“Because it makes it look temporary. Half in, half out.” I take out my bag of shoes and put them in the bottom of the closet.
Lake lies down, resting her head in her palm, watching me. “I think this whole home visit thing is stupid. Why don’t we have a say?”
I’ve already talked to the three of them about this. “You’re not old enough. We need to make a really good impression today. But don’t forget you’re going to stay with Uncle Art and Aunt Julianna next weekend.”
Lincoln rolls over and flails his arms and legs. “They’re sooo boring. Aunt Julianna bought me a puzzle for Christmas last year.”
“It had all the MLB teams on it,” Lake says and eyes me as though she’s trying to make it better, even though I know she doesn’t want to go either.
“Who wants to do a puzzle? Boring.”
I throw a pair of my shoes in the closet in the far corner, because I doubt the social worker is going to reach back there. They hit something that doesn’t sound like a wall or the floor.
“It’s weird that you sleep in here. No one ever sleeps here,” Lake says, looking around the room. “We never have any guests.”
“That’s not true. Daddy used to sleep here sometimes,” Lincoln says.
I stop reaching to find out what’s in the back of the closet and turn to face Lake. She’s not disagreeing with her brother.
“Your dad slept in this room?” I ask. Sky never told me about them having any problems. It must have been an occasional thing when they had a fight. Or maybe Patrick snored.
“Yeah, on the bad nights,” Lake says.
The doorbell rings, and Lincoln catapults himself off the bed and out of the bedroom.
“Be the best niece and let Hayes in?” I ask Lake.
She rolls her eyes but gets up, screaming at Lincoln to wait for her.
I crawl to the back of the closet, seeing a black overnight bag shoved in the far corner. If no one sleeps here, why is this here? I sit back on my heels and open the bag.
Inside is a bottle of perfume and red lingerie. Not Sky’s usual perfume, and she once told me she hated red lingerie.
What am I missing here?
Footsteps sound up the steps, and I hurriedly shove it all back in the closet, positioning the bag under my shoes so the kids won’t find it.
“You say we can never kiss again, then I come in here to see you on all fours. You’re playing games, Leighton Sinclair.”
Hayes’s deep voice prickles my skin, and our kiss, that grinding, rushes back through my mind.
“Look, Hayes!” Lincoln runs back in the room and jumps, bouncing off my bed, effectively dousing my heated libido.
“That’s cool. I love making beds bounce,” Hayes says.
I glare at him, and he shrugs, a grin on his face.
“Want to give it a try, Leighton?” Hayes leans his shoulder on the wall.
“Not right now,” I say. “Come on, Lincoln, time for the family chat before the social worker gets here. Go get Monroe.”
He groans and tries to get Hayes to bounce on the bed, but Hayes tells him he has to talk to me for a second.
Once Lincoln is gone, Hayes blocks the doorway. “I think we should let them catch us kissing.”
His fingers hold on to the trim above the door, and his shirt rises above the waistband of his pants, showing off his happy trail. I swear the universe is testing me.
I place my hand on his stomach, even though I shouldn’t. I just can’t resist. “I think we both know that’s not a good idea.”
