by Rye Hart
Even if they weren’t disappointed in my working, I still didn’t have a babysitter. And I wasn’t going to put them in the hands of just anyone. I knew it would be weird territory, but I started wondering if Brooke would watch them again. I knew she was struggling to write and giving her more time on the island might prove fruitful in her venture. I trusted her with my kids and they really seemed to have taken a liking to her. She could find more inspiration and I would offer to pay her well. Maybe I could convince her to help me out if I pitched it as a mutual benefit.
“Hey kids, could I talk to you about something?”
“Okay,” Sydney said.
“Sure,” Daniel said.
“I know that Daddy promised that I wouldn’t do any work while we are on vacation, and I don’t like going back on my promises. But something has come up that would really help Daddy’s company and I need to do just a little bit of work while we’re here. Do you think you guys could help me?”
“You need help?” Sydney asked.
“We can help,” Daniel said.
I shook my head as a grin spread across my face. My kids were simply amazing.
“I’m on vacation with two very special people and I don’t want to ruin it. But if I turn down this person who wants to buy a lot of my stuff, I might not get another chance,” I said.
“Do we have to go home?” Daniel asked, his lower lip starting to tremble.
“That depends. If my two very special people don’t want me to work, then we go home at the end of the week. But, if it’s okay for Daddy to work some, then we won’t go home until the end of next week.”
“We stay longer?” Sydney asked.
“More water sliding?” Daniel asked.
“And I might be able to convince Miss Brooke to come over and play more,” I said.
“Yeah! Daddy, you can work,” Daniel said.
“We wanna play with Miss Brooke,” Sydney agreed.
I smiled as I kissed the tops of their hands.
“Then I’ll call her and see what she’s up to,” I said.
My heart felt so much lighter after talking with my kids. They were amazingly understanding for four-year-olds. I got up from the table so they could eat their eggs and I went into my bedroom. I picked up my phone and dialed Brooke’s number, hoping I wasn’t calling her too early.
“Hello?”
“Hello there,” I said with a grin.
“Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“After writing, yes, I did. Very well.”
“I’m glad you got some done. Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay,” she sounded hesitant.
“Can we go to the water park in Atlantis Resort?”
Daniel and Sydney came running into my room with egg all over their faces.
“Please?” Sydney asked.
“There’s a water park on the island?” Brooke asked.
“In one of the hotel resorts, there is. Atlantis is open to the public during certain hours. Apparently, the kids want to go,” I said.
“Sounds like fun. You should take them.”
“Would you and Morgan like to join us?” I asked.
“Please, Miss Brooke?” Daniel asked.
“Yeah! Pullleeeeeeeeeeeze!” Sydney asked.
“Well, how could I say no to them?” Brooke asked.
“Perfect. Want to meet us at the entrance in an hour?” I asked.
“I’ll roll Morgan out of bed and we’ll meet you there.”
I hung up and scooped my twins into my arms. I carried them both into their bedrooms and helped them get ready for the water park. I called a cab for us to get there and piled us all in, and the kids chattered excitedly the whole way to the park.
When we pulled up out front, Brooke and Morgan were already waiting. Brooke avoided my gaze but opened her arms wide and smiled big for my kids. Something felt a little off, but I figured she just didn’t want to give anything away about what had happened between us the night before.
Despite some early awkwardness, it ended up being a great day. We all went down water slides and ate overpriced food. Morgan and Brooke kept going down the massive pyramid water slide to try and convince the twins to go down it with them. I knew they would never tackle something that big. The smile on Brooke’s face throughout the day was priceless, and it filled my heart with so much joy to see her happy.
This was the type of happiness a woman like her deserved.
We had so much fun with the water slides and the rides that the reason I had invited her there in the first place completely fled my mind. But on top of that, I had no idea how to even bring the idea up. Asking her to babysit meant stretching out her vacation as well. I wasn’t sure she’d go for it, especially if it meant staying alone, or even with us, after Morgan went home.
“Daddy! Watch this!”
I watched my daughter take Brooke’s hand as the two of them jumped into the water. Daniel jumped in after them, swimming underneath to try and get all the way to the bottom. I was poised, ready to jump in if they didn’t come up for air within the next couple of seconds.
And just before I took off, Brooke emerged with Sydney wiping at her eyes.
“I went down far! Did you see, Daddy?”
“Yes I did, sweetheart,” I said, as I took long deep breaths trying to slow down my racing heart. “I saw it all right.”
They did it over and over again, putting me on the edge of a damn heart attack every time they sank to the bottom. I had paid a lot of money in private swimming lessons beginning when they were only two. I knew that they knew how to swim fairly well for their ages, but the pool at the park was much bigger than any they’d ever been in. And filled with way more people.
We stayed the entire day until the kids were practically falling over with exhaustion. I gathered everyone up and loaded us into the car, then I dropped the girls off back at the pier. I wanted Brooke to come back with us so we could sit down and talk, but I also didn’t want to ruin the day. The kids had a blast and I had fun watching Brooke play with them. The water slides were great and sharing lunch together had been full of laughter and good times.
