Lei'd With Cupcakes (Cupcakes 3)

“Good morning,” I managed, then registered what she’d said and replied, “Yes, he’s very happy here.”

She nodded as her gaze flitted back over our family in front of us.

“I hope you are all happy here. We’d love for you to come back, whenever you can.”

“Oh, we are,” I admitted as I watched my children laughing with her husband. “It’s so beautiful here, and you’ve made us feel welcome in your home. Thank you. And, of course, anytime you want to come and stay with us, you’re more than welcome to as well. Elin and Elena are already getting attached.”

Just then, Elin looked up and waved. “Good morning, Tutu.”

“Morning, Mo‘opuna,” Cade’s mom replied happily.

I wasn’t entirely sure what they were saying, but I had a feeling they were versions of grandmother and grandson, which warmed my soul.

My kids had been missing this. My parents died when they were very young, and Eric’s parents lived on the other side of the country and only saw them intermittently. And, even when they did, Eric’s parents were sort of stiff, not at all easygoing and loving like Cade’s.

I could already see them blossoming under the positive attention and obvious enjoyment that Cade’s parents took in being with them, and knew that our decision to come here was one of the best I’d ever made.

Heck, every decision I’d made about Cade’s involvement in our lives had been the right ones, and as I watched him surfacing in the water like he was Aquaman himself, I prayed that he’d be in our lives forever.

We’d had a great day of snorkeling. Elin and Elena took to the water like fish, and loved spending the day underwater.

It had taken me a moment to become accustomed to snorkeling. That first act of submerging underwater and feeling those first few seconds of panic were brutal, but eventually I realized that the breathing tube actually worked, and was able to enjoy myself.

Cade looked like he’d probably learned to snorkel before he learned to walk, that’s how natural he was. It was glorious, and eased my anxiety about it being the kids and my first time.

“That was so amazing,” Elena gushed while we rinsed out the gear to put it away. “I can’t wait to tell Pops and Tutu everything we saw.”

“Me too,” Elin agreed.

“First, I want you both to shower, get all the sand off, then you can tell them all about it. Deal?” I said as I toweled off.

“Okay,” they said in unison, and although I could hear the disappointment in their voices at the prospect of a shower, I knew they’d listen without putting up a fight.

I was about to follow them twins inside, when I felt Cade’s arms surround me and was lifted off the ground and swung around.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“Uh, inside to wash up,” I replied, laughing when he swung me again. “Okay, put me down.”

Cade set me on my feet, turning me so I was facing him, and the look on his face caused my heart to gallop and my knees to weaken.

Pure unadulterated need swept his features, and his eyes were so dark they were almost fathomless.

“I have a better idea,” he muttered as he brought his hand to my face and caressed my lower lip with his thumb.

Heat suffused me and I felt my nipples tighten against my bathing suit.

“What’s that?” I asked, throatier than I’d meant to.

“Let’s go back into the ocean and wash off … naked.”

“Cade,” I squealed, looking back at the house, then him. “We can’t go skinny dipping; everyone is right inside. And, it’s light out.”

Cade’s head dipped until his lips were at my throat, where he began pressing open-mouth kisses.

“I have a spot, just down the way,” he urged between kisses. “No one will see us.”

“I don’t know,” I said, trying to stick to my guns. But the feel of his lips on my skin was too distracting, and I suddenly forgot why I’d been holding out on the sex.