Teague (The Family Simon 4)

“Excuse me?”

“I want Teague to take me. I’m not going in the girls room.”

Surprise lit up her face and those luminous blue eyes of hers widened.

“I don’t mind,” Teague said watching her closely. Something about Harry’s request bothered Sabrina. He could tell.

“Okay,” she said lightly, glancing from her son to Teague. “I’ll wait in line for your burgers.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he replied with a smile.

“The works?” she asked as Teague moved out of line to allow her to take his place.

The wind picked up just then and she squealed, grabbing her skirt just in time to prevent a peep show that Teague wouldn’t mind seeing. Eyebrows raised,

Teague eyed the toned expanse of thigh that was visible for about two seconds. He liked what he saw and made no effort to hide that fact as he slowly met her gaze. Her lips were parted and the cutest blush he’d ever seen colored her cheeks a soft rose.

And her smell—that honeysuckle scent was becoming one of his favorite things about this woman. Everything about her was fresh and soft and wholly feminine. Maybe he’d spent too much time around women who didn’t spend much time on those things—hard to do when you were stuck in a war zone or out in the middle of the Mexican jungle tracking cocaine kings.

He handed Sabrina their vouchers, his fingers trailing over hers briefly. But it was enough. There was something there. He hadn’t imagined it the other night when they’d been dancing like a couple of teenagers in the parking lot of the bar.

The question was, what was he going to do about it?

Teague led Harry to the washrooms and about ten minutes later, the two of them wandered over to the pavilion in the park. Surrounded by massive oak trees, there was plenty of shade and most of the participants had gathered there to eat their lunch.

He spied Sabrina at about the same time that Harry did, and his quick reflexes were no match for the energetic kid because Harry took off at a run and didn’t stop until he’d nearly knocked his mother over.

Teague watched her arms go around the boy and Harry practically melted into her, his face upturned and his mouth going a mile a minute. Sabrina listened with rapt attention to everything her son was saying, all the while smoothing Harry’s blond curls off his forehead.

Something about that action, the way her fingers lingered on the child—the way her face lit up with obvious love—did something to Teague. He slowed his pace. Took his time making his way over to them.

Whatever the hell this was going inside him, well, he needed to shut that shit down. There was no room for softness in his world. No room to care about people he knew he didn’t want to matter to. So what the hell was he doing out here with these two?

A couple and a young boy approached Sabrina and. Teague took a few more extra minutes, wanting to clear his head before he joined them. By the time he did make it over to them, the boys were jumping up and down shouting something about a pool party.

“Teague you have to come to Caleb’s house with us.” Harry shouted.

Sabrina’s cheeks were still flushed and she looked more than a little embarrassed as she faced Teague.

“You don’t have to,” she murmured. “He’s just excited.”

“So, this is your kayak partner.” The woman standing next to Sabrina smiled and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Allie, Caleb’s mom, and this is my husband Paul.”

“Teague,” he replied, shaking Paul’s hand.

Allie’s grin widened, her pretty brown eyes sparkling as she elbowed Sabrina. “You didn’t tell me he was so hot.”

“Allie,” Paul warned, shaking his head, though the look he gave his wife was one of indulgence.

“Just saying,” she replied, not missing a beat. “So, the two of you are coming then?”

Teague didn’t answer—he was too busy watching that cute little blush that was slowly taking on a darker hue.

“Oh no, we’re not…” Sabrina stammered. She tugged at her new bangs, trying to tuck them back behind her ears to no avail. “I mean, we aren’t…we’re not…”

Allie giggled. “Honey, whatever it is that you two are or aren’t doing can be done at my place this afternoon.” She threaded her hands through Sabrina’s arms and lifted her chin, a challenge in her eyes as she looked at Teague.

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Allie said.