“As you wish, little human.” I smile at her and she gives me a scrunched nose smile. It’s a smile she’s been giving me lately, and I think it’s supposed to mean something but I’m still learning little girl speak so I have no idea what. Matt wanted to hang out with a friend who lived down the street, so it’s just me and my girls looking at furniture.
“What do you think?” I ask when we get to the turquoise L-shaped sectional with a lounge.
Amber bites her lip looking at the price. “It’s nice…” It is expensive, but not out of my budget.
“I like it.” Emily releases my hand and climbs onto the lounge. “It sits good.”
“It sits good?”
“Yeah, it sits comfy. Come sit on it, Mommy!”
“Give it a whirl.” I nudge Amber and she cuddles next to Emily. I join them, sitting as close as possible to Amber, who tries to scoot away but there is no place for her to go. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pull her into my side. “It does sit comfy.”
“You’re a goof,” Amber mumbles but relaxes a little.
“This goof says we should get it.”
“Are you sure?” She cocks her head to the side and peers up at me. All it would take is a little dip of my head and my mouth would be touching hers. Tempting… so very tempting.
“It’s what you want.”
“Are you seriously going to buy this because you know I want it?” Her eyes roam my face.
“Yep.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re beautiful.”
“Can I help you folks?” a sales associate asks with a full watt smile. He’s an older gentleman with thinning hair, a pot belly, and mismatching suit, but he gives off good vibes.
“We’re interested in this setup here.” I wave at the sectional display we are still sitting on.
“Great, come with me and we will get the paperwork started.”
“Shall we?” I stand, holding a hand out to Amber, but she ignores it and picks up Emily, putting her on her hip. Emily is a bit too big to be carried by Amber, and I chuckle at her attempt to keep her distance.
The paperwork doesn’t take long and Amber and Emily wander around the store while I finalize the purchase and negotiate delivery. Luckily, I will be able to have it delivered before Thanksgiving. I want Amber’s first Thanksgiving to be perfect, even if the kids won’t be there.
When I finish up, I scan for my girls and find them in the kids furniture section, talking with a young man who is making Emily giggle. I pick up my pace.
“Standing a little close, aren’t we?” I growl at the man, molding my hand around Amber’s waist and pulling her back into my chest. She lets out a little squeak but doesn’t move.
“My apologies. Your daughter was telling me about her pink sparkle room,” the man says and takes a step back. I like that he thinks Emily is my daughter.
“Ready to go?” I ask Amber, not bothering to correct the man.
“Yes.”
“You folks have a nice day. Come back if you decide you want the bedroom set. I bet it will look great in your room, Emily.”
“Sure,” I mutter, not liking that he knows Emily’s name. I grab Amber’s hand, pulling her and Emily away.
“You didn’t have to be so rude,” Amber whispers as we exit the store.
“How else would he know you are off limits?” I shrug, watching for cars as we cross the parking lot to my truck.
“He wasn’t flirting; he was trying to sell me something.”
“He was flirting,” I deadpan before I open her door. Picking Emily up, I open the extended cab door and place her on her booster seat.
“Luke, will you be Mommy’s boyfriend?” Emily asks as I fasten her seatbelt.
“Yes.”
Amber angles around to glare at me. “No.”
“Sorry, Emily has asked and I have answered. You’re stuck with me.” I laugh and shut Emily’s door, then Amber’s, cutting off her protests.
When we walk into the empty house, Amber’s still explaining to Emily that me and her are not together, but Emily just giggles.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Amber huffs, not willing to give it up.
“But Parker’s friend Jacob asked me to be Parker’s boyfriend and I said yes, and now he’s my boyfriend,” Emily fires back, getting my attention.
I stop and stare down at Emily. “You are too young for a boyfriend.”
“Am not.”
“Am too.”
“Am not.” She puts her little hands on her hips and presses her lips together and squints hard at me. She is just like her mother.
“Amber, help me out here.”
“Nope, you’re on your own.” Amber hangs her coat up and walks to the coffee pot, yawning.
“No boyfriends. Ever,” I tell Emily, who rolls her eyes at me. Rolls her eyes! She’s too young to be rolling her eyes, and too sweet. “I mean it. No boyfriends.”
“Okay.” She shrugs off her coat.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, we’re getting married at recess.” She hangs her coat then walks to Amber. “Can I play on my tablet?”
“Sure,” Amber says over her shoulder while adding coffee grounds to the coffee maker.
“Do you even know this Parker character?” I ask, stalking over to Amber. She turns around and leans against the counter with a sly smile. It disappears when I rest my hands on either side of her, pinning her against the counter.
“I… I know him,” she hesitates, leaning back away from me. “You’re too close.”
“Not close enough.” I press in closer. “But getting there.”
“You’re not my boyfriend.” She sounds breathy and I smile, pressing in closer. “We don’t have to put a label on it.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“You never say what you mean,” I whisper then tentatively brush my lips over hers. She doesn’t move but sucks in a breath, and I swoop in. It starts off slow, both reacquainting ourselves and then her hands slide up my chest and my arms lock around her, pulling her fully into me.
Her tongue mingles with mine and I fist her hair, needing more of her. When she moans, my dick hardens, throbbing against my jeans, and when she wraps her arms around my neck, her tits press up against my chest. I think I might throw caution out the window and have my way with her now instead of taking things slow.
“Making out when little eyes aren’t around?” I hear Burns’ voice, then the sound of a shutter and a flash goes off. Amber rips her lips away from mine, her face pales.
I don’t let Amber go, though she squirms pretty hard.
“What are you doing here, old man?” I growl, glaring at him.
“I tell him he can’t just waltz in like he owns the place.” Miss Janet smiles at us looking pleased.
“I’m getting good at this photography thing.” Burns shows Miss Janet the Polaroid picture. “Putting this on the fridge.”
“Let me go.” Amber shoves me, sounding distressed.
“Relax.” I loosen my grip on her and slide a finger down her cheek then tilt her head up. “To be continued.”