Connor had a history test coming up. And while I knew the kid would do just about anything to avoid studying for it, there were also a million other things he could rather be doing than playing tea party with a four-year-old.
“How did the English test go?” Knowing that with the end of the school year coming up, all the tests were important.
“Better than I expected.” Connor gently placed the plastic tea cup in front of him. “Well, if I want to be a writer, I figure I need to do well in English.”
I smiled, remembering someone else who wanted to be a writer. “One of my foster sisters used to say that writing history essays is the best way to learn how to tell a story. So maybe you need to look at it from that angle.”
“Oh.” He raised a single brow looking so much like his older brother. “Which one was that?”
“Sydney.” At his confused frown, I continued. “She was rescued with the rest of us. But within a year the authorities were able to locate her family. Cousins of her mother. They were more than happy to take her in.”
I smiled remembering Sydney and her quiet nature.
“Do you still hear from her?”
I frowned and shook my head. “I mean, we’ve never deleted her number from the Pancake Club, but she hasn’t spoken to us since high school. I’m sure she has a new number anyway. Holden had a huge crush on her."
“Wait, so the Pancake Club was a relic from when you guys were in high school?”
I squinted my eyes remembering the first time we gathered. “Caterina’s thirteenth birthday was the inaugural pancake making morning. We had a strict no boys rule that we still enforce today.”
It wasn’t a tradition we neglected, it had just become harder to get everyone together for birthdays.
Which reminded me. Tiffany’s birthday was coming up. We needed to see who would be around and who would be joining via video call. We could do it at Forte Femme. I needed to change the bedding and towels before any of them came home. I suppose I could get Tiff to do it. Speaking of bedding and towels, my mind went to the tasks I needed to do for the home I was currently living in. “Ugh.”
“What?” Connor looked at me with a frown.
Jaycee looked ready to ground me as she lifted a finger. “Mama, don’t swear.”
It wasn't a big deal, but still, I didn’t want to seem incompetent or that I was easily distracted. Not in front of Theo.
“I took the bath towels out of the bathrooms. I need to replace them before your brother gets home. You know he likes to shower first thing when he walks in.”
“Relax.” Connor chuckled at my panic. “He’ll only be home much later.”
“Yes, but let me do that before I forget again.” I stood and took Jaycee’s hand. “Let’s move away from the pool until I get back.”
Without argument Connor helped Jaycee and I move the tea party to the grass. I locked the gate around the pool and made my way to the linen closet.
Based on the way Maria had packed the cupboard, Theo alternated between navy blue and hunter green towels. I took the green ones from the top of the pile. The main bedroom was at the end of the hallway. It was huge with a California King, double French doors that led onto a balcony with a great view of the hills meeting the ocean. The navy and beige tones of the bedroom complimented the coastal view perfectly.
Before I had the chance to register that the ensuite bathroom door was closed, I pushed inside and froze.
“Where the fuck are the—“ Theo raised a brow at me. “—towels.”
I, on the other hand, could not move. Shock had my feet rooted to the tiled floor. All I saw was that wet perfection in front of me. My mouth went dry, no doubt falling open as well. Several lungfuls of air and my brain still had a hard time functioning.
I had seen him topless. I knew the man had powerful legs. But wow. He even had that V that led all the way down to his cock.
A cock that was growing and rising the more I looked at it. And if that wasn’t enough, something silver glinted from the tip. “Is that a piercing?” The words tumbled from my mouth without thought. My gaze remained fixed on that bit of silver as thousand delicious thoughts raced through my mind.
“Maggie, as much as I love your eyes on me like that.” He stepped closer, his voice had dropped low, like gravel coated in sin. “Do you think you could hand me a towel?”
I did as he asked. At least, I think I did since he covered the lower half of his body and my eyes were forced up his torso, appreciating every ridge and valley. I watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down and then my gaze met his.
Those green eyes darkened and he stepped even closer. “You can’t look at me like that and expect me not to react.”
I swallowed hard. “I never said you couldn’t react.” I hardly recognized my own voice. I didn’t do breathy, and was that a challenge in my tone?
