Going Under (Wildfire Lake 2)

“That’s what I was supposed to say, right?”

Ben rubs his face with both hands and growls. “Rooms. Now.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Poppy says.

“Rooms,” he repeats with patient determination. “I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

“KT can stay, right?” Violet says, hopeful. “I mean, she should stay for dinner for helping us with the toilet, right, Daddy?”

“Don’t make me say it again,” Ben says.

Violet darts a worried look at me before Ben herds them out of the bathroom, and I barely keep my shit together until they hit the stairs. Then I double over, laughing, one hand on my mouth, the other arm across my stomach. And I laugh harder and longer than I have in a long damn time.

By the time I get myself together, tears leak from my eyes and my stomach burns. Ben stands there, hands on hips, a grudging smirk on his face, watching me laugh.

“I know you’ve got to be tired,” I say, “and it probably isn’t funny to you, but—”

I burst out laughing again. The more I laugh, the funnier it becomes. Then Ben takes one big step toward me, closing the distance, and frames my face in his hands. He’s smiling when he kisses me.

My humor melts into something that I can only describe as joy. It’s warm, sweet, and happy, and it fills my whole heart. After kissing me a few times, he pulls back. “Are you done?”

The question brings the humor back, and I sag against him, catching my breath and wiping my eyes. He’s got a firm hold on my waist, and his hard body feels good against mine. “I haven’t laughed that hard in so long. Your girls are too damn cute, I have no idea how you ever get mad at them.”

He releases me with a sigh, and, together, we finish soaking up the water. “I’m usually pretty patient, especially for true mistakes or accidents, but Violet, man, she’s pushing my buttons lately.”

“She’s quietly smart and cunningly crafty.”

“Exactly.” He looks at the pile of wet towels on the sink. “Leave them, I’ll get it later.” He reaches behind my head and pulls my ponytail gently through his hand. “I hate to give in to Violet’s sneaky plan, but I’d love it if you’d stay for dinner.”

“Mmm, I don’t know. What are you having?” He opens his mouth to tell me, but I jump in. “Oh, what do you know, that’s my favorite. I guess I can stay, not long, you know, because well, places to go, people to see, and I may or may not have been to the grocery store in over a week and may or may not have nothing but peanut butter and jelly in my fridge—”

He kisses me, still half laughing. Until he’s not. Until he slides his tongue across my bottom lip, begging me to open to him. And I do, because he’s irresistible. The next thing I know, I’ve got my hands under his scrub top, tracing his muscles. He’s got my back against the wall, his hands in my hair and an erection pressed against my hip.

“Daddy?” Jazz calls down the steps. “I’m hungry.”

He exhales and slumps, then turns his head and calls, “Dinner’s not ready. Go read a book.”

I snort a half laugh. “Like that’s gonna happen.” I take his earlobe between my teeth and murmur, “We really should just have sex and get it out of the way.”

He refocuses on me. “When we have sex, it’s not going to be to get it out of the way.”

“When, not if. We’re headed in the right direction.” I scrape my nails along the small of his back. “When can we make that happen, Dr. Latham?”

“As soon as I can install exterior locks on their bedroom doors.”

I give an as-if laugh. “Since that will never happen, it’s definitely not soon enough for me.”

8

Ben

I pry myself away from her, take her hand, and pull her from the bathroom and into the main living area before letting go to head toward the kitchen.

I flip on the oven, open the fridge, and pull out bowls and bags and Tupperware.

KT slides onto a barstool, props her elbows on the counter and her chin in her hand. “I could get used to this.”

“But this isn’t the real deal. The girls always help me make din