Chapter 4
Cal got relegated to one of the couches, even though one of the sisters had pointed out that there was a perfectly good guest room. Right next door to Auggie’s.
Em had had a snarky response to that. A response that had had both Cal and Auggie’s cheeks flaming.
September Tyler needed to be stood in the corner, or grounded or something, or whatever someone could do with a wayward twenty-two-ish-year-old woman.
She was going to cause some man some serious trouble someday.
He just feared his sister Clancy would be going along for the ride or getting into equal trouble right next to her. Those two were ridiculously inseparable.
Auggie didn’t want a husband, apparently. That thought had stuck with him through dinner, and through the cleanup. He’d gotten a “pardon” from the Warden of Clean Up—Em—since he had a headache. And was drowsy. He was definitely drowsy, but…no bruises. Just his head…still cloudy.
He couldn’t explain it at all.
Auggie had put the preschooler and the little lisper to bed. He’d been able to hear her singing them to sleep. She’d done it all while the baby slept strapped to Auggie’s chest.
They’d all just worked together, until eventually all six of the kids were in their various nooks and crannies. Then Auggie was standing there in front of him, a blanket and pillow in her hands. “Here you go. Pick a couch.”
“Why can’t I stay in the guest room?”
She just shrugged. “It doubles as my home office now…I still have a few hours of Excel files to format tonight, so here you go. I don’t trust you at all. Sorry.”
“You are being very rude to a houseguest, Mommy Aug.”
“Too bad. You’re the man who tried to steal my home. I don’t have to play nice with you.”
He’d bet she played nice. He bet she’d play real nice. With the right man. Fire, passion like she obviously possessed—it had to go somewhere.
Whoever got into her bed was a lucky bastard.
His body tightened at that thought. Immediately tightened.
That was not something he would have ever expected.
“I want you to play nice with me.” Damn, he had not meant to let that slip, at all. But…hell, he was honest. His mama had raised him to tell the truth.
Her eyes widened and she just blinked up at him. Well, apparently, she hadn’t expected that, either. Good. He liked having her disconcerted. Cal took a wild gamble and cupped her cheek. Her hands were full. She couldn’t get away, either.
Auggie had the softest skin. With light freckles. Beautiful. Augusta Tyler had grown up to be an amazing and beautiful woman. “Thank you, Auggie Tyler. For rescuing me tonight. Someday, I’ll have to return the favor.”
“No need at all.” Her voice was husky, sexy in a way that burned him. Had his gut tightening with unexpected lust, stronger than he had experienced in years.
Holy hell, this was not something he had expected.
The last woman he had been seriously attracted to had been Meyra Talley, with her sweet, delicate personality. But that…that had been tepid tap water compared to what was coursing through him now. And had fizzled the day his father had shot Meyra’s sister Marin and almost killed her.
Cal thought he was a different man than he had been then. With different needs. Wants. Beliefs and priorities.
“Still, you have my gratitude.” He was pushing the boundaries here, but damn it, he didn’t care. He had to know…
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. For just the briefest moment. Then he pulled away. He’d heard her indrawn breath. And it made him smile.
He wished…
But women like her were just for wishing.
He was going to have to remember that. “Thanks again, and good night. You are almost tempting enough for me to sign up to be that breeding stock. If you, Em, and Junie just didn’t scare me so much, and wouldn’t exhaust a mere mortal man like me, we’d so have a deal.
But…you…you can keep me and use me, as long as you promise not to share me.
Good night, Auggie Tyler. My dreams are going to be so sweet tonight. ”
He was halfway through her living room before he heard what she said next.
‘Jackass’ came through loud and clear.