Page 54 of Hello Tease

Emily stared at the grand entrance with country-style art on the walls and said, “Can I see if it echoes?”

Larkin laughed. “Is it okay, Knox?”

“Heck yeah,” I said. “Give it your best, Em.”

With a grin, Emily yelled, “ECHO!”

It bounced off the gallery white walls and stone floors, and even the rugs in the living room had no chance of absorbing the echoes that came back. She giggled, and then Jackson let out his own yell, like he was trying to say echo too.

I grinned. “Yeah, buddy. Echo!”

He smiled and squirmed in Larkin’s arms.

“Let me show y’all the bedrooms,” I said, leading them to the hallway off the living room. “There are six bedrooms in this house, but the five guest rooms are on this side of the house.” I stopped at the first bedroom, a massive space with a metal four-poster bed, a sitting area at a window overlooking the grounds, and its own en suite bathroom. After setting Larkin’s bags at the door, we went to the room right across the hall, almost identical to the one we saw before. Then I put my bag at the bedroom next to Larkin’s. We hadn’t talked sleeping arrangements before arriving, and I didn’t want her to feel pressured or uncomfortable.

After checking out the rooms, Emily asked, “What are we doing now?”

Larkin looked at me and said, “Would you be okay watching the kids while I take a quick shower?”

“Of course,” I replied. “I’ll give the kiddos the grand tour.” And try not to think about their mom in the shower the entire time.

Easier said than done.

30

LARKIN

With the bedroom door closed,I could just faintly hear Knox talking to Emily and Jackson as he gave them a tour of Ford’s house. Ford may have been the leading quarterback in the league, but the real star of the day was Knox.

As I undressed and walked to the massive bathroom with a soaker tub and floor-to-ceiling glass shower doors, the day replayed in my mind. Knox had been so kind to my children, so patient with everyone and their dog referring to him as “Steve” throughout the day.

And that kiss.

I turned on the rain shower, half tempted to step into it while the water was still cold just to take the edge off all the steamy thoughts running through my mind. And the way he’d looked over my body? I shuddered, my eyes closing of their own accord. I wanted him to follow through on every lustrous thought I knew had been going through his mind. Because the same thoughts were plaguing mine.

Steam rolled off the downpouring water, and I stepped in, letting it pelt my sensitive body. I longed for Knox in a way I hadn’t longed for a man in my entire life. Sure, I’d been horny before, especially with those pregnancy hormones raging through my body, but the desire I felt for him surpassed even that. I wanted to know him, in every sense of the word. Because everything new I discovered about him didn’t make me want to turn away—it made me want him more.

With anticipation rolling through me, I took my time in the shower—time I usually didn’t get while raising two kids on my own. I shaved, refreshed my scalp and hair, and when I stepped out onto the plush rug, I took time drying myself and applying the expensive, designer-brand lotion resting on the vanity.

My hair was still wet when I stepped out of the bathroom, and I didn’t bother drying it, instead letting it air dry in its natural wavy form. I slipped into a pair of cotton shorts—maybe just to tease Knox more—and put on a loose T-shirt without a bra. Then I added some mascara and lip gloss, finalizing my effortless look that in reality took... about an hour to do.

I wondered how Knox and my kids were doing. This house was big, but surely the tour couldn’t last an hour. I cast a glance at the sun setting over the grounds and sending orange hues throughout the room before going to find them. This place really was beautiful.

I could hear them all talking, playing out in the living room. I had just barely rounded the corner, seeing Knox sitting in front of the couch, Jackson standing between his legs while Knox held his hands to give him support. Emily was on her knees beside Knox, making funny faces at Jackson.

They were so happy, laughing, playing.

They couldn’t see me, so I leaned up against the wall, taking it in, my heart feeling so full it could burst.

And then I heard Jackson say, “Dada.”

My heart stopped. I couldn’t have heard him right.

Knox and Emily gave each other a surprised look. Then Knox said, “What did you say, Jax?”

“Dada.”

Clear as a bell. From my baby’s mouth.

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