Page 86 of Taking What Was His

She came back, put her hands on her hips, and stared at them suspiciously. “Anything I need to know here, guys?”

Both said. ‘No, ma’am,’ at the same time and then bust out laughing.

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

Roman stood and grabbed some dishes. “Hey, kid, grab some and hurry before we get in trouble,” he whispered, looking toward the doorway as if afraid she was there.

Jayden was laughing, but trying hard to hold it in.

Roman walked up behind Beth, set down the dishes he held, and nuzzled the back of her neck. “Hey, sweetie, why don’t you let the guys clean up and you can go put your feet up?”

She turned, narrowed her eyes, and looked back and forth between the two. “Are you guys in trouble?”

“No, ma’am,” both said again and snickered.

“You both better behave. I’m going into the office.”

They pressed their lips together and nodded.

She snorted, turned, and walked out. “I’ll be watching.”

“Holy crap,” Roman whispered and then slapped a hand to his mouth. “Is that a bad word?”

“Yup.”

“Lollipop!”

Jayden busted out laughing again. “What?” he hollered, confused.

“It’s the only thing I could think of under pressure.”

Jayden choked and then laughed until tears ran down his face.

They kept bickering and telling each other jokes.

Finally, when everything was done, they headed out of the kitchen. Roman turned to go into the office and watched Jayden keep walking.

“Hey, where are you going?” he whispered.

Jayden snickered and murmured so his mom wouldn’t hear. “You’re on your own.”

“What! You can’t leave me,” he hissed.

“Come on and man up,” Jayden whispered, then giggled, and then said in a loud tone. “I’ve got homework to do. I’ll see you later.”

Roman narrowed his eyes suspiciously with his hands on his hips. “Do you really?”

Jayden shook his head, mouthed no, started to chuckle, covered his mouth with a hand, and raced away. He bust out laughing as he ran up the stairs when he heard Roman spit out “lollipop.”

Roman walked in, found her sitting on the sofa reading a book, lifted her, sat down, and dropped her into his lap.

She screeched in surprise, then laughed. “What are you doing?”

“Holding my sweetheart.”

She narrowed her eyes on him, tossed the book on the cushion next to them, and then wrapped her arms around his neck. “What did you guys do?”

Roman grinned. “Nothing. We’re bonding. It’s male stuff. Very hush-hush. You understand, right?”