Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,38
in.”
I step back so he can go around me. “Thanks for doing the laundry.”
“No problem.” He grins, looking like he got eight hours of sleep and not three hours of broken rest. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope I don’t see you before morning.”
My smile comes easy. He heads to the basement and I go back to my bedroom. I stand inside the doorway. If there’s another incident, he’s going to need a change of clothes. Maybe I have something he can wear.
I scour my closet, starting in the deepest corners and lesser-used drawers. The sad fact is that his half of the closet is still empty, as are the drawers he used in the dresser. But just in case something of his got stuck with mine, I look anyway.
I hit pay dirt at the bottom of the closet. A pair of black cloth shorts is hidden in the shadows, along with an old shirt. They’re partially concealed by the ironing board I do my best to never have to use.
The light by the guest room is still on. I hear soft footsteps coming up the stairs. I can catch him before he goes into his room.
I’m looking at my find clutched in my hand when I walk out. I glance up, searching for him. “Hey, look what I found—”
I gasp. He’s half-turned, frozen at the base of the stairs that go up to the bedrooms. His ass is on full display and he’s not wearing one stitch of clothing. “Natalie, shit, sorry.” He cups his balls and as he does his ass tightens.
A small moan leaves me. He looks so damn good naked. Two weeks ago, I had my hand on that impressive length he’s cupping. Seeing him like this makes the feel of him blaze to life across my fingertips. Hard erection, covered by soft, blistering hot skin.
“Here.” I thrust the clothes out and try to avert my eyes, but they go to the sliding doors instead, the kind with the blinds between the panes. With the blinds closed, the reflected image of him is erotically clear. The angle is different and he’s posed like a marble statue, cupping his privates. I squeeze my eyes shut. My nipples are painfully hard and I hope my sorry excuse of a sports bra is enough to hide them. “I found these at the bottom of the closet.”
He lifts them from my grip. “I, uh, forgot the other pair of underwear in the room and thought you all were asleep so I could sneak back.” His voice is rough. Is it awkward for him or is he burning up like me?
“You shouldn’t sneak around naked. The girls could be up any time.”
“You’re right. Bachelor habits, I guess.” Those words stab me in the chest. He rushes on. “I promise I don’t do this when they’re at my place.”
“I know.” Abby and Maddy are deep asleep and their door is mostly closed. I doubt they would’ve awoken during the ten seconds it would’ve taken him to get to his room from downstairs. But the longer I keep him, the more we risk them waking. “I’ll let you, um, get dressed.”
His grin is devilish. “What if I have nothing to wear?”
My pulse quickened. “My shorts would be really short on you, but you do have nice legs.”
“If that’s the case, I can take the ones you’re wearing.”
I flutter my fingers against my chest over my racing heart. I always enjoyed banter with Simon, but we might have a long night ahead of us. “I think you’ll figure something out.”
“Sure. And don’t worry about the morning. I’ll get up with them. Get some rest. Sleep tight, Natalie.”
The slight tease to his words are enough incentive for me to keep my eyes off him. I spin around and charge back to my room.
Sleep tight, Natalie.
Letting me sleep in after a puke fest. I’d rather have that than a dozen roses any day.
Chapter 12
Natalie
Saturday was a day. Simon and I did nothing but cater to sick kids and keep up on laundry. There was a mighty heave session before bed and we have more laundry to do, on top of the normal weekend stuff. But since then, we haven’t been plagued with new stomach incidents.
The girls woke up feeling normal but worn out. They’re planted in front of the TV in the living room, nestled in blankets with books and markers and notepads piled around them. Yesterday, Simon ran and grabbed the girls’