“Why? That’s what Mom calls him.”
“Eat your dinner. I’ll have a talk with your mother when I take you home tomorrow,” Max said grimly.
Maxim looked stricken that his father and mother would get into an argument.
“How about we finish dinner so I can cut the cake?” Casey gave Max a warning glare as she cut him another slice of meatloaf and more potatoes. “Eat up.” If she was lucky, he would eat himself into a food coma.
They ate their dessert in the living room while they played video games.
She was about to take the last bite of cupcake when Max reached over, pulling her hand to his mouth.
“How come you’re the only one who got a cupcake?”
“Because I like vanilla more than chocolate.” Max took the bite from her hand, licking off the small bit of vanilla that was left on her fingers.
“Jeez, Dad. That’s gross,” Randy said, sitting down on his dad’s lap.
Max winced, shifting his son to one of his thighs.
“I’ll remind you of that in about twenty years.” Max smiled, wrestling with his son.
“It won’t be that long,” Maxton said, concentrating on the video game. “He already has a girlfriend.”
Max straightened to look down at his innocent son. “You have a girlfriend?”
“Her name is Sofia,” Randy admitted with shining eyes.
“Like father, like son.” Casey burst out laughing, almost dropping the controller.
“God, let’s hope not.”
“Dad, she’s cheating,” Maxton complained.
“Another one takes after you. Sore losers must run in the family gene pool,” Casey taunted.
“She didn’t even have the map, and she found the crown.”
“Because I’m good.” Casey sank back against the couch.
“Now the boys have to do the dinner dishes,” Maxie whooped, bringing the red faces of the boys to her. Their sister stood. “Come on, I’ll help you.” The four children went into the kitchen.
“You’re going to trust them to do the dishes?”
“Yep,” Max said, lifting her onto his lap.
“You’re not going to help them?”
“Nope.” He teased her neck with small kisses.
“You have to help them at least put the food away. It was the girls against the boys. You’re a boy, so you have to help.”
Max lifted his hips, pressing his cock against her ass. “You staying the night?”
“No, I told you I don’t like staying when your kids are here.”
“Then I’m not helping.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“Is it working?” he murmured seductively.
“A little bit,” Casey admitted, lying back against his chest.
“I’ll sneak you out before they wake up,” he promised, his hand sliding up her thigh under her dress.
Casey jumped up, walking toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“To help the kids. Have another slice or two of cake.”
“You going to stay?”
“Nope, looks like you lose twice tonight.”
Chapter 19
Casey was pacing nervously downstairs, trying to listen to any sounds from upstairs. It had been over an hour since Max had taken his children to bed.
The sound of the door slamming had her hurrying to the front door.
Max’s boots stomped down the stairs, jarring the whole house. Casey barely managed to press herself against the door, preventing him from storming out, before Max reached it.
“Move!”
“Calm down, Max.” Casey placed a hand on his chest.
He knocked her hand away. “Do not tell me to calm down. I’m going to rip that punk’s dick off and shove it down his throat.”
The graphic image had Casey going pale. Max was angry enough to do it.
“Max, you don’t have to do anything. She’s over her crush on him. He humiliated and hurt her. She doesn’t need you to make her feel worse about what happened.”
“She’s going to feel a whole lot worse when I smash that phone of hers and ground her ass.”
Casey stood mutely, letting him rant as she remained in front of the door.
“You don’t have anything to say to that?” Max snapped.
“No, I think her punishment should be discussed between you and her mother.”
“You should have called me immediately!” Max bashed his fist against the door above her head.
“Perhaps, but I wanted Maxie to tell you. Do you want her afraid of you?”
“No!”
“Then go back upstairs and show her you have everything under control.” Casey nodded to the top of the stairs where Maxie was standing, crying.
“Dammit!” he muttered, turning to go back upstairs.
Casey watched as Max apologized to Maxie for his outburst then lifted her up, giving her a hug and carrying her back into her bedroom.
Casey didn’t know whether to go or stay. Undecided, she went to the kitchen to get her purse. The lone vanilla cupcake looked pitiful all by itself, so Casey did the humane thing and ate it. She was tossing the wrapper in the trash when Max came into the kitchen.
“I thought you left.”
“I was about to, but I couldn’t resist the cupcake. Maxie okay?”
“Yes, I shouldn’t have lost my temper in front of her or you. I’m sorry.”
“To tell the truth, I was pretty upset at that boy, too. I was just relieved I was there.”