Warmth spreads through me. He bought last Sunday’s paper and cut my article out to keep. My parents still haven’t acknowledged it. “Yeah, hopefully. It’ll depend if they like what I write, I guess.”
We round the corner into the kitchen and dining area. Sean’s face lights up when he sees me, and he runs my way. He barrels into me, and I pull him up for a hug. “You came!” he exclaims.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss
a night with you guys.”
His little arms tighten around my neck, and he kisses me. “Daddy’s making us pizza. And we made juice.”
I let him down. “You made it?”
He nods excitedly as he points to the juicer sitting on the counter. “Yes. With the juicer.” He turns to look up at Luke. “Can we have some now, Daddy?”
Luke shakes his head. “No, we’ll have it with dinner. Why don’t you show Callie the drawing you did today?”
He runs off to find the drawing, and I grin at Luke. “He’s excited tonight.”
“He’s been counting down the hours until he got to see you.” He pauses for a moment. “Seems to be something the Hardy men share.”
“I think they also share their charm. The way they know just what to say to mesmerise a girl is killer.”
“Callie, Callie!” Sean races back into the kitchen with his drawing, thrusting the piece of paper at me.
He’s drawn two people who appear to be a small child and a woman. I’m not sure, but I think the child is sitting on a swing. I crouch down and point at the child. “Is this you?”
He nods. “Yes, and that’s you.” He points at the woman. “You’re pushing me on the swing at the park. See the trees?”
I can see them now, but I had no clue what they were until he told me. “I can.” I face him. “I love this drawing, Sean.”
His smile reaches from one side of his face to the other. “It’s for you. You should put it on your fridge like Daddy does.” He gestures at their fridge. Luke has a few photos of Sean with him and his family stuck to it, along with two drawings.
I wrap Sean in a hug. “Thank you, I definitely will put it on my fridge.” A feeling I’ve never experienced is snaking its way through my body. It’s like happiness but magnified to a degree that I actually feel like I might burst. My chest feels crowded as if I can’t possibly fit all my emotions in there.
When I stand, Luke gives me a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, why?” I reply a little hesitantly. I’m more than okay, but at the same time, I’m not sure why.
“You looked a little blank just then. Is this too much, too soon?”
“Absolutely not. I just need a moment to catch up to my emotions.” God, that sounds weird. He’ll think I’m some crazy woman soon.
Sean interrupts. “How do you catch your emotions?”
I laugh as I glance down at him. “I really don’t know, buddy, but when I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”
“Sean, can you please go and wash your hands for dinner?” Luke asks.
When we’re alone, I move close to where he stands. “I promise I’m not as loony as I sound. I was just a little overwhelmed with emotion when Sean gave me that drawing. I’ve never had much to do with kids, and I have to say they have this way of sucker-punching you with affection.”
He reaches up to run his finger down the side of my face and into my hair. “I’ll take your loony.” His mouth moves to my ear and he whisper-growls, “Especially if this no-clothes deal goes ahead.”
“You only want me for my body,” I say as he shifts away from me to open the oven.
He smirks. “Like you wouldn’t believe, baby.”
I smack his ass playfully. “You could at least pretend to be interested in my mind.”
As he places the pizza on the counter, Sean comes back, and I bite my tongue on further sexy banter.