Only One Kiss (Only One 1)

“Yes,” Monroe says, putting down his bag, and Ariella wakes up screaming.

Walking over to her, I pick her up, and she lays her head on my shoulder as I rub her back. “It’s okay, baby girl,” I say. “Are you going to say hello to Monroe?” I ask her, and she turns her head but still leaves her head buried in the nook of my neck.

“She is a beautiful girl,” he says. “And those eyes. Those eyes are like a beautiful blue sky.” I smile at him and then look over his shoulder at Ralph who comes out wearing a shirt and shorts, his hair wet from the shower.

“Hey,” he says, smiling at Monroe and then walks toward me. “There is my girl,” he says. Ari lifts her head as soon as she hears his voice, and she smiles around her pacifier. “I missed you.” He grabs her out of my arms, and I smile at them.

“He is much better looking than I thought,” Monroe says and winks at Ralph, making me roll my lips. “Definitely want some shirtless shots. Maybe of him running on the treadmill.”

“I can get you some baby oil,” I say, trying not to laugh as Monroe’s eyes widen, and Ralph side-eyes me. “We should rent a wind machine.”

“That would be amazing,” Monroe says, and I can’t help but laugh now. Ralph shakes his head, and I throw my head back and laugh. “Okay, I’m going to get set up. I have a list of things that Becca sent me and also a couple of things that Candace suggested.”

“Do I have time to eat before we start?” Ralph asks, and Monroe shakes his head no. “If you want, we can start in the gym. You can go set up; it’s down that hallway.” Monroe nods his head, grabs his bags, and walks down the hallway.

“I have your lunch in the fridge,” I say, walking over and taking it out of the fridge.

“I can do that,” he says, and I shake my head at him.

“Spend some quality time with Ari,” I say, heating his food and then bringing it to him as he talks to Ari about his day. “Here you go,” I say, placing the food at the side of him. “I was wondering,” I start to ask him, and he looks up at me. “If it would be okay to bring Ari to my house while you do the whole photo shoot thing.”

“You don’t want to stay here?” he asks, taking a piece of chicken and chewing.

“I was thinking I could take her in the pool, and we can be out of the way,” I say, and he smiles at me.

“Rule number three,” he starts, and I groan and roll my eyes. “You are only allowed to wear a bikini in your backyard when there is no one else but me there.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I lean on the counter. “I don’t own anything other than bikinis,” I say, laughing. “I have cheeky or thong.” I wink at him, and now it’s his turn to groan.

“Parka,” he says to me. “Okay, why don’t you go, and then I can come over and cook you dinner.”

“You’re going to cook me dinner?” I look over at him and then walk to his side just to be next to him. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know,” he says, grabbing another piece of chicken. “I know that I don’t have to.” He smiles at me, leaning forward to kiss my lips. “I want to.”

“Then that sounds like an amazing plan,” I say. “Maybe, well, if you stay late enough, and Miss Ariella is sleeping, we could, I don’t know.” I wrap my arms around his shoulders and lean in to whisper in his ear. “We could go skinny-dipping.” His fork falls onto the plate, and he puts his head back.

“If you don’t step away from me, I’m going to go meet Monroe with tentage, and it’s going to be awkward for both of us.”

“What do you say, baby girl?” I look at Ari. “Want to go in the water?” She hits Ralph in the chest and calls his name. “Yeah, I get it. He’s yours.” I smile at her and then look back at Ralph, who just looks at me. He leans in and kisses me softly. “She’s going to have to share,” I whisper in his ear, making him laugh.Chapter 26Ralph“I just need one more shot,” Monroe says of me holding the coffee cup while sitting on the couch with a pair of skates on the floor beside me and a diaper bag beside me. “Look here,” he says, and I look over at him. “That is going to get all the women.” He smirks at me, looking through the shots that he got.

He’s been here for two hours, and I’m over this whole thing. I swear he must have taken a million pictures. We started with me on the treadmill and then moved over to the bike. He got me to pose with my hockey equipment and then shirtless for a couple of them. I felt so uncomfortable, but I did it because he knew what he was doing. I also did it because Becca was now here telling me I had no choice.