While the man looked like a dark storm standing below the rays of the sun.
A tremor ripped through me.
I made a big, big mistake last night.
Because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What we did. The line we crossed.
Those eyes found mine. A hazel blaze that ate me up.
Even from where I stood at the bottom of the porch steps to where he had pulled the SUV up in the drive, he felt it and knew exactly what I was thinking.
He turned toward Colin, who skipped toward him. Duke trotted along at my son’s side.
“Yeah. We’re going to go hang out with my family.”
He looked back at me.
His expression both harsh and warm.
I shivered beneath it.
Behind me, the door clattered shut. I shifted a fraction to see Addy walk out. The beading kit Cash had purchased for her firmly held in her hands.
“I’m ready!” Her feet pounded across the porch and down the stairs, her voice carrying on the wind. “Do you think Maci is old enough to make a bracelet with me? I know she’s two years younger than me, but my mom said sometimes girls are more mature than their age, and I think I could probably teach her exactly what to do, and I won’t let her swallow any of them or anything.”
A gruff chuckle rolled out of Cash. “Pretty sure Maci can take on the world, so I’m thinkin’ she’ll be just fine making a bracelet or two.”
He glanced at Colin then back at Addy. “But you and Maci should make sure you don’t leave anyone out. Wouldn’t want Nolan or Colin or our little Finn to get the boot from your party.”
“I don’t want the boot,” Colin drawled, like he knew exactly what Cash was referring to.
I bit down on my bottom lip to stop the rush of affection. Hit by a swell of it with the fact that Cash was giving my children gentle instruction.
Like it was his job.
Like he’d been meant to help shape and mold them into caring, considerate human beings.
“I don’tgotsno boots,” Eva sang as she pranced around on the toes of her white leather sandals, holding onto that teddy bear Cash had bought her, refusing to let it out of her sight.
Another low toll of laughter escaped Cash’s mouth.
I could get lost in that sound.
“No need for any boots,” he said in his brusque way, though tenderness rippled from him. “Now everyone in or we’re going to be late. If we don’t get over there, the girls will send out the search party and that’s the last thing we need.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Big Grumpy Giant! I’m going to make sure we play with everyone.”
As of this morning, Addy had turned a corner. Had whispered in my ear that she thought Cash was ‘nice’.
“You never forget the ones you have in your heart, remember?” she added as she climbed into the back of the SUV.
Those eyes lifted to me when she said it.
Piercing.
Penetrating.
Shaking the ground beneath my feet.
