Page 37 of 7+Us Makes Nine

I rose my hand to brush away some grass from his face.

“Of course we can,” I said. “You wanna be on my back this time?”

“Yeah!” he shouted. “I’m on Miss Cathy this time!”

“Then my time again?” Ivan asked.

“And me?” Michaela asked.

“I promise you’ll all get rides,” I said as I got up.

“No one wants to ride on my back?” Jace asked.

“I will,” Michaela said as she lifted her arms to her father.

“I can always count on my princess to take my side,” he said as he kissed her cheek.

“Come on,” Dmitri said. “Let’s go!”

And we all took off running to the other side so we could each have another turn on the tarp-turned-slip-’n-slide.

Thirteen

Catherine

“Dinner?” Michaela asked.

“It’ll be done soon, sweetheart,” I said.

“What’s for dinner?” Ivan asked.

“Pot roast with lots of veggies, a huge salad for me, and mashed garlic-butter potatoes.”

“What’s for dinner, Miss Cathy!?” Dmitri asked.

“Potatoes that are smushed and butt roast,” Ivan said.

“Butt roast?” Jace asked. “That’s sounds yummy. Where do I sign up?”

“Daddy!” Michaela exclaimed.

I smiled as I pulled the pot roast out of the oven. The mashed potatoes were ready and the boys were eager to help set the table. That was their one chore during the day once they got home from school. They had to help me set the table. Then Michaela helped me clean up the dishes and put them away. I’d fill the sink up with warm soapy water and she’d have a blast tossing the dishes in and watching the suds spray everywhere.

“When did you get in?” I asked. “I didn’t hear the door open.”

I felt a hand grace my ass and I shot up really quickly.

“Jace,” I said with a whisper.

“Don’t worry. The kids are walking down the hallway now,” he said.

“Gotta wash our hands!” Ivan exclaimed.

“Wash, wash, wash ‘em good,” Dmitri said.

“Hot,” Michaela said. “Cold water, pwease.”

I placed the roast on the stove as a pair of lips came down onto my neck. My eyes fluttered closed as my hand reached back, threading through Jace’s soft hair. His nose nuzzled against my ear and sent shivers down my spine. I felt his arms quickly wrap around me and pull me close to his body. His heat was undeniable, and I found myself wanting dinner to be over already.

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