“Nah, I’m the best. Ask my Moonflower.” It was pure suggestion.
On the other side of Charleigh, a growl rolled out of River. “You’re not going to have the ability to do anything if you keep up with that.”
The death glare he sent Otto essentially confirmed he was capable of murder.
Otto howled. “Ah, come now, brother. No need to get up in arms. You know the only thing I’m trying to do is take care of your sister. Really, really good care.”
Giggles rolled out of Raven.
River grunted, and I suppressed another laugh.
The whole afternoon they’d been this way.
Constant razzing back and forth.
Across from me, Emery sat between Kane’s legs, resting against his chest. Her expression was soft as she sent a glance toward me. Clearly checking to see how I was fairing in the middle of this.
An outsider who’d been dropped right in the middle of the sweet chaos.
At the thought, my eyes skated to Cash, where he and Theo stood in the middle of the field. They watched over the rest of the children who were playing ball, ensuring they didn’t wander near the stream.
Finn was in Theo’s arms, and the man dribbled the ball between his feet, kicking it back and forth between Maci, Nolan, Addy, and Eva.
Cash stood off to the side. Not participating, yet his eyes steely and keen.
For a beat, that hazel gaze drifted to me. Rays of sunlight slanted down to kiss his masculine face. Every inch of him rippled with that undefinable strength.
My stomach bottomed out.
“Colin, watch this!” Nolan shouted as he backed away from the ball before he shot toward it, kicking it as hard as he could and sending the ball rolling across the field.
Colin jumped to his feet and dropped the watermelon rind to the blanket. “That one was really good, but I bet I can kick it farther!”
“Then you’d better get over here and show us,” Theo called as he swooped Finn down to rebound the ball. The adorable toddler cracked up as Theo flew him low and helped him kick it.
“You better watch out because I’m the super fastest,” Colin returned.
“Not even, Colin. You know I run way faster than you,” Addy chastised like she couldn’t believe he’d dare dream otherwise.
“I fastest!” Eva tried to keep up with Addy as her big sister went running toward the ball to intercept it.
Charleigh emitted a soft laugh. “Oh, I bet you have your hands full with the three of them.”
“They definitely keep me on my toes,” I said lightly before I admitted, “I couldn’t imagine my life any other way, though.”
Tenderness filled Charleigh’s expression. “No, there is no better sound than children’s footsteps and voices in your house. Even when they’re unruly.”
“Hope we have a whole slew of them running amok one day.” River’s deep voice was low with significance. He moved, sitting close to her so their shoulders touched as they watched the children play.
She let go of a dreamy sigh. “My heart hopes so, too.”
Feeling like I was intruding, I let my gaze wander, but it only wandered to him. To Cash, whose features morphed between gentle awe and abject fear as he watched my children.
My insides trembled. My own fear and awe wobbling out.
He glanced my way with that potent gaze. As if he felt the weight of my stare and the need that blustered out with it. I bit down on the inside of my cheek and jerked my attention away.
Crap.
