Page 30 of For Fox Sake

She grins. “He was a little intense.”

“You only think that because you haven’t seen me after two juice boxes.”

Her head tips back and she laughs.

Euphoria fills me. I did that, I made her laugh. I caused this smile she’s giving me, the one that reaches her eyes and fills her face with a light that can’t be explained by the flickering glow of the fire.

Our eyes lock.

My gaze dips to her mouth.

Need spears through me, a stab in the gut that shoots straight down to my cock.

Fuck, indeed.

Her smile falters, and she shifts on the uneven stones beneath our feet, stumbling. I reach out to steady her, grabbing her shoulders.

She looks up into my face. “Thank you.”

“Momma?”

We leap away from each other so quickly I almost topple over the chair behind me.

Ari stands in the open doorway, rubbing her eyes. “I’m thirsty.”

Ryan spins away, immediately moving into parent mode and heading toward Ari. “You can have one small sip of water and then back to bed.”

“But I want to stay up and watch the fire too.”

“Not tonight.”

“Why?”

“It’s been a really long day.”

“But Momma!”

“Aria Marie Green...” she says as they disappear inside the house and their voices fade into indecipherable sounds.

So. I guess Ari is short for Aria.

Fuck.

Chapter Nine

Ryan

“She’s having an off day.” Bernie offers me a sympathetic wince before winding her arm through mine as we walk toward Mom’s room.

“I’m glad Ari didn’t come with me then.” It’s one of her summer camp days. Normally she loves going, but she was extra clingy today.

I couldn’t bring her with me though. For one, I already paid for the day camp. For two, it was only a half day anyway. Also, I wanted to see Mom without having to worry if Ari would witness a bad day.

“The light in the bathroom is out so Jake might be in there replacing it. He’s almost done though.”

Jake.

Damn.

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