Page 125 of Tapped

“You just don’t want to admit it,” I say the moment my hand lands on her ass.

Her jaw drops as the crack of skin echoes in the room.

“You didn’t just do that,” she whispers through a wide smile.

I lean up to kiss her. “If we’re going to make breakfast memorable, baby, we might as well go for it.”

29

HERO

Evie

“Thank you so much.” I hug Tess before I do the same to Hank. It’s all I can do to swallow back my tears. “This week has been everything I needed and more. I’ll never forget it.”

Chase sneezes from where he stands next to us. He woke up this morning with red, itchy eyes.

“Come back anytime,” Tess says and squats to pull Chase into her arms as she looks up at me. “You might be the doctor, but I told you he was going to catch a cold out in that cold rain.”

“Don’t tell the doctor how her son got sick,” Hank says and looks to me. “And don’t come back just anytime. Make it soon and bring my son with you.” Hank turns to Micah and frowns. “No more going longer than a year. I know Uncle Sam gives you a shit ton of vacation. Get on a damn plane and use it.”

Micah puts his arm around his dad’s shoulders for a side man hug. “I promise. It was a good week, Dad.”

“Hell, yes, it was. You might not be a cowboy but you sure can chop some wood.” Hank stuffs one hand in his pocket and places the other on Chase’s head. “You, on the other hand, are on your way to mastering the cowboy ways. Good job this week, little man. You gotta come back so I can put you to work again.”

Chase coughs and proves Tess right. He really is catching a cold. “Good luck working without me, Hank.”

Hank proves he’s not nearly as touchy feely as his wife, because he backs up three steps when Chase wipes his nose across the outside of his sleeve.

“That’s disgusting,” I mutter and push a tissue at him. “Blow your nose, please.”

Chase takes the tissue but doesn’t do as I say. He barely wipes it and stuffs it back into my hand.

This will be a long flight.

Micah puts a hand on the small of my back. “The pilot is waiting.”

“I’m having a harder time leaving than you.”

Tess places a motherly hand on my cheek. Her expression says more than her words. “We’re pretty special that way. Bring Micah back soon.”

I nod and pull in a big breath to keep my tears at bay. “I will. I’ll never forget this week. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.”

Hank puts his arm around his wife’s neck and pulls her away from us. “That says a lot since she flies around on a private jet, Tess. Let ‘em go.”

I’m about to pick up my tote bag and Chase’s backpack but Micah gets to them first. I shuffle my lethargic son to the stairs to board as Tess calls to us, “See if they have any hot chocolate on that fancy plane!”

I turn back and smile one more time.

Chase flops down in one of the big leather seats and rubs his eyes. “I’m cold, Mama.”

I put my hand to his forehead. “Great. You have a fever.”

The pilot says a few words before he disappears into the cockpit while I dig around in my huge tote bag for the children’s pain reliever. Then I go to the mini bar to see if I can find some juice or maybe some oranges for Chase to snack on during takeoff.

When I turn around, I stop in my tracks.

Chase has moved to the seat across from where he was sitting. He’s pushed the armrest up and is snuggled into Micah’s side.

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