“Then I guess we’re agreed.”
“On what?”
“That we’re friends.”
She let that settle into her body. The words “friends” felt good but was so much less than what she really wanted. Still, it was a start and so she nodded in agreement.
“Friends,” she echoed. Then she looked at the mess on Jaxon’s face from gnawed bits of animal crackers and she let out a laugh. “Friends who have to get a couple other friends into a bath.” She looked at Kennedy. “So, do you mind holding them while I get the bathwater ready?”
“Not at all. Just leave the crackers. I think I’m going to need them.”
She smiled and poured a small pile on the counter. And then her libido took control of her body. It was a small thing, but it was definitely something she never would have done before.
She plucked a bear out of the pile, held it long enough for Kennedy to see what she had, and then she slowly, sensuously nibbled at the cracker.
She watched his nostrils flare and heat entered his gaze. When he spoke, his voice rumbled straight down her spine into her core. “Are you flirting with me, wolf?”
She arched a brow. “Am I? I thought we already agreed we couldn’t.”
“That’s what you said.”
“Hmm,” she commented as she popped the rest of the cracker into her mouth. “Well, if I said it, it must be true, right?” Then she winked at him and sauntered into the bathroom.
It took a long while to get both kids cleaned, dressed, and settled for bed. Bath time alone was a frolicking, wet adventure where they laughed a lot and everyone got soaked to the skin. Rather than risk the tap water, they put the boys in the tub and cleaned them with a few gallons of distilled water; microwaving it to heat up the water took forever. Kennedy did the smart thing by pulling off his shirt. She got to watch drops of water cling to his golden skin, slide down narrowed channels formed by his muscles, and glisten on his chest hair. She, on the other hand, kept on her tank but that and her thin bra did nothing to hide her curves and puckered nipples. She ended up changing into one of Noelle’s tees, but she was bustier than her friend and the dry clothes clung almost as much as the wet.
Once the bath was done, both boys were cranky. She and Kennedy split cuddle-and-read time, each taking a child. Her book was shorter, and pretty soon, all of them were listening to the rumble of his deep voice as he readThe Berenstain Bear’s Sleepy Time Book. By the end, both boys were yawning. Easy to settle them into bed, kiss them good night, then tiptoe out. Not so easy to look at Ryan’s ripped sexy body in the evening glow and resist doing all the things she was thinking about.
Not the time or place, she reminded herself. Except she couldn’t remember why not, especially when he dropped down onto the couch with a contented sigh and then gestured for her to join him there.
She didn’t. She went to reheat the casserole in the microwave. He watched with a hooded expression as she worked. Then he gracefully accepted a bowl when she brought it over to him.
“Beer?” she offered.
He shook his head. “Better not. Just in case.”
She nodded, understanding his meaning. They didn’t know when Noelle would come back or when Raoul would make his move, not to mention any one of dozens of other possibilities. So she grabbed them both lemonade and settled on the couch next to him. Next to him, but not touching. Because she was afraid if she did start touching, she wouldn’t stop with just a little knee-to-knee contact.
“This is good,” he said as he tucked into the food.
She smiled. “Ancient recipe found on the tuna noodle casserole box.”
“No way,” he said as he peered down at it. “I’ve followed that recipe. You added stuff.”
“Yeah,” she said with a laugh. “I dumped in leftover vegetables. If you want to really know what’s in there, ask Noelle.”
“Nah,” he said as he continued to eat. “I’ve got more questions for you.”
Uh-oh.
“Am I in trouble?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light despite the butterflies in her stomach.
“Depends on your answers.” He did a mock glower, pointed his fork at her, and said with a really bad accent, “I have ways to make you talk.”
“Hit me with your best shot, bear,” she said with a wolfish grin.
“Okay,” he said as he leaned back on the couch. “When we first got here, Noelle said I was the cop nobody liked and that’s why I had to leave Robbery. She made it sound like you knew something about that.” He arched a devastatingly handsome brow at her. “Do you?”
Oh shit. He’d heard that part. She looked down at her food, feeling guilt push aside lust. Truth was she’d wanted to apologize to him for a long time now. She could hardly duck the situation now that the opportunity had arisen.
