Page 47 of Caleb

Liam giggled, his curls hanging in his eyes as he wound his arm back and threw the ball with all his might. It wobbled midair, nowhere near the target, but Caleb lunged to catch it anyway, letting out a dramatic, “Got it!”

Liam burst into laughter, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re supposed to miss!”

Caleb chuckled, tossing the ball lightly back to him. “Not when I’m this good. Try again, slugger.”

“What’s a slugger?” Liam asked, his small brow furrowed in curiosity.

“An outstanding baseball player,” Caleb replied with a grin. “One who hits the ball so hard, it goes flying.”

Liam’s face lit up. “I want to be a slugger!”

“You will be,” Caleb assured him, knowing Liam would learn more about the game as he got older, especially when he started school.

From the porch, Taylor leaned against the railing, her arms crossed, watching them. The sunlight caught the faint sheen in her hair, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. Her expression was tender and full of warmth, something Caleb couldn’t quite name but wanted to keep looking at forever.

She had that effect on him—always had.

They hadn’t slept together since that night at the hotel, and it was all he could think about. The memory of her in his arms, her lips against his, the way she’d melted into him haunted him, teased him, kept him awake at night.

He wanted her. Wanted to pull her into his arms right now, layer his mouth over hers, and show her just how much he needed her. The thought of it—her soft skin under his hands, her breath mingling with his in the golden light of the afternoon—made him hard.

But then he’d glance at Liam, all bright eyes and boundless energy, and the reality of the moment would pull him back.

Soon, he thought, clinging to the hope like a lifeline. Hopefully, very soon.

Because it wasn’t just about wanting Taylor physically—though the intensity of that want was undeniable. It was about needing her, needing them together as a family.

As Liam threw the ball again, Caleb caught her gaze, and the moment stretched between them. She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening as if she knew exactly what he was thinking. Without a word, she stepped down from the porch and walked toward him.

“Liam,” she said gently, “how about you take a water break? I think there’s lemonade in the fridge.”

Liam’s face lit up, and he dropped the ball, running toward the house without hesitation. “Lemonade!” he shouted as he disappeared inside.

Taylor stopped a few feet away from Caleb, her hands on her hips, her gaze teasing. “So, you’re that good, huh?”

“I might’ve exaggerated,” Caleb admitted, grinning.

She laughed softly, stepping closer. The sound had the world narrowing to just her. Before he could second-guess himself, he reached for her hand, tugging her gently toward him.

“You’re dangerous, you know that?” he murmured, his voice low.

Taylor raised an eyebrow, her lips curving. “Dangerous, how?”

“You make me forget what I was doing,” Caleb said, his tone teasing, but his gaze was serious, locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

His body coiled tightly with need, every muscle tensing as he fought the overwhelming urge to close the space between them. He could almost feel the memory of her satin skin under his hands, the way she fit against him, her warmth and softness curling around him like she belonged there.

It was all he could think about—how much he missed being with her, how much he craved that connection again. The memory of their time together, the way she had unraveled in his arms, consumed him, making it harder and harder to resist.

She hesitated for a moment as if debating whether to give in, then tilted her face toward his. Caleb didn’t waste a second. He leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a slow, unhurried kiss filled with promises he wasn’t ready to speak of yet but felt deep inside his heart.

Taylor’s hands slid up to his shoulders, her fingers brushing against the collar of his shirt. He pulled her closer, the warmth of her body anchoring him in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

A small voice interrupted them, full of indignation.

“Stop kissing my mommy!”

Caleb and Taylor broke apart, both turning to see Liam standing in the doorway, his little arms crossed and his face scrunched in disapproval.

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