Page 305 of The Grand Duel

I drop my head to the side. “It’s nice underwear, Charles. You need to see it before you make such rash decisions.”

He looks over at me, and I see the idea sparking in his eyes. “You know what would work really well for the both of us?”

My lips twist, and he smiles.

“A quickie. We don’t even have to leave the car. It’s been a long week. It’ll take me minutes. I’ll go inside, run you a bath, and cook us tea—having already satisfied my needs—and then I’ll join you in the tub with a bottle of your favourite, and you can slip into your new underwear after. I’ll take all night long with you, baby.”

I chuckle, the promise in his words making a fire ignite beneath my skin. “You’ve really thought about that, haven’t you.”

“All week long.”

I look down at my phone when it starts ringing in my lap. “It’s Ellis.”

Charlie rolls his eyes and looks toward the road.

“Hey, Ellis, you okay?” I ask, answering the phone.

“Auntie Lissie?”

“Yes, Ellis?”

“Dad won’t let me have ice cream because I didn’t finish my tea. Can you come and get me?”

I smile, looking up at Charles. “Why haven’t you finished your tea?”

“I ate most of it. It’s stew, and I hate stew. The meat is chewy.” He sighs his dramatic six-year-old sigh and goes quiet.

Charles shakes his head at me.

“Put Dad on the phone and go get some pj’s packed.”

“Yes!”

“Lis?” Charlie says in disbelief.

I pull the phone away and give Charlie a look. “One more night won’t hurt.”

“I can promise you it will hurt me very much.”

“We can’t say no to them!”

“Them? Sammy, too?”

There’s rustling on the phone, and then, “Hello?”

I tame my smile and focus on Mason.

“Hey, it’s Lissie. Am I okay to steal the kids away for the night?”

“Did that little bugger ring you?”

I bite my lip. “No, I was supposed to ask in the week, but it’s been mental at home. Ave, too, if Scar doesn’t mind.”

“Yeah,” he sighs. “If you want them, of course you can. I can drop them over?”

“Could you? We’ll head to Elliot and Lucy’s to get the twins now and then be back at the cottage. We shouldn’t be long.”

“Alright, see you in a bit.”

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