"No, not yet."
"Okay if we take them to the pool for a picnic and some swimming?"
Savannah's eyes brightened. "That would be great. But they have something to ask you first."
At her words, the floodgates opened and both boys started talking again, their words falling over each other as they pointed back into the room. The sofa had been deconstructed and rebuilt into a massive pillow fort. The boys must have scrounged up every spare blanket in Heartstone.
Dutifully, Scarlett and I followed the boys closer for a tour, marveling over the elaborate floorplan including a play area, classroom—because August was helping Nicky with his letters—and the bedroom they'd set up with two neatly folded blankets and the pillows from Nicky's bed. It was a marvel of construction, held up in places by masking tape, a yardstick, and what looked like the back of one of Savannah's chairs.
"Can we, can we, can we?" they chanted, eyes wide with expectation.
Had there been a question in there somewhere? A look at Scarlett told me there had, and she wasn't very happy about it. "I don't, um, I—"
Savannah was biting back a grin, though when she looked at Scarlett there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes. To me, she explained, "The boys are dying to have a sleepover in the fort. They promise they won't stay up all night, right guys?"
Both boys turned innocent eyes to Scarlett. "We swear," August said, slapping a hand over his heart. "Because Miss Savannah said she has to get up early, and if we keep her awake, she'll make sure there aren't any pancakes for breakfast for at least a week."
"A horrible punishment," I murmured, trying not to grin at Scarlett as she debated what to do. The problem wasn't letting August have a sleepover with Nicky. The problem was, August's sleepover meant she'd be alone with me. All night. It took every ounce of my self-control not to laugh out loud in sheer relief.
"It's okay with you?" Scarlett asked Savannah weakly, her eyes begging Savannah to say, ‘No’ and let Scarlett off the hook.
With a sympathetic smile, Savannah dashed her hopes. "It's fine with me. But if they don't go to sleep on time, this will be the last sleepover they ever have," she finished ominously. Both boys launched into another round of promises.
"Then I guess it's okay," Scarlett agreed. Narrowing her eyes at the grin I couldn't quite hold back, she reached out a hand to August.
"Why don't we make some sandwiches to take out to the pool?" I looked to Savannah, trying not to grin wider at her amusement. "We'll take the kids for the afternoon to give you a break."
Scarlett tossed her hair over her shoulder with a scowl. "You get the sandwiches, I'll get the boys dressed for the pool." Without another word, she dismissed me. For now.
I could let Scarlett have the last word. I'd be getting mine later. It looked like 'eventually' was finally here.
Chapter Twenty-Two
SCARLETT
I managed to avoid thinking about the night to come while we were entertaining the boys. It was not easy. Especially considering we spent most of the afternoon in the pool and it was nearly impossible to keep my eyes off Tenn's perfect torso, his muscles flexing as he played the boy's favorite game—tossing them in the air to land with a splash. Droplets of water beaded on his tanned skin, funneling into the chiseled grooves of his abs… Oh, shoot me now.
Why was I even pretending not to look at him? He was gorgeous. I wanted to lick every inch—
No. Absolutely not. I'd already decided no about a thousand times. Tenn was not on the menu. Had I forgotten about Thatcher? What was wrong with me? I couldn't afford to get distracted. Not now. Not when I hadn't heard from Thatcher in days. Ice prickled my skin as that thought really sunk in.
I hadn't heard from Thatcher since we'd left for Sawyers Bend. Unless he'd called or texted and Hawk was erasing the messages. It was possible, but I couldn't imagine why he'd bother. No one knew who Thatcher was or why I was here. Hell, I barely knew why I was here.
How could I be thinking about sleeping with some guy I'd just met when Thatcher was missing?
Another glance at Tenn and the hot spike of lust gave me part of the answer. It had been a long time. A very long time. And Tenn was close to irresistible.
I was going to have to resist him. The last thing I needed was another distraction. Or a complication. Tenn was all of that and more. So much more.
I could do this. I had the willpower. I'd made it through most of my adult life by gritting my teeth and getting shit done. I could do the same here. Tenn was just a man. Nothing special.