Eve Langlais (7 page)

How the hell had that happened? Maybe he’d caught something. Some kind of fever of the brain that hit 24

whenever he got close to Suzie. Every time he saw her, he found himself offering to do things that he’d never agree to do for anyone else. If he didn’t know this side of the boundary was magicless, he’d wonder if she had some kind of magical power over him. No, he only had his stupid self to blame. That and a lack of blood to his brain whenever she showed up.

But he couldn’t run away, not with two pair of identical brown eyes staring at him, waiting. Waiting for what, though? First things first, he ushered them inside into the living room.

“Um, so what would you like to do?” he asked.
What do children do all day?

“Pway pwincess!” squealed Jessica.

“Piwates!” exclaimed Jared.

Hunter had no idea how to play either. They quickly showed him how. Jessica dragged him by the hand upstairs and put on a play princess dress with a string of beads and a tiara. Then she proceeded to dress Hunter in a red cape with a second tiara. Hunter mentally groaned. If this ever got out, he’d be a laughingstock.

Jared, meanwhile, dressed in a pirate skullcap with a sword harness and play sword. Then he added a pirate patch, which—yay—he had two of. Guess who got to wear the other one?

So, Hunter ended up transformed into a princess—er prince—slash pirate. He then went around grunting “Arrr!” with Jared, while waving his sword and shouting, “Off with his head.” Jessica’s favorite line seemed to be, “Bow peasant. I’m a pwincess.”

To Hunter’s surprise, he rather enjoyed himself, not that he would ever admit it under torture to anyone over the age of three.

He also quickly learned that, no matter how much fun a game was, it never lasted longer than ten or fifteen minutes. The pirate-princess game was followed by blocks, then coloring, then cars, then a tea party, then hide and seek, then . . .

When Suzie arrived home just over two hours later, Hunter was exhausted. But good news, so were the kids. Lying on the couch, completely relaxed, he had a child nestled under the crook of each arm, fast asleep.

The look on Suzie’s face when she walked in? Priceless. Her jaw literally dropped at the sight of her children napping.

“How did you manage to get them to sleep? I haven’t been able to get them to nap since they were two.”

“We played hard,” said Hunter with a satisfied grin. He wouldn’t tell her he’d nodded off too and woken only when she opened the door. Some things a man had to keep to himself.

“I hope they weren’t too much trouble.”

“Nope, it was fun,” he said, and truthfully, it had been. Jared and Jessica were energetic, sure, but discovering the world through their eyes had been, well, fantastic. Hunter had never really had a chance to play as a youngster. His father had been big on lessons—sword lessons, reading and writing, hand to hand combat, tracking. . . There hadn’t been much time for play with his strict schedule. Although, now that he thought about it, his mother had usually managed to squeeze in something special every other day, whether it was a story for pure fun, or a walk in the woods to pick flowers, or a swim in the creek.

He’d have to remember to thank his mother.
Funny, the things you take for granted as a child.

Hunter eased himself off the couch, rolling the outside twin further onto the cushion so he wouldn’t fall on the floor.

“Sorry it took so long. The previous appointment ran late, then their printer wouldn’t work. What a pain!”

“No problem.” He decided not to tell her about the paint incident on the carpet. He’d scrubbed it pretty good, so maybe she wouldn’t notice.

25

“Well, I really appreciate it. If you ever need a favor, just let me know.”
Oh, I can think of a few things
, Hunter thought, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. He knew a way she could pay him back. He squashed the interest rising from below.
That’s it, time to go out and take care of my needs tonight.

With a big grin at Suzie and a last look at the sleeping twins, Hunter went home. He needed a nap so he could go prowling that night.

When he woke a few hours later, he had another raging erection He’d been caught up in a naughty dream that featured Suzie as a princess being kidnapped by him, the randy pirate. And let him just say, that the princess really enjoyed the dirty things the pirate did to her.

By the higher powers! He hadn’t been this horny since his teens. He needed a woman, any woman, to take care of the ache in his groin.

