I lay spread out on top of him, giving him all my weight as I listened to the pounding of his heart. He stroked my hair and my back languidly as our breathing slowed.
I lifted my head, looking at him with a coy smile.
He chuckled, reaching up to stroke my hair back from my face. “What’s that look?”
“Probably the ‘my man just rocked my world’ look,” I replied.
He sat up, still inside me, and wrapped his arms around me. “If that’s your look now, I can’t wait to see what you look like after round two.”
“Round two?” I marveled.
“Round two,” he confirmed on a rasp.
After a round two that somehow turned into a round three, I was too exhausted to muster much of an expression, coy or otherwise.
Chapter 26
Cal’s gentle grip on my neck stopped my pacing the next morning. “Calm, baby,” he instructed with a quick squeeze and a kiss to my temple. We were awaiting the visit from CPS and I’d been a bumbling mess since waking before dawn.
Sophie looked at me in sympathy from her place at the kitchen table. She’d come to help with the kids so we could have a few minutes with our case worker.
I blew out a breath, forcing myself to stop my constant movement. “I know. Calm,” I agreed, watching as the kids ate breakfast. I’d made more muffins than we could ever eat but at least they were enjoying them.
When the doorbell rang, my entire body went ramrod straight before I forced myself to relax.
I opened the door to a harried-looking woman likely in her midfifties. She bustled into the room, an overflowing folder in her hand and a purse precariously balanced on her shoulder.
“Can I take your bag?” I asked, catching it just in time as it slipped toward the floor.
“Thank you.” She sighed. “This is my third appointment and it’s barely 10:00 a.m.” She grimaced.
“How about a cup of coffee?” I offered. “And I have some muffins straight out of the oven.” I hoped she didn’t think I was trying to bribe her, but she seriously looked like she needed some caffeine.
“That would be wonderful.” She nodded.
“I’m Jill, by the way,” I added, extending my hand. “This is Cal.”
She shook both our hands and accepted the coffee and muffin I handed her, her eyes sweeping over the kids and our space.
“This is Sophie, our good friend. She came to entertain the kids,” I explained. “And this is my nephew, Max, niece, Emmie, and my son, Mason.”
The woman nodded. “I’m Mrs. Morse, here to visit with you for a little bit,” she explained to the kids, her expression warm.
The kids eyed her a bit warily but went back to their breakfast, which was technically their second breakfast, before Sophie took them outside to play.
“I have the details of the situation with your sister,” Mrs. Morse began. “I’m going to take a look around the home, then we can talk about the next steps,” she explained.
Cal and I watched as she headed off toward the bedrooms. He wrapped an arm around me and his presence calmed some of my frayed nerves. I couldn’t help the fear that she’d find us lacking in some way.
It didn’t take long before she was back. “Everything looks suitable,” she informed us. “Now, you two aren’t married, correct?” she verified.
“No, ma’am.” I shook my head. “I’m separated from my ex-husband. Have been for a while, but he’s not yet signed the papers.”
She nodded. “Had one of those once myself. Pain in the ass.”
I fought to hide my surprise at her candor.
“What is the nature of your relationship?” she asked, her eyes swinging from Cal to me.
