Page 106 of Chasing Shelter

“If they’re patchy, I’ll just fill them with more flowers come spring.”

“I have no doubt you’ll make it magic. Chaotic magic.”

A laugh bubbled out of me, and I dipped out of his hold, racing for the hose. I flipped on the water and aimed it at Trace without pressing the sprayer handle. “What were you saying about my patchy flower beds?”

He leveled me with a stare that would’ve had me taking a step back if I didn’t know the real Trace. “You wouldn’t.”

I arched a brow and pressed the trigger. Water flew at Trace, hitting him square in the chest. He let fly a series of curses that would’ve made a sailor blush, and I couldn’t have been prouder.

Trace ducked out of the stream and ran at me like a linebacker. I shrieked as he grabbed me around the waist and pulled the spray nozzle from my hand. A second later, water soaked me from head to toe.

I writhed against Trace, trying to get free. “There will be payback of epic proportions, Chief!”

“It’ll be worth it,” he yelled, dousing us both.

The water cut off, and Trace grinned at me. “Regretting your life choices?”

I gave him my best scowl, but it died when Trace kissed me. I didn’t feel an ounce of the cold as his tongue stroked in, all power and strength. I pressed myself against him, needing more contact, more of everything that was Trace.

A horn honked, and Trace pulled back, instantly on guard. But he eased when he saw it was just one of our neighbors. He ran a hand through his wet hair, his tee sticking to his chest. “I swear the Universe is determined to give me blue balls.”

I choked on a laugh but wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thanks for a magical day.”

Trace ghosted a thumb over the apple of my cheek. “My favorite kind of day.”

And then a new voice broke in. “Daddy, why are you all wet?”

32

TRACE

I slowly loweredthe hose and dropped my gaze to my daughter. Her expression was absolutely gleeful.

“I, uh. We were…” I searched for the words, but nothing came. Ellie and I had been careful not to show any real affection in front of Keely. Which was part of why I was living in blue-balled hell at the moment. But I wasn’t about to introduce Keely to someone in that way until I was sure it was serious.

I didn’t knowwhatEllie and I were. I only knew I wanted more of the magic that seemed to seep from her pores.

“We’re planting a butterfly garden,” Ellie chimed in, her hair plastered to her face.

“Where are they?” Keely asked as her gaze tipped up to Ellie.

“Well, they’re not here yet. I’m hoping a few stragglers might visit the pots, but I’m putting these in the ground now, and they’ll pop up next spring.” Ellie bent and picked up one of the bulbs to show Keely.

“Don’t you want to get changed?” my ex-wife broke in. It wasn’ta mean tone, but it certainly wasn’t warm, and the tension radiating through every word had my gaze snapping to Leah.

That muscle right where her jaw met her cheekbone pulsed in a quick-tempoed beat as she locked on Ellie and Keely.

Ellie forced a smile as she stood. “Probably not a bad idea.”

“Ellie, can you do the inside-out braids for school tomorrow?” Keely asked, oblivious to the tension swirling around her.

Ellie’s smile turned more genuine as she shifted her focus to Keely. “I have to be at the bakery before you get up tomorrow, but I bet I can teach your dad how to do it so he can.”

Keely glanced from Ellie to me, skepticism bleeding into her expression.

“Gee. Thanks, kid.”

She just giggled. “Your hands are too big. They always get stuck in the parts.”

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