Page 34 of Risky Move

“Somehow, I don’t see them…” Cassie stopped mid-sentence when Andrew and Tom entered the house. Tom’s face was flushed as if he’d just come from practice. “Is the team doc working out during practice?” She captured Tom’s brown eyes as a teasing smile crossed her face. “Or trying out for a spot on the roster?”

“Hardly. Checked in on some patients, then hit the wellness center afterward.” He nodded toward the toy-strewn play area. “It appears Jenna and Daniel had the same idea.”

“You mean make more work for Cassie and me?” Caryn challenged. She turned to Andrew. “Remember, swimming lesson this afternoon.”

“You bet—looking forward to finally getting in the pool with these peanuts. You ready to swim, Danny?” Both babies’ faces lit up when they saw Andrew kneel beside the cushions. They crawled toward him, then fussed when they couldn’t reach him. Jenna batted at a pillow, trying to move it.

“Drew, please don’t let them discover how to climb over the barricade.” Caryn quickly lifted Daniel before he focused on the cushions. Andrew laughed, then did the same with Jenna.

“How about I help you with lunch?”

“How about you maneuver your peanuts into their highchairs while I prepare lunch?” Caryn countered with a saucy grin. “Maybe they can get a nap in before the swim lesson.”

Caryn glanced over her shoulder to double-check that the door to the lanai was closed. Cassie knew Caryn’s greatest fear—obsession—that one or both twins might accidentally slip into the pool. She’d already installed child-proof locks on every door and cabinet—even Cassie had difficulty bypassing them.Hope the swimming lessons help with that anxiety…hers and mine.

Cassie stepped over the cushions and began collecting toys to return to the toy bins. A moment later, Tom joined her.

“Looks like a disaster area,” he said as he gathered several toys.

“They have fun tossing these around. Jenna has quite an arm.” Cassie stole a glance at Tom and saw the teasing sparkle in his eyes,

“Baseball, you think?”

“Maybe. Or volleyball?”Does Tom know how incredibly sexy and irresistible he looks right now? With those brown eyes…and that smirk. I’d like to wipe that away with a kiss. Or three.She startled as a nerf ball bounced off her shoulder.

“Earth to Cassie—you were supposed to catch that.”

Cassie bent to pick up the orange ball, then eyed Tom while biting back a smile. “So, you waited until I didn’t see it coming?”

“Maybe.” Tom gathered additional toys and tossed them into a basket. “You’re an attractive target.”

Cassie tossed the ball at his head when he reached for several toys that had landed outside the barrier. He glimpsed the ball just as it approached his face and caught it with one hand, and then immediately threw it back, striking Cassie squarely in her face.

She pretended to collapse against the cushions, covering her face with her hands. “I surrender!”

Tom collected the remaining toys, then grabbed the bin containing all the nerf toys and dumped it over the prone Cassie. She glared at him before the laughter bubbled up within her.

“You rat!” She grabbed toy after toy to fling back at him, jumping over the cushions to duck and avoid the next attack. Cassie laughed so hard she couldn’t catch her breath, finally lifting both arms in surrender. Tom flopped on the cushions opposite her.

“Admitting defeat?” The corners of his mouth quirked, stopping just short of a smirk.

Cassie tucked her hair behind her ears while she attempted to control her giggles. Tom waved a nerf dinosaur in her face, and she swatted at his hand. “Enough!” she begged. Tom caught her hand, and a sudden surge of electricity pulsed through her body. From the expression that briefly flashed across Tom’s face, Cassie thought he felt the spark, too. Their eyes met, and although she wanted to turn away, the intensity in his eyes held her captive. She saw him glance at her lips, and without thinking, Cassie leaned toward him.He dropped her hand and lightly ran his fingers across her lips. Cassie opened her mouth slightly, inviting the kiss. She closed her eyes in anticipation.

Tom cleared his throat, and Cassie looked up, noting that his gaze traveled behind her. She covered her face in embarrassment when she heard Caryn’s voice.

“Drew, I think we just solved the mystery of where Jen and Danny learned to throw toys.”

“Thought you guys were cleaning up? You’ve expanded the disaster area.” Andrew didn’t hide his amusement.

Tom pushed to his feet and offered his hand to Cassie. “Just an impromptu indoor snowball fight.”

“Snowball fight, eh? With the twins’ soft toys. Clever, brother.”

Cassie didn’t dare look at them. “We’ll get everything picked up now.” She knew her face and neck had splotched red. “We just got a little carried away.”

“Looks like you had fun,” Caryn teased them. “We’ll see if these two settle down for a nap before swim lessons. Drew and I may sneak in a little nap of our own.”

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