Lei'd With Cupcakes (Cupcakes 3)

Just like her mama, always thinking with her stomach.

I smiled up at Cade, who was watching my kids with a look of love on his face.

“Doesn’t sound like they had fun at all,” I joked.

“Nope, hated every minute,” Cade replied.

We were all sitting outside having the cupcakes I’d bought at the bakery for dessert. Alani and I had gotten back earlier than everyone else and decided to order pizza, not knowing when they would return and if Cade’s mom had plans for dinner.

I worried a little that I was overstepping, but when they’d arrived to find pizza and cupcakes waiting, they’d all seemed pretty happy. Cade’s mom had even given me a hug.

“We missed you today,” Cade said, putting his arm around my waist and tugging me closer to him. Once I was snug against his side, he leaned down and kissed the side of my head.

“I’m glad you all had fun,” I replied, then I leaned in and whispered to Cade, “I may have been safer on the boat though.”

“Why’s that?”

“Your sister drives like a crazy person.”

Cade started chuckling, so I asked, “Have you ever ridden with her?”

“Hell no,” he replied, looking at me like I was nuts. “No way am I getting in a car when Alani is behind the wheel.”

The last part he said in a louder voice, causing Alani to throw her cupcake wrapper at him.

“A head’s up would’ve been nice,” I replied dryly.

Just then I heard a jangling sound, then some shuffling, and looked over to see a brown dog with a big black spot on his back coming toward us. Without even bothering to give us a glance, he trotted right over to the food bowl by the door and started eating.

“Boone, I presume?”

“Yeah, that’s him. I think he owns us more than we own him,” Alani said with a smile.

“He’s a rambling man,” Cade added.

“Just like my brother.”

Cade picked up the cupcake wrapper and threw it back at her.

“So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?” I asked Elin and Elena, who looked like they were finally winding down and on the verge of passing out.

“Volcano!” Elin cried.

“Surfing,” Elena protested.

“But you’ve been surfing every morning. I want to go see the volcano,” Elin argued.

“We don’t all have to do the same thing,” I said, hoping to mitigate the chance of a fight.

“I can take Lena surfing in the morning, then I’ll take her to A Bay to see some of the younger surfers in action,” Pops offered.

“And, Elin, we can go to Kilauea. That way, everyone gets to do what they want. How’s that sound?” Cade asked the twins.

“Perfect,” they said in unison.

“You coming with us, darlin’?”

“Yeah, I’d like to see the volcano,” I replied, then ran my hand slowly across Cade’s abs and asked huskily, “Will you carry me if I get tired?”