Oh, this sweet boy will be stealing hearts for years to come with such thoughtfulness.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I assure him. Then I remember Mark has two other girls, whom I know little about. “What about your other girls? I know one is married to the Murdock boy; what about the other?”
“Lanie, my oldest, is married to Ryan. I told you how they met, thanks to Mom. She’s settled here in Seaside and teaches English at the high school. Lizzy, my youngest, teaches elementary in town. She’s married to one of the label execs, Cameron Kruse.”
“Interesting… Did they meet through Ruby Frax?”
“Technically…” he draws out and squints one eye, “they met while she was in college at Portland State. Somehow, they both landed in Seaside that summer, and she ended up being Milli’s nanny.”
“Milli?” I haven’t heard that name yet.
“She’s our cousin,” Josh boasts. “She’s a good swimmer. She can hold her breath for a long time.”
“Is that right?” I ask, completely amused by his excited expression.
“She may have her own pool to practice in, but if you keep working at it, you’ll be just as good as her one day,” Mark points out.
From the determined look in both boys’ expressions, I can tell it’s a challenge they both plan to meet.
Once we finish eating, I help clean up. Mark settles the boys into watching a show about learning letters, then comes to help with the dishes.
“I need to go home and get a few things done before my meeting.”
Glancing at the boys, he says, “I’ll be right back.”
They’re so engrossed in their show, they barely acknowledge Mark’s words. Then he turns to me. “I’ll walk you out.”
As soon as we’re out of sight of the twins, Mark reaches for my hand. “Thanks for coming back over. I hope it wasn’t too chaotic.”
“Are you kidding? I had the best time.”
“Does that mean you’ll do it again?”
Waking up in his arms certainly wasn’t a hardship.
Regretfully, I sigh. “I’ve got a conference call at five a.m. tomorrow morning. I need to bring my A game, so no late night for me today.”
Opening the door so I can step onto the porch, he adds, “I’m not sure when Jax will return, but you’re welcome for dinner again tonight. I promise I’ll send you home in plenty of time to get a good night’s rest.”
As soon as the door shuts behind us, his arm wraps around my hip, and he pulls me close.
Inhaling deeply, I get lost in his masculine scent and rest my head against his chest. “Can I let you know when I’m done with work for the day? Depending on my call this afternoon, I could be sailing on easy street, or shit’s gone sideways in a nanosecond. I won’t know until I talk with my client and fully analyze the modifications and specs I created yesterday.”
Brushing his fingertips along my jaw, he guides me to meet his gaze. “If you have to work… I, of all people, get it. Please know the invitation is out there, and I’d love for you to join us.”
Leaning down, he brushes his lips against mine.
It starts out as an innocent kiss, but the moment I open my mouth to his, a tsunami of heat flows between us. One of Mark’s hands snakes into my hair and tilts my head in just the right angle that I’m completely consumed by him.
Every nip, suck, and stroke of his tongue makes me crave him more.
God, how I wish I could stay wrapped in his arms until the end of eternity.
There’s something about being with him that has me wishing for things I haven’t thought of in years. He makes me wish for more, and I’m not ready to think about how I feel as a result.
Nope, I just want to stay in the here and now and not waste the gift of our paths crossing again.
When a car horn blasts from a distance, I’m brought back to reality, making my brain register—we’re in public. His grandkids are just on the other side of that door, and the last thing either of us needs is for them to seek him out and catch us making out like randy teenagers.
