Page 6 of Rush

Nora laughed, a deep throaty sound that he liked. A little too much. It was sexy as hell. And Shit, he was doing it again. He forced his mind off inappropriate thoughts—though it wasdamn hard now that she was standing and he could clearly see her body, emphasized by her tight jeans and form-fitting tee. Though her stomach was flat, she wasn’t a stick. She had tits and hips and ass. Plenty to hold onto, just the way he liked it.

Forcing his thoughts out of the bedroom, he stood from his crouch, taking Sophie with to place on his hip, and cleared his throat. “Hearing her giggle made my day. Thanks for playing with her.”

“It was my pleasure.” Nora held her hand up for Sophie to high-five. “We had a fun time. Didn’t we?”

Sophie vigorously slapped Nora’s palm and Linc liked the way Nora included her in the conversation.

He turned back to Oz, who’d stepped aside so he wasn’t blocking the doorway. “I hate to ask, but I’ve got a signing on Friday. If I can’t get someone lined up before then, do you think you can watch Sophie again?”

“Friday?” Oz reached into his back pocket, pulling out his phone, taking a minute to read it. “I have a meeting with the S&C coach at ten and Fridays are usually slammed at the pub so Emerson’s no help,” he looked up from the screen, “but I can probably reschedule.”

“I can watch her,” Nora volunteered.

Surprised by the offer, Linc gave her an out. “Are you sure?”

She waved a carefree hand. “Of course. With everyone gone, I’d just be hanging out not doing much anyway.”

“Okay, then yeah, that would be great.”

“It’s all settled.” She smiled at Sophie. “I’ll see you in a couple of days and we’ll have a super fun time.”

Linc believed in making one’s own fate. Good fortune didn’t just happen—it was something a person had to work for. But looking at Sophie and seeing her excitement, he was finding it hard not to think of Nora as anything but a godsend.

Chapter Three

“Which do you think, pink or purple sprinkles?” Nora gave the small bottles a little shake, making their contents rattle. Sophie didn’t even hesitate, pointing to the pink ones, and Nora didn’t try to hide her smile. “How did I know that would be your choice?” She raised a brow, giving Sophie’s pink overalls a pointed look.

Nora uncapped the lid and held out the bottle. “Sprinkle a bit on each cookie then they’ll be ready to go in the oven.”

Standing on a stepstool that Nora had found in the bathroom, Sophie wore a very serious expression with her little nose scrunched and the tip of her tongue sticking out between her lips as she concentrated on adding just the right amount of sprinkles to each cookie until the last bunny was coated.

Nora recapped the bottle and picked up the baking sheet, sticking it in the oven. “Now we do the cookie dance while they’re baking.”

Pulling up the music app on her phone, she scrolled to an upbeat tune and hit play. “Come on. The cookies won’t bake unless we both dance,” Nora said, trying to encourage Sophie to join in.

Soon the little girl was following her lead, moving to the beat.

“Now twirl!” Nora pushed off with her foot. Her execution was a tad sloppy as her sock-clad foot threw her a little off balance, though the slippery fabric on the slick tile floor did give her a few extra rotations, making her spin look far more impressive than it actually was.

“Now wiggle your hips and move your arms.”

Nora hid a grin as she watched Sophie mimic her dance moves, her little hips moving from side to side while she shuffled her feet to the beat of the song until it ended and Nora opened the oven.

The cookies were golden brown around the edges. “I think they’re done.” Using a tea towel, she pulled out the cookie sheet. “These need to cool before we can eat them, but in the meantime, we’ll put in the next batch.” After Sophie applied more sprinkles, Nora picked up the second tray of cookies and stuck them in the oven.

“Ready to dance again?” Nora clicked the play button and they both started moving.

They were mid-song when a raised voice shouted over the music. “Something smells good.”

Like when playing a game of freeze dance, Nora’s whole body instantly stiffened, as her gaze flew to Linc who lounged against the kitchen island. How long had he been standing there? Between watching Sophie and the volume of the music, she hadn't seen nor heard him come in. Heat crept up her neck and filled her cheeks. Nora prayed the man would write off theevidence of her embarrassmentto exertion or the heat coming off the oven, but the amused quirk of his lips said otherwise. Propped against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest, Linc looked far too entertained for her liking.

Two seconds that felt like two years passed before her body became unglued. Cheeks still on fire, Nora put on a show of nonchalance as she breezed to the counter tapping the pause buttonon the song. “We're making sugar cookies,” she said as thoughtheevidence of their baking wasn't strewn all over the kitchen. Still, she gave herself points because her voice sounded cool and collected though she was anything but. To her greatrelief, Sophie stole his attention by tugging on his pant leg. He willingly followed her to the oven where she waved at it with her hands.

“Are they cooking in there?” he asked, squatting to peer through the glass.

She pointed to the phone sitting on the counter then back again to the oven.

Linc shook his head, a confused expression on his face. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to tell me.”

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