Page 71 of Poppy Kisses
What was it about her issuing challenges? She made me want to play. I pretended to drop her.
She cried out and clung to me, laughing. “You’re so mean.”
I turned toward the shore. Auggie was jogging back with the frisbee in his hands, a big smile on his face.
“What do you think, bud?” I lifted her up and down, more as an excuse for her to cling to me tighter. “Should I dunk her?”
“Tell him no, Auggie.” Her body shook with her laughter. “Tell him he’d be really mean if he dunked me.”
“Tell her that she deserves it,” I said.
He grinned and danced back and forth, enjoying the show but torn on how to answer.
“She’s naughty.” I tilted my head toward her.
“You like when I’m naughty,” she said only loud enough for me to hear.
“Don’t fucking stop,” I growled back at her.
Auggie giggled. “Don’t do it, Dad.”
“Maybe you need a dunk,” she joked. She still had her hands clasped around my neck.
I waded for the shore. “If I keep holding you, I will.”
I set her down so her feet were out of the water.
She turned to me and ran her lower lip between her teeth. “You’re always getting me wet, Hollis.”
The lust could’ve choked me. We were out in the open, and my son was watching. “I can dry you off again. With my tongue.”
A blush tinged her cheeks. I was rewarded with a sultry smile before she turned away. “My turn to catch the frisbee.”
She ran off. I stayed where I was, both to watch her ass and because my son’s skill with a frisbee would land me in the bay again.
ChapterEighteen
Poppy
“How’s this?” I concentrated on making an airplane out of the paper napkin holder at the restaurant.
The din of the restaurant surrounded us, but my world was focused on the booth holding me, Jensen, and Auggie. Sun kissed our skin, and mine felt tight and like I needed to blast the dust off my body. Next time, we’d remember the sunscreen, and maybe I’d shower before we went out to eat.
“Hmm.” Jensen’s deep rumble came across the table and right into my belly. “I think mine’s going to fly farther than yours?”
“Oh, you’re on.” I held my tiny plane in the air. “This is going to fly so good the US Army is going to call and ask what my secret is.”
He tipped his head back, and his Adam’s apple jumped up and down with his laughter. “Sure, four-ten. You’ll be on speed dial.”
“What about this?” Auggie brandished his attempt and damn. It was really good.
“I don’t know if I want to compete against you.” I set my plane down. “The general will be phoning you.”
The way he beamed melted my heart. He put his plane by mine after marking them with the crayons left at the table. Auggie didn’t color, but he drew ten different tic-tac-toe boards around the unadorned picture. He scooted the red crayon toward me.
I grinned. We started to play.
“I can’t wait for soccer,” he said, drawing a line through his win.
