Paxton crossed his ankles and rubbed his chin in deep thought. “Oh, right. That was the day you let her get stung by a bee.”
I held his gaze because I had to. Just like I didn’t speak until he did. I wasn’t about to comment on that one. No matter what I said, it would be the wrong answer. The bee had been in the car. It wasn’t like I’d told her go step on a bee. She’d swatted at it and it landed right between her legs where it stung her. Just above her knee.
“Don’t take the girls.”
“Why? I promised Rowan we would go to the park.”
“Go to the store and get back. If this storm keeps coming like this, we’re going inland. We’ll get a hotel somewhere. Don’t take the girls. She’s got the playset right out back that I built. They can play outside here. One hour,” Paxton ordered while he held my stare and talked to me in short sentences like I was five. With one finger in the air, he shot me a stern glare, and waited for a reply.
“Yes, okay,” I cowered and cast my gaze toward the floor.
“Close the door on your way out” he ordered with a brusque goodbye. He lowered his head, dismissing me.
I obeyed with a soft exhale and left his office.
“Jake said Rowan is a boy name,” Rowan claimed out of the blue as I entered the living room. My eyebrows arched toward the ceiling, wondering where that came from. Her attention moved from the television to the crayon box. I had no idea why she said that. She hadn’t even seen Jake since dance class, two days before. I sat beside her on the sofa and stared up at the preschool show on television.
“He did? Well, it’s not. Rowan is a queen of an enchanted land. In a perfect parallel world.”
“Where’s that?”
“In here.” I winked at her, fingers tapping lightly over her heart. “It’s where people never get sick, they’re always happy, and they love each other wholeheartedly.”
“And I’m the queen?” Rowan questioned with an impish grin.
“And me, too?” Ophelia wanted to know.
“Yes, for sure. You’re both my little queens.” I gathered my purse and an umbrella. “Now, I’m going to get going before the rain starts. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Rowan slid from the couch, not about to be left behind. “You said I could come, too.”
“I know, but I want to get back before it storms. I’ll bring you something.”
“I started your car. Let’s go find a snack, Rowan,” Paxton said from the door. That was his subtle way of telling me he checked the mileage on my odometer.
I stood and thanked him.
“I’m going with my mommy,” Rowan insisted as her little hand slid into mine.
“And me, too,” Ophelia said just as persistent. She stood, took two steps, and tripped over her own feet. Paxton and I both turned toward the thump and laughed. She jumped up like a trooper and took my other hand.
“Neither one of you are going. There’s a tropical storm coming. Let your mom go so she can get back here. Who wants ice cream?”
Of course that did it. They both tossed little arms in the air, yelling in agreement, “Meeeee.”
Rowan took off, heading toward the kitchen, fixated on ice cream, Ophelia right behind. Rowan skipped like a pro, and her little sister followed suit with a hop, a skip, and a jump. She tried like hell to follow her big sister’s professional moves, but didn’t quite have it. Close, but not quite. I beamed after her, completely in love as she yelled her intent to have the pink spoon.
Paxton strolled toward me, a smirk in a thin line across his lips. His hand pulled me to his body from the small of my back and I fell into him. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are? I love this dress. Now if you just had a little lipstick. Red lips. Hmmm,” he hummed while whispering warm words in my ear. After a long moment of taunting me with soft kisses, he said, “You should probably get going.” His lips caressed my skin and I held my breath. It was Florida. If he thought I was sexy, it wasn’t from trying. I had my hair in a messy bun on top of my head and I wore little makeup, a plain maxi-dress, and sandals. And I sure as hell wasn’t about to wear lipstick.
“I’ll see you in a little bit.” I pulled away and he drew me back, holding my fingers with his. His thumb brushed over my hand while his eyes held mine.
“According to the weather channel, we have about four hours to buckle down.”
“I promise to be home before the storm,” I said with a hidden sneer. For a split second, I thought I’d pulled off the sarcasm. But Paxton knew exactly what lay behind my words. The storm wasn’t supposed to hit for another four or so hours. I couldn’t be ten minutes late. Never mind four hours.