“When are you going to marry my mom and become my dad?” Alex asked me.
I sat on the edge of his bed and ran my hand over his hair. “Whenever your mom and I set a date to be married, kiddo, I’ll make sure you’re the first to know.”
He sighed. “I hate waiting,” he pouted.
A soft laugh trickled past my lips. “Me, too, kid, but I have to do this at your mom’s pace,” I reminded him.
He huffed. “Then her pace needs to pick up.”
I snorted. This boy was something else.
I leaned over and pressed my lips to the top of his head. “You want me to read you a book?”
He nodded and grabbed his book off the nightstand, holding it out to me. “Mom has where she stopped bookmarked,” he informed me.
I opened it up to where the bookmark was and began reading. Alex closed his eyes and snuggled more beneath the blankets, already getting ready to fall asleep. I couldn’t blame him, really. I was just as worn out as he probably was. After Tawney had left with Amber to go to Howie’s on the Beach, which was a nicer but still casual restaurant almost as old as Sizzle itself, I took Alex down to the beach to swim and run around. We’d grabbed burgers from The Salty Pelican and then came back here to the house where we both showered and then I put him to bed.
I pressed my lips to his forehead once he was knocked out, placed the bookmark where I stopped, and slipped out of his room, quietly shutting his door behind me. Tawney came in the house at that moment, her pretty face flushed from whatever drink she’d had.
“Hey, baby girl,” I greeted, drawing her into my arms once she was in reaching distance. I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. “Have fun?”
“Lots.”
I kissed her again, the flavor of whatever fruity drink she’d had still on her lips. “Strawberry?”
She giggled and nodded. “Thank you for watching him.”
I shrugged. “We had fun, baby girl.” I lightly tapped her ass. “You should get a shower so we can hit the sheets.”
She slid her hands up my shirt. I moaned low in the back of my throat, my cock hardening in the confines of my jeans. “And do what?” she whispered.
With a low growl, I grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up. She squeaked and wrapped her arms and legs around me as I carried her to the bedroom.
“How quiet can you be?” I asked her in all seriousness.
She shrugged with a coy, sassy smile. “Guess we’ll find out.”
* * *
I heldTawney’s hand in mine as we led Alex toward the Sizzle Beach Marine Science Center. I’d wanted to do something a little more family-oriented today. I’d even called into work, and I’d managed to talk Tawney into letting Emily work an extra day, which Emily was super excited to do.
“I hope he likes this,” Tawney whispered.
I gently squeezed her hand in mine. “I’m sure he will.”
We stepped inside the center which was near the lighthouse. Alex was practically bouncing on his toes as I paid for a walk through the aquarium and also for a guided beach walk so he could see sea turtles, crabs, and jellyfish.
“I’m so excited!” Alex exclaimed as we led him deeper into the aquarium. He barely refrained from pressing his entire face up to the glass as he peered into each exhibit. Tawney kept my hand in hers as we both engaged with Alex, both of us loving how enthusiastic he was.
I’d loved coming here with my parents growing up, and I was glad to see that Alex seemed to love it as much as I did.
The guided beach tour was where Alex got the most excited. He got to see everything that was listed, surprisingly, and he also got to see where the sea turtles laid their eggs. I had never seen Alex so animated since I’d known him.
Alex surprised me by wrapping his arms around my waist once we were back by my Jeep. I crouched down and wrapped him up in a hug, my heart swelling in my chest. “Thank you,” he whispered.
I rubbed his back. “You’re welcome, kiddo.” I leaned back and brushed some of his hair back from his face. I could feel Tawney watching us, but I didn’t take my eyes off this precious little boy. “What do you say to some greasy burgers and then a day on the beach again?”
His eyes widened. “Really?!” He looked at Tawney, and finally, I took my eyes off of him to look at her, too. Tears were glistening in her eyes, but a beautiful smile was tilting her lips. “Can we, Mom?Can we?”