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Snorting, I slowly circled around her. “You saying that with that sweet little look on your face makes me think I can’t trust you.”
“I’m just a helpless pregnant woman, Ry. What could I ever do?”
I froze when she inched closer. Her shirt was stuck to her chest and I could see her nipples pebbled and calling to me. It clung to her soft belly and even though she wasn’t showing yet, knowing she was carrying my baby was hot enough to make me want to grab her and finally take her again. While I was distracted, she tossed the balloon at my chest and giggled wildly when it burst, soaking my entire front. Too bad the cold water did nothing to calm the burning need I felt.
“Come here.”
She shook her head and sank her teeth into her bottom lip.
I crooked my finger at her and licked my lips. “Angel. Come here.”
She slowly made her way over to me, until our toes were touching and I could feel her nipples drag along my chest with each ragged breath she took. “The kids…”
Gripping her waist in both hands, I pulled her the rest of the way into me and we both moaned at the way our bodies connected through two layers of wet clothing. With her wet hair hanging all around her face and her blue eyes brighter than ever I wanted to kiss her more than I wanted my next breath.
“Ryder?” She searched my eyes and glanced down at my mouth. “I missed you.”
That was the nail in my control’s coffin. I lowered my mouth to hers and took her mouth as desperately as I felt. It was a messy connection, full of our teeth bumping and tongues flicking over lips and everything else as we struggled to contain everything in that one kiss. She gripped my shirt in her fists and pressed herself into me harder.
A throat clearing had her pulling away and wiping her mouth as she looked down at her feet for a moment. It looked like she was gathering herself because when she looked up, she forced a calm smile at a woman I didn’t recognize.
“Yes! Hi! How can I help you?” Fiona stepped forward to greet the woman but I naturally put my arm out to stop her. I didn’t like the idea of strangers approaching her.
“Do you think it would be possible for you to have your kids be quiet? I’m having a garden party next door and all I can hear is your kids screaming.” The woman was in her mid-forties, if I had to guess, and looked like a few adventurous workers at the makeup counter in the mall had gotten to her.
Fiona turned her head and cupped her hand around her ear. “I’m sorry. They’re not being all that loud. Are you sure it’s these kids that are disrupting you?”
The woman scowled. “Of course, I’m sure.”
“It’s just that I can hear them and they’re not screaming their heads off.” Crossing her arms over her chest, Fiona’s smile got even kinder. “Your garden party sounds like a lot of fun. How would a visit from celebrity chef Ryder Steele perk things up, just in case you do hear our kids playing?”
I grunted and pressed my hand to her back. “Really?”
The woman noticed me and her eyes went wide. “Oh! Oh, that would be lovely. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”
I forced a smile and walked towards her. “Not at all. Anything to keep the peace for the future mother of my children.”
Fiona giggled and waved at me. “I’ll tell the boys you’ll be back soon.”
I narrowed my eyes at her and watched as she blew me a kiss. I was going to have to consider taking a page from Sebastian’s book and spanking our angel. Not only was she sending me into a fucking garden party, she was keeping me away from time with her.
“I really could hear her children screaming. She’s so young. You know how it is with young moms.” The woman patted my arm and smiled up at me. “I’m Karrie, by the way.”
My publicist would’ve told me to play nice and smile pretty, but I didn’t like the way she was insinuating negative shit about Fiona. I stopped and eased her hand off of me. “I do know how it is with young moms. They need a lot of help and it wouldn’t be right of me to leave Fi with no help. Have a great garden party. If the kids bother you, just chalk it up to young moms, right?”
25
***Fiona***
Mallory stared at the sandwiches I’d made for dinner and frowned at me. “You’re dating a famous chef. Why are you feeding me these dry, sad sandwiches?”
I glared at her over a plate of those dry, sad sandwiches. “They’re perfectly fine sandwiches. Plus, Ryder’s a guest. It’s not his job to cook for us.”
“Dad’s food is too fancy.” Roman shrugged when his dad shot him an astonished look. “What? It’s true. I like the dry sandwich.”
Racey grinned at me from where he sat in the same patio chair with Avery. “Me too!”
Avery parrotted his new best friend. “Me too!”