And he did try later that night. He showered and dressed in tight, black jeans with an open neck white shirt, sleeves partially rolled up to show his muscular arms—the ladies really enjoyed that look.

Dressed in his leathers, he rode his bike into town and hit his favorite bar. A sure place for those looking for unattached fun.

Walking in, he knew he looked good, really good, and the women were flirting with him left and right. Problem was, none of them did anything for him.
What the hell is wrong with me?

Take the gorgeous blonde in front of him. She had her hand high up on his thigh, any higher and it would have been illegal in public, and she kept leaning forward, showing off her deep décolletage, but he felt nothing. Not even a little stir of interest. Determined not to give up, Hunter grabbed the blonde by the hand and they went outside where he pushed her up against the wall of the bar and kissed her. He ground his hips against hers while her overly red lips devoured his. She even rubbed her curvy body in all the right ways against him, but nothing. All lay dormant down below.

Shit! What the hell is going on?
A few hours ago, he’d awakened harder than hell from a naughty dream featuring his hot neighbor, and now he couldn’t even muster up a little enthusiasm. Although, at the thought of Suzie, something finally did start to stir, and Hunter pulled away from the blonde with a groan.

“What’s wrong?” she asked huskily with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Sorry, I just remembered. I’ve got an early morning meeting. We’ll have to get together another time.” And before she could protest, he took off.

Riding his bike, the cool evening air streaming over his body, he thought,
What is it about Suzie that
has me so bewitched?
She’s attractive, but then again, so was the blonde I just tried to pick up.
Never had a woman filled his thoughts like she had from the moment he’d met her. So what made her special? Sure, he liked the twins, but that still didn’t explain his attraction to Suzie. The urge he had to talk to her, be with her, touch her. . .

Hunter wished his mother were here. She’d always been great at listening and giving him advice. He wondered what she’d think of Suzie. That is, after she got over her initial shock because the women he usually went after weren’t the type you brought home to mother. Just the fact he wanted his mom to meet her said a whole lot more than Hunter felt ready to admit. He knew his father would hate her on principal.

“She’s a mundane,” he could hear the commander saying now. Yes, had he mentioned that his commander was also dear old Daddy? Not that he’d called him anything other than Sir since, well, forever. He’d always been Daddy’s little soldier and had always been treated as such.

Hunter had never understood how his parents got together. His mother had such a free spirit, caring and giving, while his father was, well, the commander. He’d asked his mother once what she saw in him, and she’d replied, “I love him”, as if that was the only answer he needed.

Did he love Suzie? He didn’t think so. He barely knew her, but for the first time in his life, he couldn’t stop thinking about a woman. And he hadn’t even slept with her!

26

Is this what this is all about? My ego?
Could his interest simply be the thrill of the chase? In that case, then having sex with her should take care of it. But, somehow, he didn’t think that was the only problem. For some reason, Suzie and her kids scared him. Not the “ooh I’m shaking in my boots” type of fear. This one came from deeper inside, more of a man fear. A part of him found himself attracted to the comfort and family life she represented, but his wild, testosterone filled side screamed,
run for the hills
before she puts a bridle on you
!

And now he came to the root of the matter—commitment, or the dreaded word, marriage. Did his subconscious somehow fear that he’d suddenly stop being him, the hunter, if he found himself a family and settled down? Or was he scared he’d be like his father—a cold, unfeeling man who treated his children like soldiers instead of his own flesh and blood?

Well, that wouldn’t do. After all, he’d trained to be a hunter, and hunters weren’t scared of anything.

He’d prove it. Tomorrow morning, he’d take Suzie and the twins out for a day at the park. Right after a long, really long, workout. Maybe if his body was tired, he’d have a chance of resisting the urge to kiss her. Maybe.

27

Suzie didn’t mean to spy on him. She’d happened to look out the window of her room while making her bed and there he shone. A half naked, golden god in the early morning light.

Hunter stood in his backyard wearing only a low hanging pair of track pants. His muscles rippled as he took his body through a series of exercises that had him stretching and bending.
And lord help me, it is
so sexy.

