Page 25 of Cross My Heart
I wink at her and she gasps, turning bright red. I realize I have just crossed over so many lines that I positively shouldn’t have. I can’t have her quitting before I even get to London. Her body language tells me she is enjoying this banter with me, though. She started it, after all.
I shrug my shoulders and lean into her.Lanie tilts her head and her lips fall open. She thinks I’m going to kiss her and damn if my cock isn’t screaming at me to do just that, but not yet. I’ve got too much riding on this to make that move yet. Instead, I reach down and pat Harper's sleeping head. She frowns and I can’t help but laugh.
“Alright,” I say to her, trying not to laugh. “Please explain to me how and why you have two kids strapped to your body.”
I scan her from head to toe painstakingly slowly, and I see her shudder. Good. I like knowing she reacts to me in kind. When I finally make her mine, it is going to be fucking amazing watching her body respond to me. I almost can’t believe I’m not scolding myself, but somehow, making her mine makes my chest feel tight. Somewhere, my inner voice is reminding me I haven’t known her a week,slow the fuck down.Right now, I just don’t have it in me to care.
“Well,” she starts, and I wonder if she can even control the sass that shines from her. “I woke up because I heard Tate singing to the girls. He was on the floor with them looking at books and singing.” I stare at her, stunned. I don’t think I have ever heard Tate sing, and certainly not in the last year.“Anyway,” she continues, “I walked in and started talking to him, well, maybe at him since he didn’t reply much, but I found out he was letting you sleep because he thought you were tired.” She shrugs, “I asked if I could help.”
She says that like it explains everything.
“I’ve never heard him sing. I’m sorry I missed it.” I say, sincerely feeling sad.
“He is a great big brother. He loves these girls so much,” Lanie says as if lost in thought.
I smile because, really, there’s nothing to say to that. The one bright spot in his pain has been loving on his sisters. “That doesn’t explain why you’re all harnessed in, carrying two babies.”
She blushes and my balls tighten.
“You know a lot about harnesses?” She asks, looking up at me through her thick eyelashes.
I let a small groan escape my lips and close my eyes briefly.This is going to be a hell of a year.
She seems to sense my distress and laughs. “I tried putting the girls in their high chairs so we could cook, but they were not having it. I asked Tate if you had any baby carriers, and he showed me your closet that could rival any baby registry. I found these and tada.”
I smile at her sheepishly, “I bought all that stuff and couldn’t figure out how to use half of it. I guess I never had the time to return anything. It’s just been sitting there, I’m glad something is finally getting used. Let’s get you out of them so you can get cleaned up. I'm an expert at harnesses now, by the way,” she sucks in a breath, and it’s my turn to laugh.
I reach in to unbuckle Harper from her front, and my hand accidentally brushes the underside of her breast.
“Sorry.” It comes out in a hoarse whisper.
I quickly move my hand and stare into her blue eyes. Her face is bright red and she has her bottom lip between her teeth. I unhook the other side of the baby carrier, holding Harper in my left arm. I put my thumb on Lanie’s chin, effectively releasing her lip from her teeth.
“Don’t do that,” I tell her. “It does things to me.”
I turn away but not before I see the heat in her eyes and lay Harper down on her playmat. Once she is settled, I head back to Lanie and turn her around.
“I’m going to unhook Sara now and lay her down next to Harper. Then I canhelp you out of these things.”
After laying the girls on their playmat, I turn around to find Lanie is still standing in the middle of the room.I walk back to her and start undoing the hooks and buttons that are still holding the baby carries to her front and back.
“What do you mean it does things to you?” She asks, trying to meet my eyes, her voice is a breathy whisper.
As much as I would love to show her just what it does to me, I know I have to rein this— whatever this is—in.At least until I get back from London.
Instead of answering, I let my hands graze down her arms while removing the carrier from her back and am fucking delighted when goosebumps rise all over her soft body. She is so responsive I almost break.
Leaning down, my mouth is just inches from her ear, I whisper, “Go get dressed, we have to take Tate to school shortly. I’ll need to introduce you to everyone.”
She shivers and takes off, not looking back once.
Lanie
Chapter 11
Iwalk to my room as quickly as I can on shaky legs.What the hell happened today? One minute I’m making pancakes with Tate, and the next, I’m flirting with Dex. I haven’t even been able to speak to a man in the last 18 months.Now I’m okay aggressively flirting with one? At least, I think it was flirting. It has been a long time. Too long, in fact.
After taking a shower, I smirk as I remember his heated gaze when I mentioned he had a hard morning. I can’t help it; I break out into a full belly laugh.
