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Meanwhile, Cliff’s eyebrows are going to force his eyes to close if they descend any further in his confused state. Cliff watches his maniacal friend for a moment before saying, “Wait, is that what the ‘seeing red’ comment was about?”
I don’t get what’s so hilarious, but Jerry is gasping for breath as he nods.
“Seeing red? What the hell does that mean? What am I supposed to do with that?” I shake my head as the imps, who are proving to be more trouble than they’re worth, fly away together. As I slide the van door closed, I find Harmon, Natalie's favorite stuffy since toddlerhood, tucked under the seat. I grab the raggedy koala and lock the minivan. Walking to the house, I send George a text.
Hey, we’re in Point Pleasant. Our imp buddies came by. BE CAREFUL. That mythical voice from your bathtub is trying to seduce you. The only clue I have is seeing red. Sounds like it may be your mystery woman after all. Ok, going on vacation now. TTYL
I stare at the koala and phone in my hands. George is a better fighter than I am, and he has a head start on trying to figure out who this chick is. Knowing George will be okay, I look at the house. My family needs me present this weekend. My husband needs all of me in it. I take a deep breath, shrug, and slide my phone into do-not-disturb mode before heading in and making lunch for my crew.
Chapter 14
Jake
Irarelytootmyown horn. It’s hard to find reasons to brag about yourself when you’re married to a mythically supercharged human. But I do have to say that this weekend away was a brilliant idea. Bringing Miranda and the kids down here, back to this place where we have made so many happy memories, is just what our family needed. Even more than that, it’s just what our marriage needed. Having to stop every half an hour made the drive down a little tumultuous, but with our kids, I wouldn’t have it any other way. And besides, now that we’re here, we can relax and enjoy ourselves.
Eliza’s parents’ place is only steps away from the boardwalk. We can be in tourist central in minutes. Or we can stay here in our own little piece of heaven. The living room has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the ocean. A beautiful gray deck separates the house and the boardwalk where we spend as much of our time as possible when we’re here.
We are all on the deck now. Miranda told me to relax after driving for the last three and a half hours. So I’m with the kids, camped out on the outdoor sofa, chatting animatedly and enjoying the salty sea air, while Eliza and Miranda set the table next to us with everything for lunch. My stomach growls as I smell the hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. Miranda sets a plate piled high with various buns on the table and Eliza follows with a large glass bowl full of potato salad in one hand and one full of macaroni salad in the other. I nudge Jessie’s foot with my own. She’s staring off at the ocean while her siblings are all giggling away around her. She’s getting too cool for our family’s enjoyment of each other. Or maybe she already is.
Her attention snaps to me. “What?”
I raise my eyebrows and look at Miranda, jutting the top of my head toward the dining set-up before looking back into my eldest’s eyes, which she promptly rolls.
But then, to my amazement, she listens to me. “Hey Mom, Aunt Eliza, do you need any help?”
Miranda and Eliza both freeze in their spots and look at each other with a touch of fear in their eyes at this unexpected behavior. Miranda looks at Jessie as she slowly resumes folding paper napkins to set the flatware at each setting onto, then answers, “Um, we’re good for now, Jessie. Thank you for offering. But we do still have about nine more meals to eat while we’re here, and not all of them can be at Little Mac’s, so maybe you guys can take turns helping us out?”
Jessie’s eyes flick to me so there is no doubt I’m the one to blame for this turn of events. Then she plasters a sweet smile on her face and nods to Miranda. “It’s a deal!”
“Great!” Miranda goes back to chatting with Eliza happily as they finish readying the meal.
I smile to myself, leaning my head against the cushion so I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I am going to make this the best weekend ever. I’m even going to take Miranda to dinner tomorrow, a real-life date! I already spoke to Eliza and Rory, who said they’d be happy to keep an eye on the kids. Luckily, watching our kids doesn’t take nearly as much energy as watching their own does at this point. In fact, our kids are usually so helpful with Tabitha that the whole thing could end up beneficial to them.
After lunch, Rory and I clear the table. It’s the least we can do since the ladies prepared and set out everything. The kids run inside, nearly plowing one another over, to get ready to go to the boardwalk. And on her way in, Miranda smacks my butt when I’m not expecting it.
I smile at her over my shoulder. “Hey, I’m not just a piece of meat, you know.”
She smiles back and shrugs before walking through the open sliding door. I follow her in, carrying the stack of melamine plates sticking together with remnants of mayonnaise and ketchup from the meals just consumed. When I get to the kitchen, Miranda is at the island, wrapping up leftovers. Once I deposit the dishes in the sink, I sidle up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“What was that about?” I murmur into her ear before kissing the corner of her jaw beneath it.
She tilts her head away in response, giving me more access to the curve of her neck where she likes me to kiss most. She moans under my lips. I press my hardening arousal against her ass. She pushes back and rubs against me a few times before she rolls her head back to me and half moans, “We need to stop. We’re in a house full of people, and they’re all awake.”
“If you’re sure…” I trace the side of her neck with my lips and tongue.
She uses her butt to tease me once more and then push me back. “I’m sure.”
My hands go up, fingers splayed, showing I give up, but still smile at her like a jackal stalking its prey. I shake my head slowly and turn to leave the kitchen, adjusting the bulge I need to hide from the rest of the world.
Walking into the living room, I ask, “Okay, who wants to go to the boardwalk?”
Four little bodies start bouncing around the living room. In the corner, Eliza lets out a huge yawn while handing Tabitha off to Rory with a kiss to each. With Tabby ready for a nap, Rory offers to take one for the team and stay behind to get her settled down. I think he just wants his own chance to nap, not that I blame him. I remember those nights. Phoebe in particular was the worst at sleeping at that age. I spent about three months around her first birthday holding her all night in the recliner we kept in her room so she would sleep. I don’t think I’d ever been as exhausted, and likely haven’t been since. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though, those times I got to hold her tiny body in my arms, the times I had her all to myself. Jessie was always such a mama’s girl. I was ecstatic when Phoebe didn’t have a strong preference of one of us over the other.
“Have fun, Babe. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.” Rory leans in for a kiss, but Eliza erects a wall with her hand as she lifts her palm to cover another yawn.
When she finally closes her mouth again, she turns to her husband with one eyebrow raised. “Um, are you crazy? I have been researching the serial killer Richard Ramirez for the last two days for my next book, and it’s left me jumpy. Don’t youdareleave that door unlocked! That’s what keys are for.”
Then they kiss deeply. So deeply that I need to look away because I feel like I am intruding on their intimate moment.