Finished with his stretching, he picked up a wooden cane, and with it in one hand, he began moving again. Pirouetting and slashing with the cane as he spun his body first in one direction, then the other, the exertion made his body shine so temptingly. Lunging and twirling, he circled his yard, his wooden cane striking at imaginary foes. A whirlwind of action, his body moved sinuously like an ancient warrior engaged in a killing dance. Suzie watched him, enthralled at the raw power and energy he exuded. She held her breath when he began to rapidly spin and slash, a cyclone of motion. He finished up his routine with a tumble and upward jab.

Suzie couldn’t help the heat that coursed through her loins. Her breasts felt heavy, her kitty throbbed, and she had an insane urge to run downstairs and fling herself on him so she could lick the sweat off his chest.

She really needed to get laid.

Dashing into the bathroom down the hall, she stripped and jumped into the shower with only the cold water on. Shivering and teeth chattering, she tried to get the image of his body out of her mind. She needed to control this. She had promised herself three years ago that she would never let her hormones make her choices again. And that’s all it was. Hormones. Lust. And lust wasn’t the foundation to build a relationship from. She wanted more this time.

But
, said a nagging little voice in her head,
he’s also nice, polite, great with the kids. . .

And he happened to also be a private eye who had to leave town on business, who rode a Harley, and could have his pick of just about any woman he wanted. Especially ones who didn’t come with a past, emotional baggage, or a built in family like her.

Suzie sighed. A good dose of reality, while not always welcome, was sometimes needed. Feeling more in control, Suzie stepped out of her cold shower and toweled off. Only halfway through her drying, the doorbell, of course, rang.

Shoot!
Suzie rubbed at herself frantically, trying to dry off marginally before trying to pull up her jeans over still too damp legs. And everyone knows how well that works.

She had them wedged halfway up her legs when she heard the children squealing and a low voice rumble back at them.

Hunter is here? Oh damn, did he see me spying on him?

Yanking roughly on her jeans, she hopped and squirmed till she managed to finally wiggle them up over her hips. Her bra was nowhere in sight so she threw her T-shirt on, which, of course, rolled up around her boobs. Tugging it down while cursing under her breath, she scurried out of the bathroom, wet hair dripping down her back, and flew down the stairs.

Hunter had pulled on a shirt before coming over, she noticed. A shame.

He smiled when he saw her, and his eyes grew smoky as he stared at a point below her chin.

Looking down, Suzie wanted to sink into the ground and die. Her wet hair and still damp body made the T-shirt cling to her full breasts. Her nipples, prominent already through the thin fabric, hardened into little nubs. Cheeks pink in mortification, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

The jerk just chuckled. She took back every thought she’d had about him being nice. Nice guys didn’t stare at women’s boobs.
And nice girls didn’t spy on their neighbors exercising
, her snide inner voice replied.

28

“Hi, I was wondering if maybe you and the children would like to go to the park today? There’s nothing at the office for me to do, and I thought these little goblins might enjoy a change of scenery. We could bring a picnic for lunch. They’ve got tables and stuff set up there. There’s even a small pond we could hunt frogs in.”

“I, uh, don’t know. . .”
Bad idea, bad idea
, her mind chanted.

“Pwease,” begged Jessica, looking up at her with her big doe eyes.

“Yes, Mommy, can we go?” said Jared, his eyes just as pleading.

Faced with such cuteness, what was a mother to do?

“Okay, we’ll go, but first I want you to tidy up your room and get dressed.” The kids were gone in a flash, screaming in glee as they raced up the stairs.

“I’ve got some sandwiches already made. Peanut butter and jelly all right?” said Hunter, an amused quirk still twisting his lips.

“Pretty sure of yourself, were you?” she asked, a little miffed.

“Hoping,” he said, unabashed.

“I’ll get the kids ready and pack some snacks and juice. When do you want to leave? And how are we getting there?”

“I’ll wait for you out front. We can walk, I think. It’s about a ten or fifteen minute walk from here.

Can the children handle that?”

“We should be all right, but I’ll bring the wagon just in case. Okay, we’ll see you out front in a few.”