I laughed, waving at the back of his head. “See ya, kid.”
Remi chuckled. “He’s on a tear tonight. Watch out.”
Caleb shook his head. “Lucky for us all, Jess has the energy to spare.”
I tilted my head toward the kitchen. “I’m gonna see if they need help in there.”
They turned their attention back to building towers with Brooks, and I gave Phoebe’s cheek a kiss and squeezed Desmond’s chubby little hand before venturing into the kitchen.
The sliding door was open, and my dad was out on the back patio with Deke cooking something on the grill. Mom and Hannah were at the island, chopping up fruit and prepping side dishes. And at the table, Alice was sitting with Zara, who held Abigail in her lap.
Zara turned her head when I walked in, the smile she’d already been wearing growing brighter.
“Hey, Maccie.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
She wiggled her fingers. “Surprise. Here I am.”
Since our run Sunday, I’d only seen her in passing. A quick visit to my office yesterday, waving from a distance out on the ranch, passing each other in the lobby. This week had been busyfor us both, but the fact of the matter was, I’d needed some space to recalibrate.
Seeing her now, I questioned why I’d been avoiding this. Her long, glossy hair spilled down her back, and my fingers itched to sink into it. And her smile…Christ, I knew exactly what it tasted like. How it felt on my skin. Howshefelt and tasted everywhere.
What was there to think about? I was already in deep. Not a chance it was going to be an easy recovery, even if I avoided her for the rest of the summer. Why the hell had I thought it was a good idea to waste what little time we had?
My mom waved a wooden spoon, drawing my attention. “Do I have to run my guest list by you, Cormac Kelly?”
“Nope. You always invite the best people.” I crossed the room, giving her cheek a kiss. “I didn’t know everyone was coming tonight.”
She lifted a shoulder. “They just started showing up. You know how it is.”
“I do. Your kids like to eat you out of house and home.”
Hannah held up a grape. I opened my mouth, and she tossed it in. “If we stopped showing up to glom off Mom and Dad, they’d be lost.”
Mom snorted a laugh. “As long as my grandchildren keep coming around, I’ll be just fine.”
Hannah gasped. “I’d be insulted if I didn’t know that was a bald-faced lie.” She snaked her arm around our mom’s waist. “You’re obsessed with us all.”
Mom resisted for all of two seconds before she lay her head on Hannah’s shoulder. “Obsessed might be too strong of a word, but you’re not far off. You didn’t have to be such incredibly delightful people, did you? It’s not fair to everyone else.”
Abigail let out a squeal, stealing our attention. Zara had her standing in her lap, laughing at the silly faces she was making.
My mother sighed.
Hannah gave me a shove. “Go see what they’re doing, Maccie.”
I glanced at her over my shoulder. “You don’t need help?”
“Absolutely not,” she said, pushing me again.
Giving in, I crossed back to the table, bent to kiss Alice’s cheek, and took the chair beside Zara. Abigail waved at me, her round cheeks pink with joy.
I poked her little belly. “Hello, Abby-wabby. Whatcha doin’, angel?”
“Zara,” she cooed.
Alice smiled. “She’s fallen for her Aunt Zara. I’m a little bit jealous.”
