Bonus Kisses - Freya Barker Page 0,64
a master suite?”
“Not the new bedroom. The new bed,” I clarify, noting that the water is getting a little chilly.
“Honey, that’s not helping,” she notes dryly.
“Hang on, I’m gonna put you on speaker, I’ve gotta get out of this tub.” I put the phone on speaker and set it on the toilet tank while I get out. “So we stopped at JB’s Beds in Mountain View…”
“Shopping for a new bed.”
“…Obviously. Anyway…” I say pointedly, trying to keep us on track while I dry myself off, “…we’re in the parking lot at JB’s, and Sheila walks out of the hairdresser’s, and sees us”
“So? I don’t see the problem?”
“Well, seeing as Rafe had me pinned against the side of the truck and had his tongue in my mouth, I’m sure you’d agree that’s a pretty significant problem.”
“I see.”
“Right? I’d bet good money that snippet of news is making its way around Eminence as we speak. Hang on, taking you off speaker.” I wrap the towel around me, put the phone to my ear and make my way to the bedroom to get dressed. “My parents and the kids are coming home tomorrow, how long do you figure it’ll take before they hear it?”
“You’ll have a week’s reprieve, at least,” she concludes.
She catches me with one foot suspended as I’m putting on clean underwear, almost putting me on my ass. “How do you figure that?”
“Saw her and Brady drive out of town yesterday morning pulling the boat trailer. Sheila usually runs roughshod over the man, but when it comes to his annual fishing trip to Roaring River State Park, he’s got an iron will. They’re usually gone for a week.”
I slump down on the edge of the bed. “Still not a lot of time,” I point out.
“Maybe not, but enough to stay ahead of the game.”
Rafe
“There you are.”
Taz’s head whips around already smiling.
I went looking through the entire house before I noticed the front door open a crack. She’s on her knees next to one of the large planters, her dreads tied back with a handkerchief, and a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She appears to be pulling weeds.
“I was going to cook dinner, but I got a little distracted. Are you okay with grilled cheese and a salad?”
I bend down and kiss her upturned face. “Don’t worry about dinner, I’ll toss some burgers on the grill. What are you doing?”
“I’m weeding.”
“That part I got,” I assure her with a grin. “What I’m curious about is what brought that on?”
“Oh.” She brushes her forehead with the back of her hand, leaving a fresh streak of dirt. “Well, I was putting clean sheets on Sofie’s bed and noticed the picture she has on her dresser: the one with her sitting on the edge of the planter in front of the house.”
“I know the one.”
“The planters had flowers in them. Gardening was never my thing, it was Nicky’s, but I thought maybe it would be nice to put something in these planters for when they get home tomorrow. How hard can it be? I noticed a garden center on the way to Mountain View Saturday; I thought maybe I could pick some up tomorrow morning. Make it look pretty before they get here.”
“I’m not sure Spencer will notice but Sofie probably would.”
“Yeah?” Her pleased smile lights up her face, but I have a suspicion it won’t last.
“Absolutely. In fact, I’m sure she’ll love giving you a hand.” At her confused expression I rip off the bandage. “Your mom called fifteen minutes ago; they stopped for an early dinner in Dexter. They decided to drive straight through and should be home in a little over an hour.”
As I suspected it might, the smile disappears.
“You mean they’re coming home? Like…now?” She immediately scrambles to her feet and starts wiping her hands on her well-worn jeans. “But I’m not ready. I—”
I grab her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “Breathe, Taz. The kids just want to come home. They’ll be thrilled to see the dogs and sleep in their own beds. There’s nothing to be ready for.”
Even as I try to reassure her, I can tell the panic is winning. She twists out of my hold and runs inside, tripping over the dogs who’ve apparently been waiting right behind the door. I follow inside at a more sedate pace, hearing Taz mutter to herself as she tears upstairs. Stitch and Lilo sit at the bottom, staring up with equally woeful expressions.
I’m tempted to go