Page 115 of Nothing to This

Her head fell to the side.“A wedding?”

“You told them you love me.”

“That was a different—it wasn’t now.I said it in context of—” the sly curl of his lips was far too pleased with himself.“You’re making me the bad guy.”

“You’re not the bad guy, babe,” he said, gathering her in his arms.“You’re the smartest, most levelheaded of all of us.And Sky knows what she wants, we shouldn’t punish her for voicing it.”Good point.“Have you decided you’ll never marry me?”

“No.”

“Have you decided there’s no chance of us having more kids?”

“No.”

“Then just go with it, babe.Don’t break their hearts.”Okay, maybe she was putting more meaning in their requests than they held.“Brenna said they ate.Want to watch a movie?”

“Bathtime first.If we get them in their PJs, it’s easier to put them in their beds after if they fall asleep.”

“You want me to do that while you do this?”

Not so long ago, the apartment had been hers, responsibility for the kids there had been solely hers too.Yes, she could be a slight control freak, but this didn’t feel like him encroaching on her patch.It felt like they were a team, like they were family.

He nodded once and his hand drifted from her cheek.She snagged it again, stealing his attention back.So open, so ready, so raw.There were no misconceptions between them anymore.

Like he read her mind, he came back, scooping a hand under her jaw to stoop and kiss her.They wouldn’t stay secret for long if they kept stealing moments like these.

She dipped her head to break the kiss.“We know where that’s heading if we don’t stop.”

“Yep,” he said and kissed the top of her head fast.“Don’t be long.”

Always don’t be long.He wanted them together, that much was obvious, in a relationship and physically.It was a cocoon, a safe den they could nestle in, just the four of them.The sooner she could join them, the better.

THIRTY-NINE

With her back to the wall by Kye’s bedroom door, she waited while JD put their son under the covers and checked his nightlight.

Appearing, he pulled the door closer and smiled when he saw her.Linking their fingers, she led him into his room.

“Why are we in here?”

“Because we shouldn’t share a bed,” she whispered, sliding her arms around him.“And I want to say goodnight.”

“Do you now?”

Her hands slid upward, finding their way under his tee-shirt.“I do.”

“I think we should share a bed.”

“I know you do,” she said, loosening her robe to show her nude body beneath.

His gaze slithered over her.“And I’m going to keep those thoughts to myself,” he said, snatching her hips to pick her up and drop her on the dresser.“Until after action.”

“Wouldn’t want to do yourself out of sex, would you?”

“No.”His volume stayed low like hers.“I would not.”

He kissed her slow, she leaned away.“We have to be quiet.”

“I’m being quiet.”His hands skimmed up her body to the side of her neck, with the slightest pressure, he tipped her head aside and kissed her jaw.“Think you can control yourself?”