Page 18 of Hello Tease

The front door banged open, and Maya sang, “We’re heeeeeere.”

Larkin quickly dropped her hand from my arm, and the absence of her warmth felt just as palpable as her touch had been.

10

LARKIN

Touching Knox’sarm had been a mistake. It was firm, warm, and far too apparent just how much I enjoyed it. When his family arrived, I quickly pulled away like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Which meant he was far too tempting, and I had to get better at controlling myself. Even when I was overcome by the kind way he treated me and my children.

How sad was it that the simplest gesture of kindness brought on such strong emotions? I think I got so used to Seth and how he slowly withdrew affection that I didn’t fully realize how much I’d missed the love and attention he used to shower me with.

Knox’s gaze slid over me before he stepped away, giving no hint that we’d been even remotely close to touching. When Maya burst into the room, followed by a cute brown, black, and white dog, she had a gallon of ice cream hooked over one arm. “We’re doing an ice cream bar tonight!”

Emily crawled out of the tent, clinging Marshall to her chest. “Can I have some, Mommy?”

I brushed back her soft brown hair. “Sure, baby.”

She went over to Maya like she was approaching an old friend. “Did you hear about the prank I did?”

“With the plastic wrap? Classic. Tell me more.” Maya took Emily under her free arm, walking with her toward the living room.

I went to pick up Jackson, but he’d crawled out of the tent to Knox’s leg. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, Knox scooped him up, holding him in tanned arms decorated in swirling black tattoos. I noticed a turtle amongst the designs and had to wonder what it meant, if it had any meaning at all.

When I glanced back up his way, he hadn’t even noticed me staring. He was looking into my baby’s eyes, a warm smile on his lips as he spoke softly. “Hey, little guy. You are just the cutest thing. I can’t wait for you to start talking so I can hear what’s going on behind those big brown eyes.”

I blinked quickly, ducking my head to follow the girls out of the room where I could hear them playing some kind of game in the living room. When I got there, I saw Maya and Emily on the couch, sitting cross-legged and facing each other, doing some activity where they slapped their hands in a pattern while little Leah sat in front of them in awe. Liv and Fletcher came in from the kitchen, Liv wearing an adorable floral romper with cowboy boots, and suddenly, I felt insecure about the denim shorts, plain blue T-shirt I thought brought out my eyes, and a pair of sandals.

Not wanting Emily to see me get down on myself for my appearance, I pasted a smile on my lips and said, “Wow, Liv, you look amazing.”

She grinned and tugged at the flowy shorts of her romper. “Thank you! It’s new, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.”

“Maybe you can help me pick something too?” I replied. “I’m not used to the going-out part.”

“Of course.” She walked to me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get going,” Liv said, brushing dark brown curls back over her shoulder. “Let me tell the girls goodbye.”

A sudden worried ache formed in my chest. Leaving my children with their grandparents every day was hard, but I could justify it, saying I needed to earn a living to keep a roof over our heads. But saying goodbye to them now, when I was doing something purely for my enjoyment? It was totally foreign.

But I thought of Emily being a mom someday, and I didn’t want her to have to sacrifice the way I had for the sake of a man who couldn’t even be bothered to call his own children.

I drew in a steadying breath and went to kiss the top of Emily’s head. Then I went to Jackson, still in Knox’s arms. I reached out to hold him, but he squirmed, clinging to Knox. I tried to hide my hurt as I kissed the top of his head. “Bye, Jacks,” I said.

“We’ll take great care of them,” Knox said. “And I’ll send you pictures every hour.”

I tilted my head in gratitude. Why did it feel like this man could read my every thought? “Every other hour will do,” I only half-teased.

He chuckled. “Sounds great. Have fun.”

“She will,” Liv promised, looping her arm through mine and walking with me out of the house. As we walked down the steps, she told me, “He and Fletcher are really amazing with kids. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

“It’s good he’s had practice with his nieces,” I commented.

“He always comes over to our house when we need help with the girls,” Liv said. “They have a great time together.”

And as we walked around the sidewalk toward my house, I noticed something I hadn’t before...

The stack of cardboard boxes beside his trash can. Brand new from a bunk bed and several of the toys I’d seen inside.

I glanced back toward his house, seeing them silhouetted through his living room curtains.

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