Page 45 of SEAL's Angel
“I had two already. I’m good. But I’m looking forward to s’mores…whatever they are.”
“You don’t know what s’mores are?” Chase exclaimed. “Mom, make Jake’s first. Wait till you try this. It’s the best thing ever.”
Dawn laughed. “How about we make them all together? Everyone can toast their own marshmallows.”
“Marshmallows?” Jake asked.
“Yup. You’re in for a treat—maybe? I guess it depends if you like chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows.”
“I do, but I’ve never had them together.”
“They’re so good, Jake,” Cindy said, excitement turning her cheeks pink and making her look like a miniature of Dawn.
Rafe helped the kids put the marshmallows on the sticks, and Dawn showed Jake how to do his. He grinned at the concentration on their faces, and he felt like a part of the family.
Everyone watched Jake as he took his first bite. He didn’t know what to expect, but the damn thing tasted great. “It’s delicious. Where has this been all my life?”
“Told ya,” Chase said as he took a big bite of his s’more.
By the time the kids finished eating them, gooey marshmallow and chocolate covered their hands and faces.
“Okay, now you really need to go get cleaned up. Grab your toothbrushes and let’s head down to the river.” Dawn’s tone didn’t allow for any argument.
Rafe helped Chase to his feet and handed him the crutches. “How about I take them down and you can clean up the rest of the food and stow it away?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Nope.” Rafe winked at Jake and then herded the kids down to the water.
“So, did you really like it, or were you just saying that for the kids’ benefit?” Dawn asked Jake as he helped her clear up the food and pile up the dishes to take down to wash in the river once the kids returned.
“Are you kidding? What’s not to like? All that melted chocolate and the thousand-degree, melted marshmallow?” He chuckled. “It was amazing, really. I’d heard of them but never knew what they were. Now I’ll probably crave the damn things and have to do extra PT to stay in shape.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that.”
“No?”
“No. And stop fishing for compliments. You’re practically sex on a stick.”
Jake waggled his eyebrows. “Sex on a stick? I don’t think anyone’s called me that before. I kinda like it. Maybe not as much as sexy badass, but it’s right up there.”
Dawn’s cheeks flamed. “Oh, I bet. Now, help me put these coolers in the Jeep before the bears decide to visit. And trust me, you don’t want them to stop by.”
“Yeah, Rafe told me about the time they broke into your station wagon when you were young. That had to be terrifying.”
“It was, but after that we made sure we always keep the food sealed in containers and locked away.”
When the kids returned, they changed into their PJs and wrapped up in blankets. Then they sat around the campfire and listened to Rafe tell stories.
“I’m going to go down to the river and wash up these dishes while Rafe has them entertained,” Dawn whispered to Jake.
“I’ll come with you. It’ll go faster.”
“Okay.” She gestured to Rafe, so he’d know what they were doing.
He tipped his chin and continued with story time.
Jake grabbed the container of dirty dishes and followed Dawn to the river. It was a different access point from where they’d spent the afternoon.
