“Bubba punched a boy at the park today.” The way she stated it as if it were no big deal almost made me chuckle.
“Why would he do that?”
“Because that boy pulled my hair!” Her immediate defense of her brother didn’t surprise me. Those two were always on each other’s side. “It’s not fair. Mama made him sit in time-out and he’s not allowed to have dessert tonight, but daddy, he said that he’s supposed to protect me. I didn’t want him to get in trouble though.”
I knew there was a right way to approach this subject, but damn, I sure wanted to go find that little guy and hug him tightly—and then take him out for a triple scoop of ice cream. “Kit Kat, mama was right. It’s not okay to just hit people, but I will tell Braden that he’s doing a good job of watching out for his sister.”
“Okay,” she replied, only half satisfied with my answer.
I couldn’t stop myself from saying, “How about we sneak some dessert back to him?” Raegan was going to kill me.
She lit up like the Fourth of July and practically bounced out of her seat. “Yes! Please, can we?”
“You better not tell your mom.” I smirked at her.
“I super love you, daddy.” She went back to her French fries and guzzled down some more water.
“I love you like crazy, little girl.”
~~~~~~~
Just as I thought it would be, living with Raegan was as easy as breathing. I told her two weeks ago that she and I just worked and it was as simple as that. Those words couldn't have been truer, because we seemed to mesh so easily. It didn't hurt that Kate and Braden were as happy as two kids could be.
Although I returned to work—albeit reluctantly—I was shocked to realize how much I looked forward to returning home every afternoon. Raegan made my house a home and a place I wanted to be as much as I possibly could. Kate greeted me every afternoon as if she hadn't seen me in four years and it pulled on my heartstrings, not knowing if that was a good or bad thing. I continually tried to make a big deal out of coming home to her so she would know I would never go anywhere. I also had to tell Jace that I couldn’t travel anymore, but he seemed to be prepared for that so we began working toward moving me to a more permanent, finance-only position.
Quinn’s mom came into town this week, and tonight she asked if she and Jace’s mother could watch all the grandkids. Raegan was fluttering around the house nervously when I returned from dropping off Kate and Braden. Those two couldn't have been more excited to hang out with their cousins, as they called them. In fact, I’d barely gotten any hugs when I was saying goodbye. They were too preoccupied “helping” with the babies.
The reason I’d taken them solo was that Raegan was supposed to be getting ready for our night out with everyone. When I arrived back at the house, her long hair was curled in loose mahogany waves, which I loved, and she had taken off the t-shirt and cotton shorts she’d worn all day. As I stood in the kitchen, she sauntered in wearing her bra and panties and reached into the cabinet for a glass. I watched her calves flex as she stood up on her tiptoes and then continued staring as she moved toward the dispenser on the refrigerator. When some of the water splashed her stomach, her ass pushed back and I became instantly hard. God, literally everything she did turned me on.
“House is empty,” I stated, hoping she would catch on—fast.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” she responded, while leaning her bare hip against the counter and sipping her water. “It’s too quiet.”
“Yeah, but we’re all alone. We’ve never been alone. I hear that when you’re a parent and you find yourself alone, you should definitely take advantage.” I smirked at her.
“Is that what they say, huh?” She smiled coyly and sat her glass down. I stalked across the kitchen toward her and grabbed her hips in my hands.
“I don’t make the rules,” I whispered into her ear and started to nibble slowly.
I growled when her hands ran up the side of my face and into my hair. She knew that drove me crazy when she did that— it made me feel so fucking wanted. Her lips met mine before I could move them further down her jaw. I pushed her against the counter and pressed my hands to her back soothingly so I could unsnap her bra.
“Right here, in the kitchen?” she laughed. “The blinds are open.”
“Right here in the kitchen,” I hummed against her lips. My fingers tweaked her nipples and she moaned while pushing them closer to me. I picked her up effortlessly, sat her on the edge of the counter, and moved between her thighs.
“Damn, I want you so bad,” I couldn’t stop myself from admitting.
“Mmm,” she let slip from her lips. Her nails grazed my scalp and then she pulled my face closer to hers. “Can we do that new thing from last night?”
Straight to my cock. That’s where her words struck me. “Tell me exactly which part was your favorite. I want to hear your saucy mouth,” I murmured, moving my hands toward her lace panties.
Before she could respond, three sharp knocks pounded the front door. I leaned my forehead against her shoulder and pretended that I hadn’t heard anything. Her hands began shoving at mine before I could finish my current task.
“Lane, the door!” she whispered, as if whatever asshole was at our door could actually hear us.
“Dammit, who the hell is that?” I groaned. Stepping away from her delectable body, I clenched my fists open and shut.
As I was moving away from her, she reached out to grab my shoulder. I looked up at her in question, and she cleared her throat while pointedly looking down at my crotch. I had a huge situation between my legs that my gym shorts were not concealing. Of course I fucking did! I was seconds away from thrusting inside of my girl. Sorry, buddy. I regrettably adjusted myself up into my waistband and concealed the bulge as much as I could with my t-shirt.
“Do not get dressed. I’ll get rid of whoever this is,” I seethed.
She hopped off the counter as I dragged my feet toward the front door. I took a deep breath and tried to reel in my temper before I bit off our visitor’s head. When I opened the door, some dude a few years younger than me stood on my porch, appearing way too damn impatient. As soon as he saw me, he started to peer around my shoulder, trying to look in my house.
“Yeah?” That was as nice I could get. My dick was in the waistband of my shorts and my girl was probably naked on my bed. This guy had better beat feet.
“Raegan Hayes here?” he asked. At the mention of her name, I immediately started to take him in. Who the hell was this?
“Can I help you?” I bit out.
“Yeah, by getting Raegan for me.”
“Not your servant. Tell me who you are and I’ll think about getting my girl.”
“Your girl?” He faltered backward and I immediately locked up.
“You’re on my porch, man. I think you can show some respect and let me know who the hell you are.”
“Name’s Adam,” he spouted off, while continuing to look around my body. He had an accent that sounded like he was from Jersey, or at least he was trying to sound like he was from there. My inner New York cop wanted to come out and interrogate this douchebag. I already didn’t like where this was going. “Ree Ree!” he shouted past me.
“Get off my porch, asshole,” I growled. From behind me I heard a gasp and the shuffling of feet. I stepped inside and shut the door on my foot, letting it stay open only a crack. Raegan was barreling toward me and her eyes were as wide as a deer about to be struck by an oncoming eighteen-wheeler.
“Whoa, baby.” I held my hands out to stop her. “If you think for one second I’m about to let your fine, NAKED ass out this door, you’re sadly mistaken.”