Takeoff (Open Skies #5) - Becca Jameson Page 0,62
with her, reading her a story. It was beyond sweet and precious. Deacon was truly a good man.
She grabbed a glass of wine from his kitchen, headed out back, and dropped onto an Adirondack chair, wondering if she would fall asleep and drop the glass.
Ten minutes later, Deacon joined her, sitting sideways on the chair next to hers, facing her. He set his hands on his knees. “I can’t thank you enough.”
She smiled at him. “It was fun.”
“Fun?” He lifted a brow. “I feel like I’m going to pass out. That was a lot of work, and I’m still trying to imagine how anyone puts two kids down for the night alone.” He shuddered.
She reached out and set a hand on his. “Well, I don’t know a damn thing about kids, but Katia and Teddy are sweet little cherubs. I enjoyed them more than I expected. It’s shocking how smart three-year-olds are. Who knew? That child has a plethora of knowledge. Where does she get it?”
He shrugged. “Educational television. Reading to her. Daycare.”
“Were they going to daycare while your parents had them?”
“Yes. Not full-time, but three days a week so my mom could get a break.”
Raeann chewed on her lower lip. For some reason, she couldn’t imagine dropping them off for someone else to watch all day. For the first time in her life, she had a strange maternal tug. Somehow she instinctively knew if she had a kid, it would kill her to leave him or her nine hours a day with someone else.
She shook the odd thought from her mind. These weren’t her kids. She barely knew them. She wasn’t staying here forever. And obviously, it would be rude to say something like that. Deacon had to work of course. He couldn’t very well become a stay-at-home dad. He had to make money to pay the mortgage.
“What are you thinking, Rae?”
She jerked her gaze to his, realizing she’d been staring off into space. “Nothing.”
He narrowed his brows, smiling. “Fine. Don’t tell me. But can we go to bed? I’m afraid I’m going to fall asleep sitting here.”
She spun around to stand, tugging him with her. “Of course.”
They headed inside, turned off the lights, and made their way to the bedroom, checking on the kids one last time. They were both out, but would they stay that way?
Everything about this day and now their preparations for bed felt so domestic. Raeann kept glancing at Deacon as she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into a tank top and shorts. They did all this side by side tonight as if it weren’t weird to share the bathroom with him.
And somehow it wasn’t, but the thought only made her anxiety rise. She was enjoying playing in his world a bit too much. She had surprised herself today, loving his family more than she should have.
For the first time since she’d come to stay with Deacon, they didn’t have sex the moment they climbed into bed. Deacon pulled her against his chest and kissed her gently, but his hands didn’t wander.
She didn’t mind. She was beyond tired, and she knew he was too, but it made her chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” He pulled her closer.
“One day and already we’re like an old married couple, too tired to have sex.”
He growled and rolled her onto her back, coming over her, his face hovering as he searched her eyes. “You’re right. We can’t let this happen.”
She giggled and shoved at him. “I was teasing. Neither of us has the energy to be the one on top anyway,” she joked.
He chuckled. “Good point, but I’ll try anyway.”
She rolled her eyes, though she wasn’t sure he could see her in the near darkness. They had left a night light on in the hallway though, just in case Katia woke up and got scared. “What if Katia wanders in?” she whispered.
He groaned again. “You think I’m going to give up sex for the next eighteen years while they’re living here just in case they wander in?”
She chewed on her lower lip, thinking. She didn’t actually have a good answer. How did regular parents manage to fit sex into their lives? She glanced at the door. “Seriously though.”
He followed her gaze and dropped onto his side next to her. “I’ll lock the door.”
She gasped and shook her head. “You can’t do that. Not so soon. She’ll get scared if she can’t find you.”
Deacon groaned as he lowered his head to the pillow, wrapping his body around hers.