I didn’t want to ruin that with a conversation that could possibly go south.
I waved the girls off then took my sleeping kids back to the house. I lugged them inside and came out to pay the cab driver, making sure to tip him well for his time. I watched the cab drive off as my toes dug into the sand, and I found myself looking over at the pier in the distance.
I wondered if she was writing. If she was inspired by the events of the day. I hoped she was. I turned around and walked back inside as the snores of my children hit my ears.
I’d bring it up to her soon. But for the moment, I wanted to snuggle on the couch with my kids and enjoy the sound of the ocean crashing against the shoreline outside.
End of Sneak Peek. Would you like to know how this continues?
Click Here: Single Dad’s Spring Break
STONE HEART
A SINGLE MOM & MOUNTAIN MAN ROMANCE
PROLOGUE
Is this real?
Is this actually happening?
My hips connected with his kitchen counter as the kissing intensified. His hands were all over me as I threaded my arms around his neck.
I felt alive.
On fire.
Ignited with electricity and surging with pleasure. I couldn't help myself. Even though a part of me was wracked with a guilt that made me nauseous, I couldn't stop. His tongue traveled along the roof of my mouth, making my knees grow weak.
My legs gave out from underneath me as his arms tightened around my body.
I could feel his rock-hard cock pressed against me. He wanted me as badly as I wanted him. There was something about that notion that made me smile into his kiss as his hands traveled my curves. He cupped my ass and gripped my thighs, bouncing between letting me lead and taking what he wanted. He pinned me against
his counter as my hands traveled down to his chest.
I could feel the swell of his strength underneath my fingertips.
His hands gripped my ass again, and I jumped against his body. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my hands threading through his hair. My lips traveled down his neck as he carried me through his house and then closed a door behind us with his foot.
We were in his bedroom, and his hands were sliding up my shirt.
Piece by piece, we ripped our clothes off. He yanked my shirt over my head, and I fell to my knees and took his pants with me. He pulled me off the floor and tossed me onto his bed, his eyes filled with a predatory instinct.
I watched him remove his boxers, taking in the thick cock he had bouncing between his legs.
He crashed into me, our naked bodies taking in one another. I ran my hands up and down his back, caressing the chiseled muscles there. His arms were bulging with veins, and his legs were trimmed with sinewy strength. He was sin incarnate, and I couldn't get enough of him.
His lips traveled down my neck, nipping and sucking at my delicate skin. His hands were firm but gentle, holding me to his bed but not pinning me so I couldn't move. His lips wrapped around my nipples, lapping and sucking and making my thighs grow wet with want.
I spread my body open for him as he continued to travel down the length of my form.
My eyes locked with him as he dipped between my legs. That cheeky little grin spread across his face. My legs were shaking, waiting in anticipation for what was going to come next. His lips kissed my thighs and lapped up the juices already gathering on my skin.
Then, he parted my pussy folds and began to devour me.
His tongue was heavy and thick. He pressed on my clit as his beard tickled the sides of my pussy. He tossed my legs over his shoulders as my hands threaded through his tendrils, pulling him as close as I could get him. My hips rolled, and my toes curled. Moans of ecstasy and desire fell from my lips. I groaned at him. Growled at him. Allowed the animal inside of me to unleash. I could feel my pussy dripping onto his lips as he lapped me up, swallowing me down and humming at my taste.
I could feel it, that white-hot sensation in my abdomen. My heels propped up on his strong shoulders, and he raised up, bending me in half and rendering me motionless. His hands pinned my hips, and his thumbs caressed the backs of my thighs. I felt my world spinning and colliding, shattering into pieces as electricity shot through my brain. My mouth opened and my eyes screwed shut. My toes curled into his skin as his tongue pressed deep into my pussy.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to feel it.
“Yes, baby. Yes. I’m coming. I’m coming. I’m com—”
CHAPTER 1
CINDY
“Mommy, is Grandma gonna be okay?”
“Why would you ask that, Lily?”
“She seemed sad when we left.”
“She’s always sad when you leave, honeybee. She misses you when you’re gone,” I said.
“So, nothing bad happened?” Lily asked.
“No, sweetie. Nothing bad happened.”
“Why doesn’t Grandma come to visit us then?” she asked.
“Because Grandma can’t move as easily as we can.”
“Are you calling her old?”
“No. Grandma’s not old. She’s got a lot more life in her, but that doesn’t mean she can move like we can.”
“Is that why Grandma always only wants to rock and read me a story?” she asked.
“Maybe Grandma likes reading to you. What’s wrong with that?”
“Sometimes, I wanna run around outside with her.”
“Then ask her to do that next time. Grandma might have to sit on the porch, but she’ll watch you while you do it.”
“Will you run around with me outside?” she asked.
“We can play tag when we get home. How does that sound?”
“Yeah! Tag with Mommy!”
I looked into the rearview mirror and took in my daughter’s eyes. Lillian looked just like me. Auburn hair, apple cheeks, and fair skin that held a tan instead of burning in the sun. But she didn’t have my eyes. They weren’t a sea green like mine. She had her father’s eyes, that crisp sky blue I’d fallen in love with all those years ago.
