The Scandal (Billionaire's Beach Book 4) - Christie Ridgway Page 0,51

had no idea how far a little kid could throw a shoe—again, out of his element—but figured he’d set the boy up to have a decent chance. His and Felipe’s father had nursed a nasty competitive streak that led him to take his kids to a park or playground on occasion where he’d wing a football at them and jeer when they dropped it or sneer when they ducked the tennis ball coming across the net at a million miles an hour.

Turned out Joaquin might have made this game too easy for the kid. Wells nearly cleaned his clock. The truth was, he would have let him win, but the boy sent him a narrow-eyed glance that told him not to do him any favors.

When it came time to eat, they both felt satisfied, Joaquin figured. Doing the social bit with a child wasn’t too bad, he decided, picking up a plate to fill. You followed your instincts and treated them with respect.

The group gathered around another table set for the meal, Charlie directing Wells to the head seat. The boy sent her a pleased smile at the honor she seemed not to notice at first. Then her fingertips walked lightly over the top of his head, a covert acknowledgment.

While they ate, the voices and conversation of the females at the table burbled and splashed like water in a stream, eddying around subjects and rippling with laughter. Joaquin sat back in his chair and let it flow around him, more content than he could remember as he watched his little sister giggle and smile and then Sara take the lead to tell some school story that made her friends double over.

Even without getting the joke, he grinned, too, and his eyes caught on the bright ones of his butler who sat directly across from him. She wasn’t wearing sherbet-colored clothes tonight—more like her usual self in cropped jeans and a Kiss the Cook T-shirt—but suddenly that seemed like a great idea…kissing. He needed to hold her, taste her, stoke this warm feeling into the fire they made together in a bed, against the wall, anywhere he could have her.

A wary expression chased the good humor off her face.

Yeah, doll, be wary.

The beast in him wanted to have another go with the butler. And when the beast came out, his better judgement receded to a distant cave. Stretching out his long leg, he let his foot find hers beneath the table. He nudged with his toe, nothing blatant, but it had the color rising on her face.

Maybe he could mention that urgent business call and bring along Sara so they could have a few minutes at the house alone.

But the moment was lost as Charlie stood to begin gathering empty plates. The other butlers jumped like puppets to help, but Joaquin stood too and gestured for them to sit down. “Essie, Wells, and I will take care of the scraping and stacking,” he declared. “You ladies relax.”

They were in mid-protest when a stranger—fortyish man, handsome features, fit body dressed in wealthy-casual—walked onto the deck. For a moment everyone froze, and the air went heavy with an emotion Joaquin couldn’t put his finger on. Concerned, he scrutinized Charlie’s tense expression, but then Wells let out a godawful shriek and rushed the newcomer.

“Dad!” He threw himself onto the man who caught him up in a bear-like hug, burying his face in the boy’s hair.

Charlie edged into overdrive. Before anyone else could move, she was clearing the table and rushing past the reuniting father-and-son. Just as the two broke apart, she was back with a full plate for the man and a sweating bottle of beer.

“I’m sorry to surprise you, Ethan,” she started awkwardly.

“I surprised you,” he said, giving her an avuncular smile. “I hoped I’d catch an earlier flight but didn’t want to promise in case I didn’t make it.” Looking down at his son, he smiled again. “Miss me?”

“Yes,” Charlie and Wells said together.

Then the butler’s eyes widened, and she bustled over to place the food and beverage she held onto the table. “Wells always misses you when you’re gone.”

Introductions came next. Ethan Archer didn’t seem put out to find a small party on his deck. But under her breath, Joaquin heard Charlie apologizing anyway.

He waved it away, again with that indulgent expression on his face. “Stop. You know you’re to consider this your home.”

But Charlie didn’t seem reassured, even as everyone was back at the table with dessert. The new seating