Page 45 of Unveiled

Biting back his smile, he pretended to think for a moment. “Well, then…” Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Adalyn sitting within arm’s reach. Faster than a snake striking, he snatched her ankle and yanked her closer to him. Adalyn let out a gasp, then dissolved into giggles as his fingers danced over her ribs, tickling her.

Jaclyn laughed along as shrieks for mercy interspersed with peals of laughter fell from Adalyn’s lips. It was such a welcome sound that he couldn’t help the smile from forming on his face. He wondered when she’d last allowed herself to really have fun.

Using his body to press her into the floor, he moved more fully over top of her, still tickling her. Her chest heaved as she drew in deep, gasping breaths, and he smoothed his hand down her side. Her humor quickly fled as she took in their precarious position, and those gorgeous eyes met his.

Only inches away, he could have dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. He wanted to. God, how he wanted to. But not here, and not like this. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly lifted his body away from hers and sat back on his heels. He offered a hand, and she slipped a trembling palm into his so he could pull her to a sitting position.

Pushing to her feet, she murmured an excuse about getting dinner started and slunk off to the kitchen. He watched her go, his eyes glued to the slight sway of her hips as she put distance between them. He watched her surreptitiously from the corners of his eyes, rewarded when he saw her peek over at him a couple of times. It sent a tendril of hope curling through him.

He wanted her to look at him with something other than wariness. He wanted her to look at him with longing and desire and lust—the way she had a few minutes ago. He wanted everything from her, and he was determined to get it.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

Adalyn felt butterflies kick up in her stomach as she peered through her lashes at Jaxon, with Jaclyn settled in his lap, playing with his fingers. Those fingers and hands had touched her only moments ago, sending fire licking over every nerve ending. She pulled a package of pork chops from the fridge, seasoned them, and placed them in the skillet to cook. Off to the side, she started a pot of noodles. It was simple, but she knew that Jaclyn would eat them since the cheesy shells were her favorite.

In the living room, Jaclyn popped to her feet and wrapped one tiny hand around Jaxon’s thumb, her grip barely encircling his broad finger. “Up!”

Adalyn smiled, watching as Jaclyn urged him to his feet. He willingly followed as she tugged him into the kitchen. She leaned back against the cabinet as Jaclyn dragged him past her. “Looks like she has you wrapped around her finger—literally,” she remarked, and Jaxon shot her a smile.

He shrugged good-naturedly. “There are worse things.”

Adalyn's eyebrows pulled together as Jaclyn guided Jaxon over to the very last cabinet—the one where she kept Jaclyn’s treats. One of Jaclyn’s favorite foods recently was rice cakes, and Adalyn knew instinctively that’s what she was going for.

“Jaclyn…”

Jaclyn glanced up at Adalyn’s warning tone, then darted a look at Jaxon. “Cookie.”

She pulled at the cabinet door but was hindered by the baby lock Adalyn had installed inside. Jaclyn sent a pitiful look up at Jaxon, who crouched down next to her. “You need something inside there, baby girl?”

Jaclyn pointed to the cabinet again, and Jaxon shot a look at Adalyn. “What’s in there?”

Adalyn crossed her arms over her chest. “Treats.” Directing her next words to Jaclyn, she said, “I’m making dinner right now. You can have one later.”

Jaclyn barely glanced at her, instead framing Jaxon’s face with her tiny hands, staring imploringly up at him. “Cookie.”

Jaxon cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Not right now, sweetheart.”

His entire body went rigid as Jaclyn threw her head back with a wail, at the same time swooning into his arms. Her back arched as she pitched a fit, her tiny arms and legs waving erratically. Jaxon shot Adalyn a panicked look, and she bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling at the sight.

“Don’t even think about it,” she replied. She’d been on the receiving end of more than one temper tantrum, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t relish this little slice of payback he was now enjoying firsthand.

Jaclyn tore herself from Jaxon’s arms and launched herself toward the cabinet, pulling on the knob to no avail.

Jaxon started to grab for her as Jaclyn sank down on the ground, but Adalyn circled one hand around his wrist, stopping him. “Let her go.”

“Cookie!” Jaclyn drew out the last syllable on an exceptionally long and impressive wail. She cried pathetically, huge crocodile tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as she begged for treats. Adalyn almost felt bad—almost.

“Jaclyn Lorraine.” Adalyn gave her best mom look, hand propped on her hip, completely unyielding.

Beside her, Jaxon twitched as if wanting to reach for Jaclyn to comfort her. Adalyn tightened her grip on his wrist, her voice low. “Show no weakness.”

“You make it sound like wrangling a wild animal,” he murmured.

“Good analogy,” she acknowledged. “And not far off the mark.”

Jaclyn sagged against the cabinet and stared at Adalyn for a long moment before crossing her arms over her midsection and stalking from the room. Jaxon watched in fascination, and Adalyn rolled her lips together as the pads of Jaclyn’s tiny feet slapped against the floor until she clambered up onto the couch and her focus was captured by the colorful cartoons on the TV.