“Rowen…” She licked her lips, eyes darkening with desire, and I could practically hear her pulse race.
“If Ginny wasn’t going to be here any minute, I’d ravish you on the counter as an appetizer.” I kissed her nose.
“Uh…” Avery gave me a nervous smile. “About that…” She patted my chest with her hand. “She’s outside in the hot tub.”
I released my wife and walked over to the sliding doors leading to the deck. “Avery.”
“Yes?” I could hear the amusement in her voice, and it only irked me further.
“There’s a boy in the hot tub with Ginny.”
“His name’s Henry.”
Excuse me?
“Who the fuck is Henry, and why is he all googly eyes towards my baby?”
Avery laughed, and I didn’t understand why she wasn’t upset. “Ginny said she was bringing him home to meet us.”
“I don’t remember her saying anything about a…boy.” I rolled my eyes and glared out the window at the guy sittingway too closeto my daughter.
Avery came to stand by me, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning her chin on my back. “That’s because you told her she wasn’t old enough to date and tried to pretend she was kidding even though she told you she was serious.”
“You should’ve told me when they got here,” I grumbled.
She shrugged, and my body instantly missed her warmth when she pulled away. “You said your meeting was important. I figured this could wait until you were finished. They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.”
I turned to look at her, eyes wide. “But she brought home aboy, Av. That’s an emergency. That’s ‘break down my door and slam my laptop closed’ level emergency.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “How am I supposed to scare him off now that he’s all cozy in our hot tub?”
She laughed, amused by my predicament. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“I have to get out there right now.” I turned and walked out onto the deck.
Ginny turned, noticing me first. “Hey, Dad. Mom said you were… What are you doing?”
I got into the hot tub, clothes and all, and sat myself between Ginny and…Henry.
“Dad!”
“How old are you?” I stared daggers into the shirtless, tattooed boy sitting across from me.
“Twenty-one, sir.” He smiled and stuck his hand out. “I’m Henry. Ginny’s told me so much about—”
I turned to my daughter, who glared at me. “He’s too old for you.”
“I’m twenty-one in two weeks. We’re pretty much the same age.” She held my stare, daring me to say more.
Curse that stubborn Wilcox attitude she got from her mother.
I turned back to my enemy. “What are you studying?”
“Forensic science.”
“What are your plans with my daughter?”
“Dad…” Ginny said warningly. “Chill out with the questions, okay? You’re not an interrogator.”
I narrowed my eyes anyway, and Henry nodded.
