Page 57 of Passing Notes

“No problem at all. She’s a sweet girl and I’m glad I was here to help her.”

“So, listen. Real quick.” I opened my notes app on my phone where I kept a list of products Sasha might need and handed it to her. “I researched this a while back so I’d be prepared, just in case. But it’s just too much. How do y’all ever decide what to buy? What would an almost twelve-year-old girl want to use? I had hoped to run this by Morgan but never got the chance.”

Her lips turned up at the corners. “What I gave her was pretty basic. She can keep the rest and if she likes it, just keep buying it.”

“Hey, Miss Clara! Are you staying for dinner with us?” Ethan asked as he bounded into the living room. “I put all her clothes in the hamper,” he informed me.

“But they were clean, Eath.” I ran a hand over my beard, trying to keep my cool. “She pulled them straight out of her dresser. We both saw her do it.”

He shrugged. “I’m gonna go play Fortnite with Makenna. Cook something good so Clara will stay. Later.”

“Yeah, okay, later. Thanks, I guess.” I shook my head, exasperated. “Damn, I fucking hate laundry,” I grumbled and grinned when she burst out laughing. “Knowing him, it’s all mixed up now.”

“Poor baby. Did he say Makenna? As in Wyatt Monroe’s daughter, Makenna?”

“That’s the one. He’s got it pretty bad for her.”

“Well, isn’t that interesting?”

“Forget about them. Forget about the laundry. Forget about everything.” I stepped closer to her. “I got it pretty bad for you, you know.”

“That’s even more interesting. We should talk about it after dinner.”

“Talk? You?”

“Yeah, perhaps. Sometimes I’m into communication, like when I’m not spying on the neighbors or running from giant killer bugs.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Ah, I see. I have to catch you in the right mood, is that it?”

She pursed her lips, pretending to think it over. “Hmm, something like that.”

“I want to kiss you right now,” I growled. My heart rate skyrocketed at the thought of getting my hands on her again.

Soft fingertips moved to my forearm as she leaned in to whisper, “And I would very much like to be kissed by you.”

I took her hands in mine and walked her backward toward the kitchen, winking when I caught her eyes again. “Let’s go make dinner.”

“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Her gentle laughter rippled through the air, and I wanted nothing more than to hear it in my home forever.

“Come with me, baby. We can steal a minute or two together before reality strikes.”

“Reality is not my favorite thing. I much prefer dreamy late nights and dramatic balcony rescues. Although, I could do without the throwing up and bugs. Thunderstorms can eff off too.”

I pulled her into the pantry and closed the door behind us. Without hesitation, she stepped into my open arms, reaching up to pull my face to hers. My tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips as she melted into me, and we lost ourselves in each other.

She broke the kiss. “Let’s not learn the hard way that your kids are onto us,” she whispered. “Getting busted in a pantry would be a rookie move, don’t you think? We’re better than that, Nick.”

I reclaimed her lips for one last kiss before answering. “I don’t know about Ethan, but Sasha is definitely suspicious of my feelings toward you. Or maybe she just likes you a lot. She tells me to ask you out all the time.” Clara’s eyes were soft, sparkling with contentment, and her lips were swollen from my kisses. I didn’t want to leave the pantry.

“And what do you tell her?”

“I change the subject and she rolls her eyes and laughs at me.”

“She’s a clever girl. So, what’s for dinner?”

I reached for a package of noodles over her shoulder. “Some sort of pasta? A salad? I’ll check the fridge for ingredients.”

“I’d offer to help you, but I don’t cook.” Her teasing voice made me smile. “However, I’ll be excellent company while you cook. I excel at drinking wine and making witty repartee. Clean-up duty is my go-to kitchen strength, and I might be able to make a salad, but we’ll have to see what you got.”

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