Courage (Heroes of Big Sky #1) - Kristen Proby Page 0,22
Tash replies as she opens a door and steps inside. “Ta-da!”
It’s her third bedroom, all cleaned up, with a queen bed and a dresser.
“What happened to all of your stuff?”
“I cleaned it out.” She smooths the navy blue comforter on the bed. “I got rid of some of it, stored the rest, neatly, in the garage. I figured with the kids here and everything, you might want to stay sometimes. And my couch isn’t the most comfortable for sleeping.”
I narrow my eyes and reach for her hand.
But she pulls away when the kids both walk into the room.
I don’t like that. I don’t like it at all.
Before I can say something, Kelsey slips her little hand into mine and smiles sweetly. “Do you like it?”
“It’s great.”
“We helped,” Kevin announces. “We each earned a dollar, too.”
“Good job.” I give him a fist bump, and then the twins are off again, hurrying out to finish watching their show. I focus all of my attention on Tash and watch as she bites her lower lip.
I want to tease those lips. And every other part of her, now that I think about it.
“I’m not sleeping in here,” I inform her.
“You don’t like it?”
“I like it fine, but why in the hell would I crash in here when I can lie next to you all night?”
Her cheeks flush with pleasure, but she shakes her head. “We have kids here, Sam. They’re only five, and their parents just died. They’re not ready for us to start acting like a couple.”
I want to push. I want to put my foot down and tell her that she’s dead wrong.
“Even we don’t know for sure what’s going on here,” she continues. “I don’t want to confuse them. So, for now, this is your room. That doesn’t mean that it’s forever.”
“It’s definitely not forever.” I lean in and kiss her forehead. “But if this is how you want to do things, I’ll be good.”
“Thank you.”
“Does this mean I can bring my bag in from outside?”
“You packed a bag?”
“Yeah. I’d like to hang out here, whenever possible.”
“I’d like that, too.” I frame her face in my hands and lower my lips to hers. Her skin is soft, and the little moan in the back of her throat is enough to make a man sit up and beg.
Before I can take it deeper, she plants her hand on my chest.
“I need to finish dinner.”
“Yeah.” I kiss her forehead and back away. “Do I have time for a shower?”
“Sure. Help yourself. Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes.”
She saunters out of the room, and I follow behind, enjoying the way her ass sways back and forth in those jeans.
Thinking about her nonstop while I should be doing my job probably isn’t the smartest idea, but I can’t get her out of my mind. It’s like she’s permanently stuck there, front and center, in my brain. Everything reminds me of her. The minute I shift my focus to something else, she pops right back in again.
I’m obsessed.
After only one weekend together.
I walk back into the house with my bag and set it on the bed. I set my few personal things in dresser drawers, my toothbrush in the bathroom next to the Mickey and Minnie Mouse toothbrushes.
Looks like I’m sharing with the kiddos.
“You can use my bathroom.” I turn at Tash’s voice and find her leaning her shoulder against the doorjamb. “It’s a little tidier.”
“Okay.” I straighten and lean on the counter. “I missed you this week.”
“Yeah?” Her smile is bright and happy. “Well, that’s nice to hear. I missed you, too. Now, come get some dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t want you to wake Auntie Tash,” I say as I lift Kelsey onto the countertop and let her sit there to help. “She worked really hard this week. She deserves a day to sleep in.”
“Are we gonna make her breakfast?” Kelsey asks with a whisper. Kevin is still in bed, as well.
It seems Kelsey and I are the early risers.
“Yes. We’re making some waffles, bacon, and fruit. How does that sound?”
“She likes waffles,” Kelsey replies. “They’re her favorite.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because one time, she took us to the diner as a treat, and she told us that waffles are her favorite for breakfast. She didn’t have any that day, though.”
“How come?”
“She said she wasn’t hungwy, but I think she was sad.” Kelsey drops her gaze to the floor. “Sometimes, Auntie Tash is sad when she thinks we don’t see.”
“Everyone is getting used to