Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Adalyn felt butterflies kick up in her stomach as she peered through her lashes at Jaxon, with Jaclyn settled in his lap, playing with his fingers.
Those fingers and hands had touched her only moments ago, sending fire licking over every nerve ending.
She pulled a package of pork chops from the fridge, seasoned them, and placed them in the skillet to cook.
Off to the side, she started a pot of noodles.
It was simple, but she knew that Jaclyn would eat them since the cheesy shells were her favorite.
In the living room, Jaclyn popped to her feet and wrapped one tiny hand around Jaxon’s thumb, her grip barely encircling his broad finger. “Up!”
Adalyn smiled, watching as Jaclyn urged him to his feet. He willingly followed as she tugged him into the kitchen. She leaned back against the cabinet as Jaclyn dragged him past her. “Looks like she has you wrapped around her finger—literally,” she remarked, and Jaxon shot her a smile.
He shrugged good-naturedly. “There are worse things.”
Adalyn's eyebrows pulled together as Jaclyn guided Jaxon over to the very last cabinet—the one where she kept Jaclyn’s treats. One of Jaclyn’s favorite foods recently was rice cakes, and Adalyn knew instinctively that’s what she was going for.
“Jaclyn…”
Jaclyn glanced up at Adalyn’s warning tone, then darted a look at Jaxon. “Cookie.”
She pulled at the cabinet door but was hindered by the baby lock Adalyn had installed inside. Jaclyn sent a pitiful look up at Jaxon, who crouched down next to her. “You need something inside there, baby girl?”
Jaclyn pointed to the cabinet again, and Jaxon shot a look at Adalyn. “What’s in there?”
Adalyn crossed her arms over her chest. “Treats.” Directing her next words to Jaclyn, she said, “I’m making dinner right now. You can have one later.”
Jaclyn barely glanced at her, instead framing Jaxon’s face with her tiny hands, staring imploringly up at him. “Cookie.”
Jaxon cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Not right now, sweetheart.”
His entire body went rigid as Jaclyn threw her head back with a wail, at the same time swooning into his arms. Her back arched as she pitched a fit, her tiny arms and legs waving erratically. Jaxon shot Adalyn a panicked look, and she bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling at the sight.
“Don’t even think about it,” she replied. She’d been on the receiving end of more than one temper tantrum, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t relish this little slice of payback he was now enjoying firsthand.
Jaclyn tore herself from Jaxon’s arms and launched herself toward the cabinet, pulling on the knob to no avail.
Jaxon started to grab for her as Jaclyn sank down on the ground, but Adalyn circled one hand around his wrist, stopping him. “Let her go.”
“Cookie!” Jaclyn drew out the last syllable on an exceptionally long and impressive wail. She cried pathetically, huge crocodile tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as she begged for treats. Adalyn almost felt bad—almost.
“Jaclyn Lorraine.” Adalyn gave her best mom look, hand propped on her hip, completely unyielding.
Beside her, Jaxon twitched as if wanting to reach for Jaclyn to comfort her. Adalyn tightened her grip on his wrist, her voice low. “Show no weakness.”
“You make it sound like wrangling a wild animal,” he murmured.
“Good analogy,” she acknowledged. “And not far off the mark.”
Jaclyn sagged against the cabinet and stared at Adalyn for a long moment before crossing her arms over her midsection and stalking from the room.
Jaxon watched in fascination, and Adalyn rolled her lips together as the pads of Jaclyn’s tiny feet slapped against the floor until she clambered up onto the couch and her focus was captured by the colorful cartoons on the TV.
Adalyn released her grip on Jaxon’s hand. He turned to her, his expression a mixture of awe and amusement. “I can’t believe that worked.”
Adalyn lifted one shoulder. “She’s a baby. She’s still learning the rules—and trying to figure out how to break them.”
He shook his head, a genuine smile on his face. “Ornery little thing.”
A laugh bubbled up in Adalyn’s throat. “You’re telling me.” She lifted a brow and threw him a teasing glance. “Wonder where she gets that.”
Quick as lightning, his hand whipped out and playfully smacked her bottom.
She sucked in a breath—not because it hurt, but because something occurred to her in that moment.
They were flirting. She felt heat creep up her cheeks as Jaxon studied her, waiting for her reaction.
She could do one of two things right now: she could retreat as she usually did and close herself off, or she could do what she really wanted—give in to the way he made her feel, open herself up to his attention.
His muscles tensed as she pulled a spatula from the drawer in front of her and brandished it in his direction. “Don’t make me use this.”
The tension drained from his body, the serious frown on his face replaced by a wicked smile. The tips of his fingers glided over her hip as he stepped behind her under the pretense of moving toward the living room.
She shivered as warm breath hit her ear. “Be careful what you wish for, darlin’. I just might take you up on that.”