I look up into his striking hazel eyes. “Did you do this just to get me out of the basement?”
The expression on his face is somewhere between a smirk and a gloat. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“You’re not even going to deny it?”
His hand squeezes mine as he arches a brow. “Are you?”
And I don’t think we’re talking about the dance party anymore.
Electricity flows through me as if I’m standing on a live wire. He’s looking at me like he wants to eat me alive. And not in apredator/preykind of way. More in anI’ll give you four orgasms and then make you breakfastkind of way.
Amelia shoves her small body between mine and Carter’s, oblivious to what’s going on between us.
“Dance with me, Mommy!”
I swallow hard, my gaze still tethered to his. Then I pull away, take my daughter’s hand, and we dance our asses off to Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.”
Thirty minutes later, sweat trickling down my back, it dawns on me that while Carter and I haven’t shared another dance, we’ve never really taken our eyes off each other.
Bug holds up her phone. “I have to go.”
Someone turns the music off.
“I promised to help with the twins’ baths,” she says, then turns to me. “I almost forgot. Allie wanted me to ask you andAmelia to come over for dinner tomorrow. That’s actually why I came over. I had no idea about the dance party.” Her eyes momentarily flit to Christian. “That was an unexpected bonus. We’re making hot dogs and hamburgers.”
“Hot dogs?” Amelia asks. “Please can we, Mommy? I want to see the babies.”
I’m wavering. We shouldn’t. What’s the point in making friends when we’ll be gone in a matter of days?
The thought has me glancing over at Carter, suddenly mourning the fact that I might never again experience the feeling I had while in his arms.
Carter crosses the room toward me. “Say yes, Kenna. Asher’s barbeque skills are as good as your dancing. It’ll be fun.” He inches forward and whispers, “I take it back.Nothingis as good as your dancing.”
Christian and Bug snicker quietly as my cheeks flame.
I didn’t realize the invitation was also extended to Carter and Christian, but I guess it makes sense.
Why do I feel like this is a bad idea? But Amelia is tugging on my shirt, begging me to go. She’s been complaining about not being able to play with Christian and Bug. And after hearing so much about the twins from Bug, she’s truly itching to meet them.
“Mommeeeeeeee,” Amelia whines. “It’s hot dogs.”
It occurs to me that in a few days, hopefully a week at most, we’ll be on the road, and she might not get a chance to be around other kids for a while. It’s been a hot minute since she’s gotten this much attention. Pretty much since I pulled her out of preschool last spring, when all the threats started coming in.
It’s only fair to her to let this happen.
At least that’s what I tell myself when I take another glimpse at Carter before I say, “Tell Allie I’ll bring potato salad.”
“Yay!” Amelia dances around even though there’s no music.
Carter’s smile overtakes his entire face. “Tell your dad I’ll bring wine.”
Bug looks at him like he’s crazy.
He laughs. “Oh, right. Make that beer.”
“They don’t drink wine?” I ask.
“They drink it alright. Allie’s family owns a winery.” He rolls his eyes. “Forgot for a sec.”
