13
“Jake and Molly are back,” Saxon told her as they each held a boy in the swimming pool. Saxon had bought them the most gorgeous bathing suits. Blue and white striped, they were the type that zipped up at the back and protected them from the sun. She held Jamie tightly against her while Saxon lifted Caleb up and pretended to drop him. Much to the little boy’s delighted cries.
She shook her head but had to smile. How had she come to care so much about him in such a short space of time? She slept in his bed each night. There had been no mention of her and the boys returning to the guest house. And she loved every minute. But she was under no illusions about what this was. An affair.
“Aspen, you still with me?” He gave her a questioning look. Reaching out, he ran a cool finger down her cheek. “Feeling all right, sprite?”
She smiled brightly. “I’m fine. Did they enjoy their trip?”
She didn’t know the sheriff or his new wife that well, but Molly had always been friendly when she’d seen her in the diner. Jake was more intimidating. Serious. Stern.
“It sounds like they did.” They’d gone to Paris for their honeymoon. Molly had been through a lot recently, having gone through a mastectomy due to breast cancer. “I invited them for dinner tomorrow evening.”
“That’s nice. The boys and I can make ourselves scarce. Shall we go to the guest house for the night?” Maybe it would be best for them all if she put some space between them. Then again, would it make it hurt any less when things fell apart?
“Why the hell would I want you and the boys to make yourselves scarce?” he demanded with a frown.
“Oh. Well. I just assumed . . .” she trailed off, feeling embarrassed.
He grasped her chin as Caleb burbled happily and Jamie rested calmly against her. “Pet, is it your place to assume things?”
The dominant tone in his voice sent a shiver across her skin. Being in charge, taking care of those around him was what he enjoyed. She thought it was that that had led him to open his own BDSM club. Because he wanted a safe place for everyone to play and where he could watch over them. He liked to take care of those who he considered his. Which included everyone at the club, whether they were a Dom or a sub. And, she thought with amusement, pretty much all of the citizens of Haven as well. Would they find it funny that he’d assumed the role of town protector much as Jake had? Although he had a different way of going about things.
“No, Sir.”
“Now why did you think I’d want you and these two imps to disappear? Are you a dirty secret?”
She blushed. “No!”
He raised an eyebrow and waited. It was an effective maneuver. The silence extended until she was squirming. “It’s just that I know Jake is like your family and, well, I thought maybe you wouldn’t want us around. I don’t want to get in the way. Or for them to get the wrong idea.”
“The wrong idea?” He cupped the back of her neck, bringing her close to kiss her. “What would the wrong idea be?”
That this was something more than it was. She shrugged, hoping her sadness didn’t show on her face.
“Pet, I am not ashamed of you. I am not hiding you or the boys away. You will be there for dinner with us. I want Jake and Molly to get to know you.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant and she wasn’t brave enough to ask in case the answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Damn she was such a wimp.
“Okay. Would you like me to cook dinner?”
“Only if you want to.”
She smiled. “I love cooking for you.”
“Thank you, sprite. Now, come on, these two squirmy worms want to go for a swim.”
She laughed as she watched him swim away with Caleb, the little boy giggling. He was so wonderful with both the boys. It was unexpected and it pulled at her heart like nothing else could.
How could she ever say goodbye?
Saxon was aware of the way she stared after him. The look on her face was unguarded for once. She looked so sad it killed him. How could she think he didn’t want her around when Jake and Molly came over? Did she really think he saw her as something he had to hide away? Like he was ashamed?
No way.
He gritted his teeth. Go back to the guest house? Not happening. Ever. It hit him like a lightning bolt, making him freeze. She was acting like this was just a brief affair.
And why wouldn’t she think that? They’d never talked of the future. He’d never wanted a family.