Page 50 of Love's Hot

I wish I could turn up at his place right now, but we have the family lunch, and my mother will hunt me down if I miss it. Sitting in the middle of all my family with Kane there is going to be sheer torture. Now with Alesha knowing, she’ll be giving me sneaky looks and watching us like hawks. Then again, Mom will be all over her obsessing about wedding planning so maybe I’ll get a reprieve.

Being so close to him and not being able to touch him is going to suck. I’m used to him having his hands all over me all the time we’re together. If I’m smart, though, I can use it to my advantage. I might struggle with the no touching, but just imagine how hard it will be for Kane. Time to look through the wardrobe for the perfect outfit and shoes. If I play my cards right, by the time we get to his place tonight, I won’t even make it past the front door before he has me stripped and moaning.

Shit, now I’m thinking about him touching me and that’s not going to help me for the next few hours.

Pull yourself together, lady, and get your sexy back.

Time to remind Kane what he has right in front of him.

Hopefully he’ll start to see how good we are together.

We just fit.

Perfectly!

***

“Aunty Lilly, Aunty Lilly,” I hear my name being screamed across the yard as I get out of my car. Standing, I brace myself for the twins to hit me at full speed. Lucky Thomas is too small to join the welcoming committee. Otherwise, I think I might be taking cover from the onslaught.

“Hello, my favorite munchkins. How are you today, been good for Mom and Dad?” I crouch down to give them both a big cuddle at the same time.

“I’ve been a good girl, but Sammy’s been in trouble.” Sophia, always happy to turn her brother in. Sammy hangs his head down, not wanting to admit he’s been naughty.

“What have you been up to, little man?” I put my hand on his chin to lift his face so I can see him.

“I licked the icing off the cake with my finger. It was an accident.” He looks so cheeky looking up at me.

“Oh dear, who busted you doing it? Was it, Mommy, Daddy or Meme? Because you can totally get away with it if it was Meme or Mommy. Daddy is harder but we’ll work around him.” I tickle his side just to break the moment and get him laughing again. “Now tell me, was the frosting yummy? Because if it was, then I’m going in to use my finger for a taste too. Tell me who’s in charge of the food in this crazy house, so I know who to hide from.”

We all start to giggle now. I’ve won the kids over in the first five seconds. I never thought about having kids of my own until these two gorgeous faces came into our lives, and then baby Thomas joined them. Now I know that I long to be a mother one day when the time is right. I’m not ready yet, but my heart wants these moments of stolen frosting from a cake, a sister who loves to tattle on her brother and a husband who loves and protects us all. Someone who will look at me the way my dad looks at my mom. I see Zach walk past Emily and give her that secret touch as he places his hand on her lower back just checking everything is still right in her world. That’s what I want in a man.

As if the universe is listening, Kane steps out of the shed I’ve parked my car in front of. With Thomas on his shoulders giggling, followed by Zach and Luke. They all stop to say hello, but I only see him.

The man I want.

The one who makes my insides go crazy with butterflies.

20

Kane

DRIVING OUT TO ZACH and Emily’s place with Xavier, Alesha and Jordan are good to distract me from the thoughts in my head that are going crazy. I’ve had a call from my Sarge this morning to fill me in on what’s happening in the case and what will go down Monday. There is no way I can continue seeing Lilly. I’ll put her in danger, and that’s the last thing I want to do.

It happens quite often. We’ll have one case that we’re struggling to solve, and then one thing will link to another case. Before we know it, we’re building the jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces, and it’s not long before we’re just missing a couple of vital ones that make the whole picture. This case is becoming like that. Not only is there the missing woman, illegal sex clubs and now drug supplies. They usually go hand in hand, drugs and prostitution, which is sad because a lot of the girls get addicted and then need to feed their habit so they become trapped in the prostitution ring.

It's not like I have a problem with the high-class sex clubs that are run professionally. Everything being totally consensual, everyone agreeing in what they want to do while there. Everyone has their own thing in life and as long as no one is getting hurt, they aren’t harming anyone by partaking in their version of fun. It’s not for everyone and the people there are all in that lifestyle together. They may not be legal in all states, but they’re the least of my problems in breaking the law. I do, however, have a huge issue with these sorts of sex clubs that we’re investigating.

From what we’re hearing, there’s more than consensual sex going on there. Women being forced into multiple partners and being tortured. An avenue for drug selling, taking and forced prostitution of girls. There’s also a concern that we may stumble on more than we bargain for with the girls that are disappearing. Human trafficking is unfortunately still happening. It makes me feel sick to the core and totally disgusts me. How someone can treat another human this way is hard to comprehend. I’m not looking forward to this undercover assignment.

“Isn’t that right, Kane?” Xavier’s voice snaps me back to attention, and I realize I’ve missed what they were talking about.

“Sorry, what?” I can’t even guess so no point denying I wasn’t listening.

“One more time for the dummies, I said to Jordan I hope he’s hungry because Sophia will have enough food out here to feed his whole NFL team and still have leftovers. Her food is to die for!”

Alesha mumbles under her breath, “Suck up.”

“Yeah, man, he has it spot on. This woman will have you packed full before you even blink. Then she’ll be trying to send you home with leftovers. Her family are lucky people.”

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