Page 2 of I’m Already Gone

He grinned that infuriatingly sexy grin that always made my insides puddy, making me want to do inappropriate things to him.

“Our children are sad,” he said. “And what’s the one thing that can make them smile?”

I chuckled and rose to my feet. “Our version of tag?” I asked him.

He nodded, his smirk firmly in place. “Ready? On three.”

“Kids!” I shouted, taking a few steps backward. “Dad’s counting to three! You know what that means!”

“Grab and Splash!” Maddy shrieked back, her small legs pumping as she ran towards me.

“Jake! You ready?” Ethan boomed.

“Yeah!” Jake rushed past us to stand proudly beside his father, adopting a hunter’s stance.

Ethan and Jake prowled toward us, their eyes fixed on their prey.

“One,” Ethan rumbled, drawing out the word.

I grabbed Maddy’s hand, her excitement a tangible current flowing through our joined palms.

“Two,” he continued, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

“Ready?” I looked down at Maddy. She bobbed her head wildly, her wet, blond hair sticking to her cheeks.

My gaze snapped back to Ethan and Jake. Ethan’s dark and intense eyes burned into mine.

Ready, locked, and loaded.

“Three,” he said very slowly, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver dancing down my spine. Then he lunged.

“Run!” A playful shriek escaped my lips.

Maddy let out a joyful squeal and raced along the sandy shore, leaving a trail of footprints behind her.

I risked a glance over my shoulder. Ethan and Jake were closing in. “We have to split up!” I informed Maddy, my breath coming in short gasps.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Now?”

“Yes!” I panted, my feet sinking with each step into the soft sand. “Ready?”

“Yeah!” she said breathlessly, her own little chest heaving.

I looked back again. Jake’s face was flushed with exertion, a huge smile plastered across it. Turning back to Maddy, I commanded, “Now!”

I let go of her hand, and she veered sharply backward, a move that momentarily threw the boys off. It worked for a split second until Jake took off after her.

“Run, Maddy! Keep going, sweet pea!” I yelled, my aching feet still pounding towards the shoreline.

“Gotcha!” Jake yelled, reaching out. Maddy squealed again.

“Give up, Sunshine!” Ethan roared through the crash of the waves.

“Run, Mom! Run!” Maddy cheered.

“Get her, Dad!” Jake hollered.

I continued to run my ass off, the waves lapping at my ankles. But my husband wasn’t messing around. He lowered his shoulder like a freaking linebacker and increased his speed.