Teague (The Family Simon 4)

“Because the Titanic sank.”

“Our boat won’t sink, Mommy,” Morgan said. “We have the best captain in the whole world. Tigger won’t let that happen.”

Teague flashed a grin at Sabrina. “Can’t argue with that logic. I gotta agree with the kids.”

“Is that so,” Sabrina replied, a little more relaxed than a few minutes ago. “Are you telling me that your boat is unsinkable?”

He leaned forward. “I’m telling you that I’m the best captain in the whole world and I’d never let anything happen to you.”

She opened her mouth but didn’t say a word. Instead she blew out a small breath and looked down at his large hand overtop hers. After a few moments she offered up a small, hesitant smile. “Okay, Captain, our lives are in your hands.”

It was a simple sentence. Almost teasing in its delivery. But Teague liked the words and how they made him feel. It was sobering because after all the crap he’d seen over the years and then the shit storm that had been Syria, he swore he’d never be responsible for another human being again.

Yet here he was, doing just that. Wanting to protect this young mother and her children. Jesus. H. Christ. What the hell was happening to him?

As they dashed out into the rain, heading to his boat for shelter, he realized that he was about as far away from his past as he could get. And maybe that was a good thing.

At least he hoped it was.

Chapter Eighteen

If Sabrina thought sleeping on a boat with Teague only a few feet away and not being able to touch him was hard, she apparently didn’t know what hard was. Because sleeping in a cottage when he was in another one, several hundred feet away was even harder.

She thought about him more than she cared to admit, and she fantasized about him even more. As if that wasn’t enough, her kids were all over him whenever they could be. He’d taken Harry out fishing one day and then the two of them had cleaned the pike and cooked it up for dinner. He’d also helped Morgan build the biggest sand castle the world had ever seen (according to her daughter) and then he’d let Morgan serve him tea on the beach.

Tea on the beach .

Just this morning he’d insisted that he finish Sabrina’s swimming lesson (to the delight of the twins) and she’d lost all ability to think straight with his hands on her. Especially with the inappropriate touching going on underneath the water.

When Teague smiled at Sabrina, her stomach dipped and her heart turned over. And though it took her a bit, probably because she was in denial, she soon realized that it was too much. All of this was too much. What the hell was she doing? She had kids to think about.

The thought hit her like a sledgehammer and she’d taken a step back, withdrawing from the beach and herding her children up to the cottage. When Teague asked her about dinner, she said she had plans. When he pressed her, she flat out told him she needed some time to herself. He’d gotten quiet and without another word, he’d left her alone.

She was scared and confused and…

“Keep that up and you’ll have permanent frown lines.”

Sabrina jerked her head to the side and attempted a smile, but what was the point? Allie could read her like a book. It was early evening, the sun was just starting to set and Sabrina had brought the kids into town to watch Caleb play baseball. It was the only excuse she had to be away from the cottage. Away from Teague.

“I think I made a huge mistake,” Sabrina admitted.

Allie’s eyes widened and she reached for her bag of popcorn. “Does this mistake have a name?” She paused. “Never mind. That was a stupid question. What happened?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

Allie nearly choked on her popcorn and she sputtered. “You have to tell me everything and I mean everything.”

“I slept with him.”

“And?”

“Only once.”

“And?”

“It can’t happen again.”

“Why not?”