Page 116 of A Little Luck

Fudge is right in the middle of them, curled up at the foot of the bed.

“Brush your teeth before you go to sleep.” Piper holds out her hand. “And hand over the Halloween bags. I’ll put them in the kitchen until tomorrow, then we’ll sort out a reasonable amount to have each day.”

Ryan starts to whine, but he looks up at me and stops. “Okay, Mom.”

I’m not sure what to make of it, but I give him a wink and a thumbs up. If he behaves like a good kid for my benefit, I’m okay with that.

Owen does whatever his friend does, and he hops off the bed, running to the bathroom. “Mama Britt said if I don’t brush my teeth, they’ll turn black and fall out.”

Ryan’s eyes widen, and he looks up at Piper. “Is that true?”

“If Britt says it’s true, it must be. She’s a scientist, so she knows all about rotten and dead things.”

He jumps off the bed and runs to the bathroom, and I nod. “That forensic photographer thing must come in pretty handy with little boys.”

“She sees dead people,” Piper whispers, then calls to them. “Goodnight!”

I take her hand and lead her to the bedroom. It’s not long before we’re brushed and changed and climbing into bed as well.

I curl my body behind hers, burying my face in her neck and kissing her shoulder. “This is how it ought to be.”

She snuggles further down into my arms, turning her cheek so it’s pressed to my bicep. “It only took a little time to get here.”

“You’ve always had me whenever you wanted.”

“Have I?” She tilts her head up to look at me.

I lean down to kiss her lips. “Yes.”

Only one thing is left to do.

CHAPTER26

PIPER

“Idon’t like waking up alone.” Adam is over me in the bed, strong arms on both sides of me.

We’re sweaty and spent, and I can’t help a soft laugh. “If you keep giving me orgasms like that, I’ll never leave the bed.”

“Promise?”

After waking up with a woody at my backside this morning, I couldn’t help reaching around and giving it a little tug, which led to burning hot kisses against my shoulders, down the center of my back, over my ass and then between my legs.

Now he’s covering my shoulders with post-coital love and making me wonder how long I can put off getting ready for work.

“What are you up to today?” I curl my fingers in his long hair, and he smiles, that sexy dimple piercing his cheek.

“I’ll meet with Chuck at your place, then I’ll get the boys to school and let the community center know I’m back for good.”

“Not going back to Moloka’i?” I grin, squeezing him with my legs.

“I’ll go back.” He leans down to kiss the side of my neck. “And I’m taking you and Ryan with me.”

My stomach tightens, and I hum with satisfaction. “Okay…”

“How about you? Any progress on the budget situation?”

“Yes!” I grip his rock-hard biceps. “Jemima had the great idea to let parents purchase personal ads for their kids for Halloween. She passed out fliers at the school, and we raised almost five thousand dollars! It’s enough to cover her salary for almost three months.”

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