Even though he’d been gone a year, it still hurt to look into my daughter’s eyes.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, honeybee?”
“Why do you call me honeybee?” Lily asked.
“Do you want me to call you something else?” I asked.
“Grandma calls me princess.”
“Well, that’s Grandma’s nickname for you. That’s why I don’t call you princess.”
“Daddy called me princess.”
I gripped my steering wheel hard as tears brewed behind my eyes.
“That he did,” I said.
“Does Grandma call me princess because Daddy isn’t here to do it anymore?” Lily asked.
“I think so, yes.”
“Do you not call me princess because it hurts to say it because Daddy’s gone?”
My daughter always had a way of reminding me that she had her father’s intuitive spirit. She was remarkable for her age.
“A little bit,” I said. “But I’m fine.”
“I miss Daddy.”
“I miss him, too, honeybee.”
“You wanna know what I miss the most?” Lily asked.
“What’s that?”
“I miss his coffee.”
“What?” I asked.
“The way his coffee smelled. You drink gross coffee. It’s all black and nasty. But Daddy’s coffee always smelled like flowers.”
“Flowers,” I said.
“Mhm. Like the flowers we have in our backyard.”
“I don’t think Daddy’s coffee smelled like flowers. I think his hair smelled like flowers.”
“No, Mommy. It was his coffee. I know. I tasted it.”
“You drank Daddy’s coffee?” I asked.
“It was only one time! It was still gross, but it tasted like it smelled.”
“You’re a little booger, you know that?”
She giggled and stuck her tongue out at me playfully. I laughed and shook my head as we turned onto our street. I kept my eyes on the road as my daughter started singing to herself. She was starting kindergarten in a week, and I couldn’t believe the time had flown by so quickly. She was growing so big, and her language skills exceeded most her peers. At one point I was afraid she would fall behind.
When her father died, she stopped talking altogether for several months, and I was worried she would regress in all the progress we’d made with her. Instead, when she did start talking again, she was using words I hadn’t even known she knew. It was like conversing with a teenager sometimes.
“Mommy, look!”
I shook my head as I pulled into the driveway, my eyes scanning the scene in front of me.
“Nikki!” Lily said.
I saw my best friend waving from the porch as she jumped off the side. She came running up to Lillian’s door and ripped it open, unstrapping the girl from her car seat. The two of them hugged and kissed on one another as I got out of the car. Seeing them like this always warmed my heart.
I shut the car door and listened to it heave and groan like it was protesting the fact that it was still in use.
“You really need a new car,” Nicole said.
“Maybe but I can’t afford that right now. I need to work on getting this house paid off first,” I said.
“Aunt Nikki, you wanna play tag with me and Mommy?” Lily asked.
Nicole gave me a dubious look before she planted a kiss on my daughter’s cheek.
“It’s almost dinnertime, so how about this? You go inside and get changed and then figure out what you want for dinner. Then, after dinner, we’ll run around for a bit. How does that sound?” Nicole asked.
“Yay! I’m going to go change!”
Lillian wiggled out of Nicole’s grasp before
she held out her hand for my keys. I rolled my eyes and plopped them into her hand and then watched my daughter unlock the front door. From not even crawling to speaking in coherent sentences to being well beyond her years in occupational therapy, it was a miracle what Bradley and I were able to accomplish with her.
It pained me to know that he wouldn’t be here to see her off to her first day of kindergarten.
“How you holding up?” Nicole asked.
“It’s hard, going and seeing Bradley’s mom. He looked so much like her,” I said.
“It’s good for Lily to have a relationship with them, though.”
“I’d never keep her from them, Nikki. They’re family, and they adore Lily.”
“But I know it’s not easy on you. I wanna make sure you’re okay,” she said.
“Thanks. I appreciate it. But shouldn't you be at work?”
“Eh, figured I could use a day off. Tuesdays are my slowest days anyway. I wanted to make sure you guys got back in okay.”
“I love you,” I said. “You know that?”
“I know. Which is why we’re having wine tonight. Got it chilling in the fridge.”
“You're the best.”
I heard a door slam open, and I whipped my head around. My nosey neighbor was charging out of her house and making her way to mine. I furrowed my brow in confusion as her eyes swept over my car. I watched her nose crinkle almost in disgust, and part of me wanted to slap her.
Yes, my car was old. Yes, it was rusting on the undercarriage. But it was all I could afford after selling off everything to try and pay down as much of the mortgage on our house as I could.
When Bradley died, I had to take any job I could. Nicole hired me as a part-time employee until I could find something better, but no one wanted to hire a full-time mom with no work experience for any full-time position in this town. I sold off all I could, bought the cheapest car I trusted to haul my daughter around, and then threw everything else at our debt.
I knocked out most of it, but I still had forty thousand left on our mortgage to get rid of.
“Welcome back,” said the neighbor.
“Thank you,” I said.
“How was the drive?”