Page 106 of Outlaw Heartstrings
“It isn’t?” I question, not knowing what he could possibly have to gain here.
His shoulders collapse in resignation. “I know this is wrong. But I can’t help it. The more time I spend with you, the more I…”
Instead of completing his sentence, Easton leans overthe bed and brushes his lips against mine in a soft, slow kiss that leaves me breathless all over again. That kiss says all the things that neither of us is allowed to say out loud.
“Good night, Tiny Tiger.”
“Good night, Mr. Tower.”
He turns and leaves, closing the door behind him.
The more time I spend with you, the more I…
I whisper into the dark. “Yeah. I feel the same fucking way…”
39
EASTON
The next morning, I’m singing to myself, gliding around the kitchen, happily cooking breakfast for my little…family. It’s the moment I didn’t realize I’d been waiting for my entire life.
Paying all of Alba’s bills was a gamble. I was half-ready for it to blow up in my face. But seeing the smile she wore all day long yesterday at the fair told me I made the right decision.
For once in my life.
Just as I’m pouring juice into three glasses, Alba comes in with Jagger. I grin when I hear him chattering about the new books he found in his room. It sounds like he woke up early and has been reading ever since.
“Good morning, you two,” I greet them with a smile. “How did you sleep?”
Alba’s face turns red as she mutters a response. “You know for a fact I didn’t sleep much.”
She’s wearing her same shirt and shorts from the fair yesterday, a little more crinkled but just as sexy. My stare skitters down her body as I smirk and mutter back, “And Ican’t say that I’m sorry.” I discreetly poke her in the ribs as she ambles toward the fridge and she giggles.
“I slept so good!” Jagger says, scratching his head. “I don’t even remember going to bed!”
Setting the orange juice on the table, I ruffle his hair. “That’s because you have a big, strong dad to carry you to your room when you fall asleep in the car like a log.”
“I love having a big, strong dad!” my son shouts and my chest fills with pride.
We laugh and sit down to eat breakfast.
As we take our time enjoying the meal, Alba grills us with all sorts of trivia questions to help us prepare for the Father-Son challenge we have coming up.
“What color is the man’s hat in ‘Munchy’s Magical Banana Quest’?” Alba asks, before taking a bite of her pancake.
“Aw, Mimi. That’s too easy,” Jagger admonishes with a cute little eye roll.
“But does Easton know it?” she counters.
“Who do you take me for, woman? I remember that book!” But then it takes me an embarrassingly long time to get the right answer.
"Okay, I have a hard one next,” she says. “Who wrote the book 'The Wild Adventures of Rory the Red Cardinal'?"
Jagger nails it immediately while I fumble.
“Well, well, well. It’s pretty clear who’s going to be pulling the weight in this challenge.” Alba sneers at me.
I toss her an exaggerated side-eye, holding up a hand to Jagger for a high-five. "Nice job, buddy. Keep it up.” Then I give Alba my full attention. “Okay, Tiny Tiger. What’s next?”
