Claudia’s voice drifted from the front door before she shut it behind her, rushing over to Keely and Jake. Keely squealed when she met Claudia’s gaze as a new bubble drifted up.
“Maybe I could hold this and take it with me,” Claudia whispered, cupping her hands around it like it was a crystal ball until it popped.
“Oh no,” she gasped and pressed her hands into her cheeks and gazed back down at Keely, who collapsed in more giggles against Jake’s chest.
Keely pushed off the ground, wobbling as she tried to stand, and grabbed on to Claudia’s ankle, beaming at her with an awe that seemed all too familiar. I couldn’t blame her for wanting to clutch on since Claudia lured me to her just as much.
Tonight would be the first time I wouldn’t try so hard to fight it—or at all.
“Aunt Claudia is going out tonight for a change, sweet pea,” Claudia told her as she lifted Keely up by her underarms and planted her on her hip. “And you will be off in dreamland by the time I come back.” The hem of Claudia’s already short denim skirt lifted even higher as Keely squirmed in her arms, and while I didn’t want to give her body a shameless perusal in front of Jake, it was a relief not to feel like I had to tear my eyes away before anyone noticed.
“Seven almost on the dot.” Claudia’s smile was slow and a little devious when she met my gaze. “Sergeant Jude always follows the rules,” she told Keely in a loud whisper, our eyes still locked as she set her down in front of Jake.
“You kids have fun,” Jake teased as he stood, scooping up his daughter and the blanket. “We won’t wait up, Claud.”
“My father told me something similar before he pushed me out of the house. Ready?” I extended my hand to Claudia and had to stifle a laugh when she eyed it with suspicion. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”
“Same,” she said, her gaze darting from my hand to my face before she slid her palm against mine. The red blouse she wore hung over one sexy shoulder as she made her way to me. And just like the night she’d cooked dinner for us, I wanted to run my lips over her shoulder and across her collarbone. I wanted to know what kinds of sounds she’d make if I dipped my tongue lower and tasted how sweet her skin would be if I kept—
“Jude, are you okay?”
Claudia’s question snapped me out of my trance, confusion pinching her brow when I lifted my gaze to hers.
Christ.Just because I didn’t want to fight the insane chemistry between us anymore didn’t mean I could drool over her in public. When Jake cracked up behind me, I realized I needed to get a grip.
I’d been so used to locking up any feelings I had for Claudia that once I let them loose, all the dirty fantasies exploded in my head, regardless of where I was.
Thank God I’d chosen dark jeans with a little room around the crotch tonight as my dick was already exhausted from the simple anticipation of a night with Claudia.
“Good night, Russos,” she said, sifting her fingers through Keely’s brown curls as I kept hold of her other hand. She shot me a grin before shifting to walk to my truck, muttering a thank-you when I held the door open for her to climb in.
“I saw you laughing with Keely,” she said while she buckled her seat belt as I climbed in next to her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let it get out and ruin your broody reputation.”
“How about we try something tonight?” I asked her as I started the engine.
“Try something? Like what?”
I smiled as she crinkled her nose at me.
“How about—” I picked up her hand and slowly laced our fingers together “—we reset a little tonight. Forget that I pulled you over or that I asked you to pretend to date me, and clear the way a little bit.”
“Clear the way for what?” she asked, tilting her head as she eased closer.
“We can figure that out. Tonight, I’m Jude, and you’re Claudia. That’s it. Just be honest and real tonight.”
“Okay. I’ll go first.” She shifted toward me in her seat. “I changed five times in the past hour. Both because I’m not sure if Larry told anyone that I was interested in being the new bar owner and I didn’t know what outfit would say ‘I’m fun and casual but not too casual,’ and maybe I wanted to impress you a little.”
“Impress me?” I had to laugh when she pinched the air between her fingers. “When you’re around, I don’t see or notice anything else. Which, if I’m being honest, has been a struggle.”
A bashful smile ghosted her lips as I spotted a blush staining her cheeks.
“And no matter what you chose, that would have been especially true tonight.”
Her brows popped up as she settled back into her seat, searching my face as she kept hold of my hand.
“And I changed my shirt three times.”
“To impress Larry or me?” Her red-painted lips curled into a smirk.
