Page 255 of Steamy Ever After

“Rinse, sweetheart.”

Peyton closed her eyes as the water cascaded over her.

When she turned and picked up the soap, he caught her wrist. “Breakfast,” he growled.

“But—”

“No, Peyton. Breakfast.”

She pouted, rubbed her body against his, and got out of the shower.

“You’ll pay for that, darlin’.” He followed, swatting her bottom as she ran into the bedroom.

“Breakfast, Brodie.” Peyton stuck her tongue out at him.

He laughed, marveling at how, in such a short time, she had him wrapped around her finger and his heart beating out of his chest.

Peyton tossed him her keys and told him to pick where they went. On the way, her phone vibrated in the bag resting near her feet. She pulled it out and reached over to turn down the music wafting from her car’s sound system. Brodie saw Jamison’s name flash on the screen.

“Hi, sweetie. Good morning,” she answered.

“Hey, Mom,” he heard her son say.

“How was your night with Grandma and Grandpa?”

“Good. Abuela Lucia stayed and watched movies with us until it was so late that Grandpa said he didn’t feel comfortable letting her drive home, so he took her. Would it be okay if Finn and I stay here again tonight? Grandpa said he’d take us to the stables and we could ride in the morning.”

“Of course, sweetie, but I’ll talk to you again later, okay?”

“Yeah, bye. Love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, Jamison.”

She disconnected her call and looked over at Brodie. Her smile took his breath away.

“How are they?” he asked, even though he’d been able to hear everything Jamison said.

“They’re good. They love their time with my parents, and even though I miss them like crazy, I’m happy they get to be with them as much as they do.”

“Did Jamison say something about riding?”

“My dad keeps horses at Los Caballeros. He and my mom love to throw a leg over. They take the boys along every chance they get.”

He smiled. “We have stables.”

“I know you do.” She smiled too.

“Do you ride, Peyton?”

“Please, Brodie. Ride? I was born on the back of a horse.”

He reached over and stroked her cheek with his finger. “Beautiful and badass.”

“Huh?” She laughed.

“Every time I look at you, that’s what comes to mind. You’re breathtakingly beautiful and so badass that I wonder if I’ll be able to keep up with you.”

He stopped the car in front of the Olallieberry Diner, climbed out, and came around to open her door. He loved that she waited for him, loved that she let him do that for her.

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