them to be enthralled, all over again, by the bouncing castle seating in one corner of a large empty hall.
When she finally located the great hall where all the guests were gathered, Jessica was more than a little frazzled. Her kids were so taken in by the scene she had to keep a tight leash on them so they didn’t wander off.
They heard “Kal! Ari! Over here!” called form across the room.
All three of them turned in that direction and saw Carla dressed up as a little witch with a black lace gown and an exaggerated pointy hat. Jessica beamed, “Oh, aren’t you the cutest little witch in the world? Happy birthday, Carla.”
Carla bestowed a blinding smile on Jessica. “Thank you! Daddy says they are the most sly, devious and powerful of creatures, so that’s what I am.”
Jessica frowned at the strange reply but said nothing. She held out her parcel instead, “Well, I say you make a cute little birthday girl. Happy birthday from the three of us.”
Carla’s eyes lit up as though the sun had just come out, and she catapulted across the space separating them to fling her arms around Jessica’s waist. “You got me a gift! You’re the bestest new aunt ever!”
A warm chuckle followed the declaration, followed by a familiar voice, “She’s really pulling out all the stops tonight, isn’t she? I wondered when she was gonna use that line on you.”
Theodore!
Jessica studiously avoided looking at him, and instead, gave Carla a disappointed look, “Don’t tell me you use the same line on other girls.”
Carla threw back her head, “You’re so silly, Aunt Jess. Hey, Ari, Kal, come on. I want us to try out my new toys. My room is upstairs.”
Her kids looked at her for approval. She’d barely managed to finish the nod before all three of them scampered from the room with the speed of people hoping to outrun rockets.
Left with nothing else to do — or pretend to do — Jessica lifted her eyes to him and promptly lost her breath. He was dressed in a navy-colored t-shirt and pair of navy-colored jeans, with an oxblood jacket flung over it. He looked decisively handsome and his green eyes sparkled with life and vitality as he looked her over.
He gave a small whistle. “You look very hot tonight.”
“I could say the same to you,” she smiled.
Fire lit his eyes, and he grinned at her. “Well, in that case, let’s go somewhere private where you can say even more to me.”
Jessica rolled her eyes, “I have nothing to say to you. I’m waiting for the kids to be done, so I can get out of here.”
“Well, have a drink while you wait so … stoically,” he offered with another smile as he cupped a hand at her elbow and began to lead her in what she assumed was the direction of the bar.
Jessica searched his eyes. He was saying the right things and smiling, but somehow … something felt off.
He led her off toward a different part of the house away from the guests. As he pushed the door open, the towering shelves of books on either side told her they were heading toward the library. As they started to enter, long drawn-out moans and grunts hit their ears and they both froze.
Theodore peeked around the door and came away, face actually flaming.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
“No one you know,” he responded but he looked so embarrassed; almost as though he had seen his parents making love.
“Who?” she insisted, forgetting herself in her curiosity and grabbing his arm. Fire zinged through his skin, and she jerked her hand back.
He sighed, “Joshua Cox and his new bride, Klyana. The sheer stamina of the man…”
Now, it was her turn to have a flaming face.
Theodore grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and guided her with a hand at the small of her back to another section of the house.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” he promised.
The room was filled with toys from floor to ceiling. What on Earth?
“Souvenirs for the kids at Carla’s party,” he supplied.
Jessica began to explore the room and as she went around the room, she couldn’t help noticing how lavish, extravagant and expensive everything was.
Thoughtful too, her subconscious supplied.
Well, that too, she reluctantly conceded. When she saw a small pink dollhouse, complete with library set, tears misted in her eyes as she recognized, at once, that the gift was for Arizona.
She continued to explore the room until he led