Teague (The Family Simon 4)

“Think about it, Sabrina,” Josiah said, watching her carefully. “I think it could be good for you and the kids.”

Sabrina had had enough. She gave a quick nod and cleared her throat before settling her eyes on the twins. “When you’re done I want both of you to march your little butts back to our cottage. You need to wash up and get dressed for the day. You will not go near the water. You will not go into the forest. You’re both grounded. Understand?”

Harry and Morgan nodded, and for once her daughter had no argument. They knew they’d crossed a line.

“Josiah, it was nice to see you and since Teague’s taken care of your caffeine fix, we’ll do it another time.”

She didn’t give the man the opportunity to answer and with one last warning look at her kids, she left the Simon cottage. Alone. Even Bingo had deserted her in favor of Teague’s company.

She let herself back inside and set about making herself a bowl of cereal. There was nothing fancy about her breakfast. There were no eggs or steak or blueberries or Sugar Pops.

It was just Sabrina and her

granola.

She poked at her cereal and sighed. This was her life now and she’d better get used to it.

Chapter Five

The band was playing country.

Up and down the boardwalk people danced and sang along to the sounds of Whiskey Creek, while sampling from an impressive number of vendors selling any kind of rib you could want. Garlic. Smoked. Barbecue. Dry rub. Slow cooked. Fast grilled. Hot as hell.

You name it, it was there for the taking.

The night was hot, the air sultry, the crowd in high spirits. Yet none of it did anything to improve Teague’s mood. He should have stayed the hell home. What had seemed like a good idea earlier was now biting him in the ass.

He hated crowds. Especially ones like this. It was too loud, too busy, and there were too many damn families doting on too many damn kids. It was a miracle he hadn’t stepped on any of ‘em, and it was relief that he felt as he and Josiah finally made their way to the cordoned off beer and liquor tent.

He hadn’t seen Duff in a couple years, and though they’d hung out in the past when Teague was at the summer cottage, they weren’t tight—he’d been more Jack’s buddy. So Teague was surprised the guy had stopped by, but then he suspected it had more to do with Sabrina being next door than anything else.

Not that anything would ever happen there. Josiah was a player and Sabrina didn’t strike him as the type to play.

Josiah brought him back a red solo cup filled to the brim with foaming lager and Teague took it with a smile.

“Here,” the big guy said. “I know you’ve had a shit year, so bottoms up.”

Teague took a good long drink and was about to take another swig when two women approached. One—the redhead—he knew well, the other—a blond—he couldn’t place.

“Teague Simon. It’s been a while,” the redhead murmured. She was long and lean, with legs that went on for miles—legs you couldn’t miss on account her dress barely covered her ass—and if Teague remembered correctly, she was damn flexible.

“Candace,” Teague said slowly. “You’re looking good.”

A slow smile spread across her pretty face and she leaned closer, reaching for him, a long finger swiping at the corner of his mouth to nab a bit of foam from his draft. She stuck her finger into her mouth and licked it suggestively.

Her big brown eyes regarded him for a few moments. “Are you going to buy me a drink or what?”

Guess they were going to do the dance.

Teague offered a smile. “If you’re thirsty.”

“I am.”

“Beer okay?”

“You remember.”

He didn’t remember much past a couple of hot nights spent in her bed a few Christmases past, but if she wanted to think he was up on her likes and dislikes, so be it.