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He gives me his beautiful full smile. “She loved it.”
I avert my eyes, agreeing that Elsie absolutely loved it but not wanting him to think he’s right. “Not that fast again,” I warn.
Lance holds his hands up, smirking as I get up with a wince. “It’s my turn anyway,” he tells me.
“I’ll drive!” Ellis shouts, running for the caddy.
“No, you won’t,” I call after him, catching him up just as he slides into the driver’s side. “Ellis—”
“I’ll be super careful, Auntie Scar, please. I know how to drive it.”
“He’ll be fine,” Lance shouts as he seats himself in the broken barrel.
I slide in next to Ellis. “Go slow and stay away from the others. Ave, take your cousins over to the gate and stay there,” I call.
We wait for them to gather before Ellis starts through the meadow, a cheeky smirk pulling at his lips. “Auntie Scar, if I hurt him, how much trouble would I get in?”
I raise my brows, lip twitching. “A lot.” I shake my head. “Don’t give me that look, Ellis.”
He chuckles, putting his foot down. The wheels spin, and I’m jolted back before the caddy takes off across the grass.
“Ellis!”
I hear Ave and the kids cheering at the gate and turn, finding Lance holding on for dear life as he’s pulled behind us.
Good god.“When you get to the hill, turn around and head back.”
“Okay.”
“Make sure you slow down,” I tell him as we near. He starts to turn, and I frown. “Ellis… slow. Slow. You need to—”
I flip around in the seat, just catching the moment the barrel tips, and Lance goes bouncing and rolling across the grass.
I cover my mouth, partly to hide my laugh.
Ellis turns us around fully and heads back, coming to a stop beside Lance. “I’m soooo sorry.”
Lance lies in the grass looking up at the pink sky. “I think I’m broken.”
Ellis looks across at me and nudges my side. “That was for you,” he whispers, jumping out of the cart and walking across the meadow to his cousins.
Biting my lip, I look down at my poor, broken man. “I’m presuming you are actually okay and can move?”
“Just, sunshine. Just.” He sits up, using the caddy to pull himself to his feet.
He gingerly slides into the driver’s seat, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close. As we pass Ellis on the way back to the children, a rumbling laugh echoes off Lance’s chest. “He likes me, you know.”
I smile. “Yeah, I think he does.”
When Lance drives right past the kids, their faces drop before they all start running for us, I turn around to watch them, relishing their joy.
“I have something to show you.”
I don’t bother looking up at Lance. “Better than this?” I ask, my heart warming when Ave reaches for little Poppy’s hand to help her keep up.
“No,” Lance says. “Nothing beats nights like this. But I think you’ll like it.”
THIRTY-THREE
