Chapter Four
CHAPTER FOUR
ALEX
“Can we do go-karts today?”
“No! You always want to do that! Tristan and I aren’t tall enough, and you know it!” Everett protests loudly at Aiden, nearly dumping his plate of pancakes onto the floor in the process.
Aiden doesn’t hesitate, responding, “That’s not my fault. Can we, Dad? You can ride with them.” His hazel eyes plead with me. All three boys have Taren’s eyes, an unfortunate but constant reminder of her.
“He can’t ride with both of us at the same time. It’s no fair!” Everett shouts.
“Boys,” I interrupt, and they all quiet down. “We can do go-karts.”
Everett opens his mouth to protest again, but I put a hand up to shush him. “But first, we’ll do something everyone can agree on.”
“The waterfall!” Tristan exclaims, bouncing with enthusiasm only a five-year-old can muster. He has a syrup mustache on his upper lip, and I silently apologize to DeeDee for the mess she’ll have left to clean up.
Everett nods his agreement, and Aiden grumbles a reluctant, “I guess.”
“Glad to see you’re so excited.” I knock him in the shoulder. He tries to knock me back, but at nine years old, it’s a lost cause.
I pour the protein shake I’ve been mixing into an insulated mug and turn to leave the kitchen. “Go break it to the nanny that we’ve got a full day planned and she’s coming along.”
“It’s Addison. She’s pretty,” volunteers Tristan, ever the ladies’ man.
Yes, she certainly is. And I’m guessing she’ll be even prettier in a bikini. I inwardly thank Tristan for his suggestion of the waterfall, even though I know my thoughts are taking me to forbidden territory. It doesn’t hurt to look, though, does it?
I haven’t seen her yet this morning, but she must be up since the kids are dressed and accounted for. I imagine she’s probably getting ready for the day. Perhaps showering.
Nope. Stop right there, Alex. You had your fun in the shower last night, remember?
How can I forget?
Maybe taking her along today is a bad idea. I sure could use the hand if we’re swimming since none of the boys are strong swimmers. But I also don’t want to be sporting wood in my board shorts. I’ll just have to control myself and think about baseball—or my ex—anything to tame a potential boner will do.
Resettled in my resolve, I head to the garage to pack all the beach towels and shit in my Land Rover and prepare for the day’s activities.
Thank God for Tristan’s ability to talk non-stop. That’s all I can think during the thirty-minute drive to Looking Glass Falls. Addison and I have hardly said a word to each other past the good mornings we exchanged when she and the boys met me in the driveway earlier. Her wavy dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail, exposing the long curve of her neck, and she’s wearing a shapeless black beach cover-up and matching flip-flops. Every so often, I get a glimpse of tanned thigh when she adjusts her position to turn around and respond to one of the boys’ many questions and comments. I find myself thinking of baseball more than is probably healthy.
“Who’s going to cannonball into the swimming hole?” Addison asks the boys, who all shout their claims and promises in return. She laughs, and a glance sideways shows a wide, gorgeous smile and twinkling golden eyes. I feel it all in my dick and force my eyes back to the road as I try to remember Nolan Ryan’s number of career strikeouts.
“All right, guys, get ready for the cold,” I say as I turn into the parking area and nab one of the last spots. The stairway to the falls is only a short walk from the car, and when the boys throw the Rover’s back doors open to race each other, I have to call out, “Wait for me before you get on the rocks!”
This leaves Addison and me alone for the first time since last night.
“It’s great to see you spending your free time with the boys. I know they missed you,” she says as she retrieves a couple of towels from the backseat.
“I’d be home all the time if I could. I love hanging out with those heathens.”
She smiles and lets her eyes track the boys as they disappear down the stairs. “They’re pretty great, you know.”
That makes me smile. “Yeah, they are. Don’t know how they ended up that way, but I guess I got lucky.”
She looks at me sideways, shielding her eyes from the sun above us. “Nah. No luck about it. Kids don’t just turn out great without having a good influence.”
That brings my mind to a dark place as I think of Taren and the absolutely horrible influence she would be if she hadn’t taken off. No kid needs to know that they’re essentially a paycheck to their mother. I shake the thought off and force another smile. Addison didn’t deserve my negativity last night, and she doesn’t deserve it today either. “Shall we?” I gesture to the steps ahead, and we both quickened our pace to catch up to the boys.