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“Huddy, are you playing?”
Pushing off the door, I walk into the den and crouch beside Audrey, her scent light and sweet and oh so familiar.
“How about we give Audrey a tour of the house? We don’t want her getting lost in the middle of the night and walking into the window.”
Tia giggles. “Huddy, you’re so silly.”
“What!” I yell in fake outrage as I grab my sister and toss her over my shoulder, running around the room with her.
“Belle, help me. A monster has me.”
“I’ll save you from the beast, Tia.”
Audrey jumps up and gives chase as I roar. “I’m the beast, and I’ll lock you in my tower.”
Audrey’s arms come around me as she tries to stop me, and I go to my knees as I let the girls tackle me into submission. Tia jumps on my chest as I slump to my back, and Audrey grabs my arms and pulls them above my head as she kneels by my head.
“Tickle him, Tia.”
I arch my brow at Audrey. Her knowledge of my hatred for tickling not playing in my favor.
“Tia, don’t you dare.”
There’s zero threat in my voice, and I know Tia is having the time of her life.
Audrey looks at Tia and nods. “Do it.”
“Ms. Kennedy, you’re going to pay for that.”
Audrey arches a brow and smirks. “It’s Mrs. Carmichael, actually.”
A growl of satisfaction rolls up my throat at the sound of her calling herself my wife. God, what I wouldn’t give for it to be real. To be able to take her in my arms and kiss her until neither of us can catch our breath.
Tia pounces on me and we wrestle as she tries to tickle me, and Audrey holds me down because I let her. When Tia starts to cough from over-exertion, I relent and help her sit up, pulling her onto my lap.
“Steady on, kiddo.” I rub her little back as Audrey watches on with a worried look.
Tia begins to settle, and I catch Audrey’s concerned gaze.“She’s fine. Just a little winded from trying to tickle me when she has a cold. Time to settle down, munchkin.”
“But, Huddy.”
I shake my head. “No arguments. You know the rules.” Tia knows this tone of voice means not to bother arguing so she doesn’t. “How about I read you two stories instead of one to make up for the early night?”
“I want Audrey to do it.”
I glance at Audrey and shake my head. “Why don’t we let Audrey settle down and explore her new home?”
“No, it’s fine. I’d love to read her stories. If you don’t mind, that is?”
I shake my head as I realize just how easy it’s going to be for me to fall headfirst into this fake relationship and never want to come back out.
10Audrey
“And they alllived happily ever after.”
I look down at the sleeping child who is snuggled against my side and can’t help the compulsion to lean in and kiss her strawberry-scented head. Hudson had turned on some kind of vapor machine that was filling the room with the light scent of eucalyptus. He said it helped with her congestion and actually it’s almost pleasant.
“She’s out.”
