Page 36 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
His mouth tipped up to the right in a deliciously sexy smirk. He practically smoldered male sexuality now that he’d dropped some of his guard. She was going to have to fan herself when he wasn’t looking to keep from inhaling all of his potent pheromones.
“It wasn’t.” His eyes slid down her in a longer appraising fashion this time. “Reagan was right. That is a nice dress.”
She curtsied, thinking about Shakespeare. God, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tease him a little. “Thank you, kind sir.”
He shot her a narrow-eyed look before giving a reluctant laugh. “Don’t you start or that white flag won’t last. Besides, why does that Shakespeare stuff appeal to women anyway? I’d think you would hate it. Didn’t most of the gushy stories end with the lovers dying or something? That’s hardly what I’d call romantic.”
Okay, her mouth was twitching now. Flirting with him was as easy as gliding over the ocean’s waves. “What about eternal love between two people? Love strong enough to die over?”
“Maybe it’s the cop in me, but there’s nothing romantic about two people dying.” He sighed heavily, his mouth working. “Excuse me. I shouldn’t have mentioned my work. I’m on…vacation. It’s better if I don’t…for the girls.”
Nice cover, she admired, but his anger at the slip was obvious. “No worries. I totally understand not wanting to talk about work on vacation. But I’ll only say I really admire what you do. We all need to know there’s someone out there doing a job that keeps us all safe at night.”
She meant it, but he only looked uncomfortable before saying, “So whatdidyou bring the girls to drink?”
The towel had absorbed the shaker’s condensation when she picked it up. “Grab a glass and see. Then we’ll put it in the fridge because the ice is melting.”
“Evidently, crowns trump girly drinks.” He grabbed a juice glass and thrust it out. “Fine, I’ll try it. Consider me that poison taster guy.”
She shook the shaker and poured him a finger. “Poison taster? Someone has imagination.”
He eyed the drink suspiciously. “This had better not be a Cosmo.”
“I work with kids.” She started chuckling. “Would I give a child an alcoholic beverage?”
Another nonanswer. He lifted the glass and sniffed, his face scrunching up before he took a dainty sip. “Coconut? What is this stuff?”
“That’s coconut water with ice cubes. It’s very hydrating and good for you, especially upset tummies.” She poked him in his hard abs when he made another face.
“Last I looked, coconuts were white on the inside.” He set the glass aside with a frown. “You have access to some pink coconuts or something?”
Oh, Robbie O’Connor, I really like you.
“How did you know? They’re back at my house with my crown.”
He studied her, his gaze roving over her features. She felt like he was assessing her, practically asking for permission to see her soul. She almost gave it to him. On some level, she knew he would take care of what he learned. From the very beginning, when he’d first shown up at the gym to pick up the girls, she’d thought he was a man to trust. No wonder Tara had given her two little girls to him when she was in trouble.
“Look!” Cassidy ran back into the kitchen, her little feet stomping from her speed. “I’ve got a crown.”
Robbie grabbed her before she ran into his leg. Scooping her up, he held her out and examined her. Tim’s impromptu crown was more like a simple diadem, but from Cassidy’s beaming grin, the little girl thought she’d won the ultimate prize.
“See!” She touched it lightly, grinning as drool came out of her mouth. “I’m pretty.”
“You are.” Robbie used the edge of his T-shirt to wipe her mouth. “Princess Drool Baby. Go! Find your kingdom.”
Okay, that had Lily practically melting against the counter.
He set Cassidy down gently, and she touched her crown with careful little fingers. “Gonna show Miss Rosie.”
They watched as she toddled out again. “Who’s Miss Rosie?” she asked.
“That’s what she’s named her teddy bear.” He walked to the doorway as if to check her progress. “Tim! Cassidy is coming your way.”
“I hear you, fine sir!” his brother shouted back. “Miss Pixie and I are still working on her crown.”
“Oh, for the love of God…” Robbie gave a short smile. “I know we owe you dinner, but if it’s too much of a zoo over here, I can drop it by when it’s cooked. We’re not having anything fancy. Only hamburgers and hot dogs with bag salad and some veggie sticks for the kids. Okay, and some chips. Because you have to have something to crunch on.”
He scratched his ear then, suddenly looking like a fish out of water. Usually he seemed so capable, but taking care of two little girls wasn’t his usual, as she knew. Clearly not when it involved having a woman he found attractive over for dinner.
