Page 27 of Enticing

She’s got no clue I’m now thinking about all the places on her body I’d like to run my teeth over.

Soft places.

Hidden places.

Fuck me and this train of thought.

Pulling my thoughts back to the land of little kids, I give all my attention back to Lennox. “Hey, baby girl. It’s been a while.” I blow a raspberry against her belly until she’s giggling and happy in my arms, tucked against my chest. Her small hand wraps around the string of my hoodie and tugs as I laugh. “You know...” I look back at her mother. “It doesn’t have to be a taking turns kind of thing, Adelaide. Let me do something for you. Let me order dinner and bring it over after practice.”

“Why?” she whispers, and my fucking heart tightens.

One word filled with so much hurt and distrust.

“Because I’m a nice guy, Addie. And I want to bring you dinner. I want to take you out on a date, but I know you’re not ready for that, so this is the next best thing. We could still do dinner and a movie. Just at your house instead of downtown.”

“I don’t believe in nice guys, Leo.”

Lennox slaps her small hand over my mouth, and I blow another raspberry against her palm before answering her mother. “Guess I’m going to have to change your mind.”

LEO

“Look, best part of takeout.” I stand from the kitchen table, grab the cardboard boxes from West End, and look around Addie’s kitchen for a trash can I can’t find as she laughs softly. Everything about her is soft and quiet when she lets her guard down, like now. A stark contrast to the hard, sharp walls she normally has up. “Woman...” I tease. “ Where the heck have you ladies hidden your trash can?”

“Gran had the kitchen redone last year.” Izzy hops off her chair and runs over to one of the pale blue cabinets next to the kitchen sink and pulls it open, showcasing a trash can and recycling bin. “What’s the best part, Leo?”

“Well...” I dunk the boxes like I play basketball instead of hockey and wipe the counter down with a damp washcloth. “I was going to say easy cleanup, but apparently, the James girls like to be sneaky.”

Izzy giggles, and I steal a glance at Addie, whose smile is small, but it’s there. And that’s my win for the night.

“We’re not sneaky, Leo. Mommy says it’s icky to leave the trash out for everyone to see.”

“Is that so?” I ask as I swing her up in my arms and tickle her, just so I can hear that laugh again.

“Yes,” she yells through peals of laughter, and man, it’s a great sound.

“Okay, Izz. Time to get cleaned up. Bath or shower tonight?” Addie asks, and I stand Izzy back on her feet.

Short stack sighs and rolls her eyes like a little teenager.

She reminds me of a mini version of my sister Everly.

All sass.

Damn, I like this kid.

“Do I have to? I’m not dirty,” she argues with her mother, then looks at me. “Tell her, Leo.”

Oh, hell no.

Addie’s eyes swing to mine, not quite pissed but not thrilled.

“Listen, short stack, if there’s one thing I know, it’s not to argue with your mom. If she says bath or shower tonight, then tonight it is.” I peek back at Addie, and she’s biting down on her full bottom lip, a look of approval in her warm doe eyes.

“Run upstairs, Izz, and I’ll meet you there in a minute.”

Izzy grumbles and stomps off but doesn’t argue again as she marches out of the kitchen. I wait for her to be out of earshot before I even think about opening my mouth. “How was that answer?”

The gorgeous woman in front of me blows my mind as she laughs.

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