’m not supposed to fall for passes by us on the street.
“You played that well,” Bella laughs, tucking in next to me. “I’m impressed. Annoyed, but thoroughly impressed.”
I roll my eyes. “If you hadn’t volunteered me, we’d both be—”
“Reorganizing your mom’s spice cabinet. This is for the best. I’ll take the kids for a nice long beach walk while you and Mr. Lumberjack spend some alone time together.”
“No!” I widen my gaze. “That can’t happen! We were alone last night after the kids went to bed, and it was awkward as hell. The conversation suddenly stopped flowing, and we just… froze. You can’t leave me. We’re in this together now.”
“Oh,” Bella grins, twisting her hair into ringlets around her finger like the villain in some cartoon movie, “I’m so leaving you.Kids love me. They’ll do whatever I ask them to.”
“You can’t abandon me!”
She huffs out a laugh as we walk toward the car. “You’ll be thanking me by the end of the day. Trust me.”
I blink hard and stare up at the sun again as I walk, desperate for it to burn my corneas just enough that I can’tsee Cash or his biceps, or his tattoos, or his massive frame, or his big, rugged beard, though I’m pretty sure the sound of his deep, rumbling voice would still do the trick.
Basically, I’m screwed.
A car backfires in the street, and I glance back instinctively, except it’s not the car I see. It’s Cash. He’s looking at me, a small, warm smile on his face as his big, rough hands reach for the market door.
It’s nothing. It’s just a smile. An innocent gesture of kindness, and yet, my clit is thrumming like a woman who’s never been properly touched.
Truth is, I haven’t.
I’m so screwed. There’s no way this feeling doesn’t escalate, no matter who I bring to draw the attention away.
I’m completely and utterly screwed.
Chapter Two
Cash
Was she even wearing a bra?
