“Ellie?” I hear Kayne before I see him and discreetly wipe away the moisture in my eyes.
“Yeah?” I attempt to sound upbeat as he leans on the doorframe of my office.
“You ready to go?”
“I see you are.” He’s dressed in his black fatigues and gun holster, looking undeniably hot. My stomach flutters as I think back to the other night and how he arrested me for indecent exposure. What that man can do with handcuffs and a nightstick should be illegal.
I close my laptop and stand up, knowing I need either a cold shower or a firm fucking. Both of which will have to wait. Kayne is leaving on an overnight training exercise and dropping me off to stay with London while he and Jett are gone.
Grabbing my packed bag by the front door, I hop into our souped-up Jeep as Kayne locks up the house.
My mind wanders as we drive past all the beautifully manicured homes in the neighborhood. All pristine and vibrantly green.
“Are you and London going to behave tonight?” Kayne asks, squeezing my knee playfully.
“I can’t promise anything. We get lonely when you and Jett are gone.”
“I bet.” He smiles salaciously, no doubt picturing us together.
“Still, you better behave.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I foresee a G-rated evening of nail painting,Frozen,and pizza.”
Kayne shakes his head, his dark sunglasses concealing his eyes. “Poor Becks.”
“He’s a man, he’ll sleep through most of it,” I assure him.
Jett, London, and both children are outside on the expansive front lawn when we arrive. On cue, Layla darts across the grass to Kayne while London and Jett sit with a sleeping Beckett on a blanket.
“See, I told you.” I nudge Kayne as we walk up. “Sleeping already.”
He chuckles while throwing Layla around. “Higher, peanut butter!” she squeals, and Kayne obliges.
“What did you do?” I sit down next to London and grab a strand of her hair. She makes a face like she’s not sure how she feels about the chop job.
“You like it?” she asks unsurely.
“I love it.” Her long purplish red hair is now a shoulder-length bob.
“I feel like I needed to simplify my life.”
“So you cut off all your hair?”
“It was a start. You’ll understand when you have kids.”
I drop my eyes. “If I ever I have kids,” I mutter to myself.
London puts her hand over mine. It’s her discreet understanding gesture.
“Okay! Time to go!” Jett stands up at a breakneck speed and snatches Layla right out of the air before she drops back into Kayne’s hands.
“Daddy!” She giggles happily, and it tickles all of our hearts.
“Do you have to go?” She hugs him.
“It’s only for one night,” he assures her, their blond hair the exact same color in the sun. “And when I get back, we can go swimming in the ocean,” Jett promises her.
“With swimmies,” Layla says seriously. No messing around.
