For a brief moment, Jake’s expression darkened, but his voice remained mild. “Well, we’re only about good times now. How about we have a treat and go out for pizza?”
Stacey jumped out of his arms. “Yay! Pizza!”
“You need to wash your hands first.” Jake gave her a hug and kiss. “Go.” He pointed to the bathroom. She skipped away.
“She’s doin’ okay? Still talkin’, I see?”
“Yeah. One child might start out with only one word, another might burst out with full conversations. She seems to be somewhere in between. There’ll be times when she’s silent the whole morning, but then starts speaking as if there was never anything wrong.”
“I guess it’ll happen when it happens and it’s right for her.”
Jake pushed back the hair falling into his face. He’d let it grow, and Shea liked it a little longer. “We’ve let it come naturally, and don’t push her. That’s what her doctor says. Give her positive reinforcement.”
“You’re her daddy and know what’s best for her.”
Terry leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “That’s what I said too. How long are you staying?”
“Two weeks.”
“Wonderful. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of you. We can plan some fun outings, and maybe you’d like to come to Stacey’s equine therapy sessions? See her ride?”
“I’d love that. We’ve got a date.”
She slung her purse over her shoulder. “I hope you have a terrific weekend. Enjoy. Jake, I’ll see you Monday.”
“Have a great weekend too, and thank you.” Less tense than when Shea first walked in, Jake helped Stacey up on his lap. “Who’s ready for some pizza?”
“Me! Me!” Stacey bounced. “I get to sit next to Shea.”
“You got it, Princess.”
He and Jake shared a smile.
* * *
Four hours later, he fell off Jake, gasping for breath. “Damn. I thought I died there for a minute, ’cause I know I saw heaven.”
“Mphgm.” Jake made an unintelligible noise.
“Was that supposed to be a word?” Shea trailed a languid path up and down Jake’s still-quivering body, loving how his skin jumped at the touch.
They’d gone out for pizza, and when they came home, Stacey insisted on sitting in Shea’s lap while watching a video. She fell asleep in his arms, and Shea had never known the total joy of a little one clinging to him until he got to put her to bed.
He and Jake had barely made it past the door to Jake’s bedroom before they ripped their clothes off and fell on the bed.
Jake cracked open an eye and gave him one of those rare, crooked smiles of such sweetness, Shea tumbled into the abyss of pure desire for him again.
Jake whispered, “I tried to say I love you, but even the muscles of my mouth are tired.”
“Well, you used them well, and they deserve a rest. For a while.”
Jake rolled over and threw a long, muscular leg over his hip. “Oh, don’t you worry. You’re staying here tonight. No way am I letting you leave.”
“I don’t want to go.”
Jake ran his nose down the edge of his cheek. “Then stay. For good.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
