Cedar giggled and kissed him right back. She didn’t hurry things along. He was quickly caught up her playful mood. Heat pooled in Teo’s belly. He loved that she was so lovable and loving—so easy to show affection to, because she gave it rightback.
He moved to kissing her neck, making her giggle all the more. “How was your interview?” Her skin was warm against his lips, and she smelled of sweetened pineapple and sunshine. He drank in her scent, burying his face in the crook of herneck.
She was laughing hard now and wiggling. He set her on her feet so he wouldn’t drop her. “Fantastic,” she said, almost out of breath. She leaned into his body, putting her chin on his chest as she gazed up at him with those ocean eyes. When Teo put his chin to his chest, they were only a few inches away from kissing. That was his second favorite place to be, with his first favorite being zero inches away fromkissing.
He brought his eyebrows down low. “Darn.”
“Uh-uh.” She patted his arm. “You promised to be the supportiveboyfriend.”
Teo’s pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. He loved it when she called him her boyfriend. Ever since the night around the fire pit, he’d known his life was changing for the better, and it was all because of Cedar. She was the perfect fit for both him and Akoni. She was an excellent partner in life, someone he could work with and laugh with. When they were together, he feltwhole.
“I am the most supportive boyfriend in the world.” He kissed her nose. “I was looking forward to cheering you up.” He tickled her sides and she danced away,laughing.
Cedar had been on three interviews in the last week. The first interview was a total flop, and she insisted on drowning her sorrows in melted marshmallows and chocolate. Not a bad way to go, if you asked Teo. He could handle commiserating by firelight while holding the hand of a beautifulwoman.
Cedar said the second interview went much better. They called the next day to tell her they had gone with someone else. Teo took one look at her downcast face and packed them all up to hit the water park. Akoni couldn’t go on the bigger slides, but they had a great time playing in the kiddie area, splashing and flirting with oneanother.
Taking in the broad grin on Cedar’s heart-shaped face, he figured he wouldn’t need his backup plan for the day. That was a pity. Flying them out to Park City for a private concert with Montana Crew and a few close friends would have been a lot of fun. They could still do it, but he had a meeting with Elijah scheduled, and with the baby on the way, Teo didn’t want to stress out hisagent.
Cedar tipped her head, considering him. “I thought I was happy when I left the interview, but you took that up a notch.” She brushed her fingers up his arms, sending goose bumps over his flesh. “I am happy with you, Teo,” she saidquietly.
Teo’s whole chest burned with bliss. He lowered his head, and Cedar reached up on her tiptoes to meet him for a passionate and longingkiss.
Cedar suddenly broke them apart. “Wait, don’t you have ameeting?”
Teo groaned. “Do I have to go?” He was going, but he wanted her to know he’d ratherstay.
Cedar laughed as she slipped out of his arms, heading toward the family room. She stopped in her tracks in the doorway, staring at the giant ball pit Akoni rolled around in. Teo had to push the couch to one side to make room for the inflatable toy, but the effort had been worth it. He and Akoni had spent the morning playing together. Akoni liked to wrestle, and in the pit, Teo didn’t have to worry about him rolling off his back and gettinghurt.
“You are crazy.” She smacked Teo’sarm.
Akoni heard her voice and let out one of his banshee screams. Teo rubbed at his ear. He hadn’t quite gotten used to those and wondered where his silent baby had gone. Akoni scrambled for Cedar, falling down several times in his attempt to get toher.
“There’s my tough guy,” she cooed, and she scooped up Akoni, smattering him withkisses.
Teo’s heart sputtered at the sight of his boy in his woman’s arms. He wrapped them both in an embrace and kissed their heads. “I’ll hurryback.”
“There’s no rush. I’m free for the rest of theday.”
“That’s why I want to hurry back.” He gave them a gentle squeeze. How stressed would Elijah be if hecancelled…?
“Then hurry back.” Cedar stretched up and placed a soft kiss on his neck, sending his heartpounding.
Teo growled, burying his face between her shoulder and herjaw.
She laughed and squirmed and pushed him away. “Go!” She gasped a breath. “Or Elijah will be mad at all ofus.”
“Not you. He thinks you’re made ofgold.”
Cedar lifted her chin. “He’s a man of goodtaste.”
“Why do you think I hiredhim?”
“Because you’rebrilliant.”
Teo gave her hip a squeeze before taking one step backward. The first few steps away from her were the hardest. Once she was out of sight he could function almost normally, though she was never far away from histhoughts.
He shook his head at himself as he climbed into the SUV. He really didn’t want to leave his house and should have invited Elijah there for the meeting. He’d always been a homebody; even as a kid, he preferred hanging with his family to running with a pack of boys his age. They’d go from house to house playing video games and eating their way through the each pantry like locusts. He enjoyed having people over—it was just that home was hiscenter.
