“We have to go. It’s already seven thirty! The kids have to be at school by eight or they miss the field trip!” I ran out into the hallway to find both kids dressed, baseball caps on, hiking shoes tied. “Good morning.”
They gave me a grin that said they knew exactly who was in my bed.
Parenting fail.
“So, who is taking us to school?” Maisie asked with a little bounce on her toes.
“Yeah? You, or Beckett?” Colt added, bouncing identically.
“Okay, we’ll discuss this later. We need to get ready. Now.”
“Cereal,” Colt said. “We knew you’d get mad if we used the stove.”
“And we wanted you to sleep.” Maisie held up her fingers and started counting. “Breakfast, done. Teeth brushed, done. Havoc fed. She slept with me last night, but she’s a bed hog, so she has to go to Colt tonight.”
And that is exactly what I got for letting Beckett sleep in my bed. The kids automatically assumed we were back together. Or maybe we were. There was absolutely no time to think about that right now. My moment was over, and the kids were back in the priority spot. The sorting-out had to be handled by Beckett and me later. At a table. With lots of clothes on. Tons of clothes. Maybe a parka.
“We have our hiking shoes, our hats, our pants, and fleece, and we lathered each other up with sunscreen. All we need is a lunch.” She stopped counting.
“Lunch. I can do that…with the ten minutes I have.” I ran into the bedroom to find Beckett already dressed, looking sexy as hell and sleep-rumpled. Sex was a lot like sugar—give it up and you stop missing it after a while, but you start back up and you’re just jonesing for the next hit. And man, I wanted to hit that again. A lot.
“Kids okay?” he asked, tying his shoes.
“Oh, just jumping to assumptions, but other than that, they’re fine. I might need a little tag team help.” I dropped the robe and pulled on my underwear. “Beckett, concentrate.”
“Oh, I am. Trust me.” His eyes were locked on my ass.
Bra on and snapped.
“We have ten minutes before they have to leave—”
“Lunches?”
“Exactly.”
“On it,” he said, already walking toward the door. He caught my shoulders as he passed me, keeping me from falling as I hopped around like a lunatic with one leg in my jeans. “Good morning,” he said softly as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Good morning to you,” I answered, and he was out the door. Man, I liked this too much. Falling back into that sweet rhythm we’d had while we were together. Knowing those giggles I heard coming up the stairs were the result of happy kids on a hectic morning with their dad.
I slipped on my green, long-sleeve, boat-neck tee and ran down the stairs, socks and boots in hand. Then I paused at the threshold of the kitchen and watched the scene for a minute that we didn’t have.
Beckett worked at the counter, rolling meat and cheese pinwheels, while Maisie filled their water bottles and Colt grabbed yogurts.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for this day for forever,” Colt said, throwing apples into brown paper bags. “A whole day of no school, just hiking for leaves.”
“Well, it’s kind of school,” Maisie countered.
“You know what I mean.” Colt tugged at her cap.
“Man, I wish I hiked all day for a living,” Beckett teased, cutting the pinwheels.
“You do!” Maisie answered with a giggle.
“That’s right!” he responded with a shocked face.
This was the picture of perfection, and I knew I could have it for the rest of my life…as soon as we had time to talk. Tonight, maybe?
“What about treats?” I asked, petting Havoc on my way to the pantry. “M&M’s sound good?”
“Yes!” the kids shouted as I tossed them in the field trip-required paper bags.
“Okay, is that it?” Beckett asked.
“I think we’re ready,” I told him. “Kids, grab your bags and hop in my car.”
They both hugged Beckett and ran out the door.
We stared at each other across the kitchen island for a second, before he cleared his throat. “I feel like there are things that need to be said.”
I walked around the island, rose on my toes, and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. “I think so, too. How about later tonight?”
A flash of hope ran through those green eyes of his, and he smiled. “Tonight it is.”