“Does that mean you’re playing, Mom?” Finn asked while Grayson and Josie turned to each other with raised eyebrows.
“Of course she is,” Grayson said. “Cass and Adam need a tie-breaker after that swim earlier.”
Adam scoffed. “As if she could beat me at basketball. She’s five-foot nothing.”
“Size doesn’t beat skill,” I sang as my competitive nature kicked into gear.
Grayson hooted. “Then let’s see what she’s got, Adam. Pass her the ball.”
With tapered eyes, Adam bounced the ball my way while everyone else stood closer to the hoop.
I confidently dribbled the ball, smiling as Adam hovered two feet in front. “You ready?”
“Bring it.”
On my first attempt to pass, Adam lunged for the ball.
“Uh-uh,” I sang out before changing direction.
He wasn’t going to let me through, so I had to get clever—perhaps even dirty.
Whirling around, I kept my back to him, knowing if I hitched up his sweatshirt just a few inches and pushed out my ass, he’d be well and truly distracted.
I was wrong. The moment I attempted, he rushed forward and pressed his body up against mine. “That’s a dirty play, Cass,” he whispered, placing his hand lightly on my waist.
I swayed my hips from side to side as I dribbled. “So was that gift.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do.” I grinned, preparing my final play. “And it fits perfectly.”
As his mouth dropped, I stepped around his long legs and charged straight for the hoop, scoring an easy two points.
“Adam!” Finn shook his head disapprovingly while Grayson and Josie cheered.
“Sorry, bud. Your mom…” He ran his fingers through his damp hair. “She took me by surprise.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “I guess five-foot-nothing ain’t that bad.”
“Best out of three,” Adam grumbled. “And no dirty tactics this time.”
I grasped my chest. “Who me?”
“You’re going down.”
I winked. “Bring it.”
For the rest of the afternoon, we played and laughed while Adam took advantage of every opportunity to touch my body. I didn’t want to like it. I didn’t want to crave it. But damn, his wanting hands felt good.
As I wrestled Adam to the ground, trying to steal the ball, a throat cleared from across the room, drawing our attention. Caroline’s and William’s surly faces glared back at us, and I instinctively jumped away from Adam and in front of my son.
“Mom, Dad! You’re back.” Grayson walked toward them with an obligatory smile.
Caroline’s eyes didn’t leave mine. “What’s going on here?”
Adam tossed the ball from hand to hand. “Just a friendly game of basketball, that’s all.”
“And who gave you permission to install that?” Caroline pointed to the hoop on the wall.