Page 46 of We Thought We Knew It All
“A little help?” I nodded down the hall toward Jackson’s room. She scrambled in front of me and pushed open his door. I set him on the bed and Callie worked to remove his shoes. I pulled the covers up over him and leaned down without thinking. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world, putting this kid to bed. My lips grazed his hair and when I looked up, Callie was staring at me.
“What?” I whispered.
She pointed to the door, and I followed her out.
“You’re a natural.” She wouldn’t look at me as she walked into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to sound so upset about that.” I laughed, trying to relieve some of the tension. She wasn’t laughing.
Callie walked toward the counter and pulled down two mugs. “Coffee?”
“Nah,” I answered, taking a seat at the table. “I’d never sleep tonight.” I watched her as she filled her cup halfway and then reached into the fridge for the milk. “Since when do you drink coffee?”
“Since I need to work late if I’m ever going to get this book finished.” She took a sip and her face showed her disgust. She hated the stuff.
“Don’t you think you’re going a little too hard lately.”
“No, Jamie.” She sighed. “I don’t. Now come here. I don’t want to talk about the kids or work. I haven’t been alone with you all day and I want you to kiss me.” She set her mug on the counter and waited.
I smiled. She didn’t have to tell me twice. I stood up and did my best sexy walk toward her. She finally laughed.
“You’re an idiot.”
“A sexy idiot, though.” I grinned.
She reached out and took my hand, using it to pull me in close until our breaths took up the same space.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi.” I pulled her tighter against me as I claimed her lips with mine. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of kissing California McCoy. Her soft lips, smooth skin, the way she growled from the back of her throat when my tongue entered her mouth - it was enough to undo a man.
I grabbed her by the hips and lifted her up onto the counter. He legs came around me, trapping me against her. I dipped my hands under her shirt, feeling the soft skin of her back under my rough fingers.
“Mom?” The sound barely registered to my ears, but Callie broke away with a small laugh.
Jackson stood rubbing his eyes in the doorway. Callie leapt off the counter and ran over to him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck and avoiding the stare of the young boy in the room.
I got into my truck, breathing heavily.
The email from Sergeant Carlson popped into my mind for some strange reason.Yeah,I thought.There’s no way I can leave.
17
Callie
“Liam,” I yelled. “Stay close.” He didn’t acknowledge a word I said as his feet took him sprinting across the playground. Selective hearing. That was what my middle child suffered from. Or, I guess you could say it was what I suffered from since I was the one constantly being ignored.
“Come on, Dec.” Jackson took Declan’s hand out of mine and led him toward the sandbox. “Let’s play.”
I shook my head and made my way to the nearby bench. Liam found another boy who looked to be his age to play with. They ran up the steps to the jungle gym, one brown head and one blond.
The sun beat down on us, hot for a November day. I shielded my eyes to look out over the park. It was beautiful, all green grass and screaming kids. Not for the first time, I was glad we’d moved back to Florida.
It was nice to get a break, just me and the boys. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and it’d be great, but draining. Today I was content.
A shadow crossed my vision, blocking the blinding sun. I looked up and grinned when I saw the grizzled face of Seth Franklin. Ten years later and still kicking. He smiled back at me.
