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“Would it be okay for the kids to go for a swim?”
“Of course.”
“Great! The biggest thing you could do for me right now is watch them do that.” I hoped this would be an acceptable compromise.
“Sure,” he agreed, smiling. “That sounds like fun.”
“Great,” I replied, forcefully ignoring the way my stomach flipped when he smiled at me like that. “None of them are great swimmers, so they need to stay in the shallow end. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Take my car.”
“That’s not—”
“Esme.”
“Oh, alright then,” I grumbled.
Heading out to the car, I felt a strange mix of emotions. One, I was hugely grateful for Wolfe’s generosity. Two, I was worried about how close I was to losing control around him. Three, I was determined to keep the kids safe and happy. This new living arrangement would be a challenge, but it was one I had to face head-on for the sake of my family.
CHAPTER23
Wolfe
Idrove into the garage, feeling my pulse pick up in anticipation. One week of the Whites under my roof had been so intense. Esme nearby twenty-four seven? Torture. She’d made no moves in my direction, though, so I’d worked hard to keep my distance. The last thing she needed was me creeping on her when she had nowhere else to go.
I finally stepped out of the car, feeling the excitement build up in my chest as I entered the house. The delicious smell of spices and ground beef filled the air, leading me straight to the kitchen. As soon as I walked in, the kids’ faces lit up.
“Wolfe!” Belle squealed as soon as I entered. Clambering down from her stool, she ran to me.
I scooped her up, my heart melting a little at how excited she was to see me. “Hey, kiddo,” I grinned. “You guys cooking up a storm in here?”
“Yep! Look, I chopped the lettuce all by myself!” she beamed, pointing proudly at the cutting board. “Did I do a good job?”
“Absolutely, Belle. Seriously impressive,” I set her back down and glanced over at Esme, standing by the stove. She looked extremely cute with her long, pale hair tied back in a loose ponytail and her face flushed from the heat of the pan. She caught me looking and gave me a shy smile. God, how I wanted her.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself,” I replied, trying to keep my voice casual as I leaned against the counter. “That smells amazing. What are we having?”
“Tacos!” Florian chimed in, grinning widely. His sandy brown hair was a mess, no doubt from some outdoor adventure he’d been on earlier.
“Sounds delicious. I can’t wait.” I was genuinely happy to be home with them. But as the kids continued their dinner preparations, all I could think about was how much I longed to have Esme in my arms, to feel her body pressed against mine. If only it were that simple.
“Hey, what did you guys get up to today?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the magnetic pull of Esme’s presence.
“Swimming!” Tiana exclaimed, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. “We’ve been swimming all day.”
“That’s great.” I loved how enthusiastic she was.
“Yeah, between the pool and the theater, we barely leave the house,” Esme laughed, her sky-blue eyes lighting up with amusement. “It’s like our own little holiday resort here.”
“I wish we could stay here forever,” Florian added. “I don’t wanna go back to the trailer!”
Esme’s smile faded, and she turned back to the stove as a heavy silence fell over the kitchen. Ariel shot Florian a dirty look, and he hunched over the chopping board, clearly waking up to the fact that he’d upset his sister. “Sorry, Esme.”
Esme flicked him a quick, reassuring smile. “It’s fine, bud. Besides, I don’t blame you. Wolfe’s house is amazing and we’re very lucky he’s letting us stay.”
“You’re all welcome to stay as long as you need to. Any news on when your trailer will be fixed?”