Blackout After Dark (Gansett Island #21) - Marie Force Page 0,24
the 911 and other emergency systems to make sure everything is working on remote power.”
An hour later, confident that his subordinates had things under control and with orders to call him if needed, Blaine left the public safety building to resume his precious weekend day off already in progress. He was on the way home when Tiffany called. She’d gone in to her Naughty & Nice shop to check on things before taking the rest of the day off with him. “What’s up, babe?”
“Just a little power failure to cut short a day at the shop.”
“Did you shut down?” he asked, knowing how important summer weekends were to her business.
“We did. It’s just too hot without AC, and it was dead anyway. This heat is sucking the life out of everyone. How are things at home?”
“I had to get my mom to come stay with the girls because I got called into the station when the power went out. I’m on the way home now.”
“What’re you hearing about the power?”
“That it’s not good. The last time this happened, it was out for days.”
“I remember that. We’d just moved back to the island. Ashleigh was a baby. It was so hot.”
“It’s probably going to be like that again. We’ve got the generator to run the fridge at least.”
“You were right, dear.”
Blaine laughed. “The words every man loves to hear.” He’d insisted they grab one the previous fall in case they lost power during winter snowstorms. He hadn’t expected they might need it in the summer, too. “From what I hear, the power grid is old and should’ve been replaced decades ago.”
“Fantastic. So we’re in for a siege, then.”
“Possibly, but look at the upside.”
“There’s an upside?”
“Uh-huh. Very sweaty sex.”
“How is that an upside?”
“Baby, I can’t wait to show you later.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
“Is the party still on at Sarah and Charlie’s?” he asked.
“As far as I know.”
He’d no sooner pulled into the driveway than she appeared next to him in her red VW Bug, flashing him the irrepressible grin that was all Tiffany. And damn if his heart didn’t still give a happy lurch at the sight of his love, even after all this time together.
He waited for her to get out of the car and held out his hand to her. “Why do I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks when it’s only been a few hours?”
“Because you’re silly that way?”
“If being obsessed with my sexy wife makes me silly, I can handle that.” With his arm around her, they walked inside, where they found a note from his mom.
Took the girls for a walk to the park. Back in an hour or so.
She’d included the time, indicating they’d left ten minutes ago. He’d never loved his mother more than he did just then. Between work and kids and life, the summer was their busiest season, and by August, Blaine was more than ready for it to be over so he could have more time at home with his girls.
He surrounded Tiffany from behind, molding his body to hers.
“Too hot for that, cowboy,” she said as she poured a glass of the decaffeinated iced tea she drank when pregnant.
“We have fifty kid-free, work-free minutes during the day in August, Tiffany.”
She fanned her face. “It’s hot, Blaine.”
“And about to get hotter.” He turned her to face him, caressing her cheek and stealing a quick kiss from strawberry-flavored lips. “Hi.”
“Howdy.”
“Can I convince you to get sweaty with me?”
“Probably. I’m rather easy where you’re concerned.”
“And I love you that way.” Bending his knees, he worked his hands under the skirt of the frilly, feminine dress she’d worn to work and slid them up the backs of silky, soft, toned legs to cup bare ass cheeks. He let out a growl that came from the deepest part of him. She wore the sexiest underwear all the time, including barely there thongs that drove him wild.
“Let’s go upstairs,” she said with a nervous giggle. “Your mom is apt to bring them back any time.”
“She said an hour ten minutes ago.”
“Addie might have a meltdown.”
“I’m willing to risk it.” He was already pushing her dress up and lifting her to sit on the kitchen counter.
“Blaine…”
“Shhh, let me have my sweaty fun.” The house was already unbearably warm after only an hour without AC. He ought to stop and open some windows, but that would take time he didn’t want to waste when there were much better things they could be doing. Such as pushing