"Uh, oh." Ann gave him a pained look of apology before she spoke again. "Okay, sweetie, how about this, then: Why don't you come keep me company tonight? I'm frightened without grandpa here in this big house alone, and Mr. Drew will sleep down the hall in Nathan's old bedroom. If we need him to scare away any monsters, we'll call him. Will that be okay?"
"Daddy?" she bellowed across the pool. Drew watched as Quinn and Nathan jumped apart. "Grammy is afraid of monsters. Will it be okay if I sleep over with her tonight?"
Quinn peeled himself away from Nathan and trotted around the pool, either unaware of or not the least bit ashamed of the bulge in his trousers. Drew could feel interrupted desire radiating off him in waves as he came closer. A quick look across the pool confirmed that Nathan was in the same condition. His eyes practically smoldering when their gazes met. Shit, fuck.
He couldn't stay here. "I'm going to head into town, after all. I have a room reserved there. It would fit my cover better."
Ann wouldn't hear of it, neither would Emma, and Quinn agreed with them. But Natalie cast a warning glance in his direction; she didn't say so, but he could tell she agreed with him.
"Daddy, will you be here to take me to school in the morning?" Emma grabbed his hand and then Drew's and started dragging them inside. "Goodnight, Nathan. Tonight, Drew is going to keep the monsters away so you and Daddy can be alone."
"The kid is quick on the draw, isn't she?" Drew couldn't help but laugh when Quinn sighed.
"You have no idea," Nathan said, picking the child up and planting a kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight, sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow night, okay, and you can tell me all about the party then, okay?"
"I forgot all about the party. Tomorrow is our end of school party. We're having pizza and we get to play all day on the playground. And then the day after that, we don't even have to come if we don't want to. I want to, though. I like school. Come on, Grammy. Oh, and Daddy, bring my favorite pink dress when you come to pick me up in the morning, the one with the tutu on it."
"Honey, do you really think you should wear the tutu dress? I think shorts will be better on the playground."
"But I love that dress. It's my favorite party dress."
"What if you tear it or get it dirty on the slide, then what are you going to wear to Kristy Swain's birthday party next weekend?"
"Oh, I forgot about that. You're right, Daddy. I'll just wear shorts and sneakers. Can I still wear my tiara? I promised Kristy I would."
"Okay. I guess that will be fine. Have a good night. Luss you."
"It's love, Daddy."
"What was I thinking? I love you."
"Luss you too. Goodnight, Nathan, I luss you."
"Love you, too, munchkin," Nathan said, wrapping his arm around his sister. "And you, too, older munchkin."
Nathan oofed when Natalie punched him in his side. "Good-night, Drew. See you tomorrow."
"You, too, Nat. And don't forget the plan." He let her brush a kiss on his cheek before he followed Ann and Emma upstairs to what he now knew was Nathan's childhood room. Behind him, he heard brother and sister mumble pleasantries while Quinn went about shutting the house down for the night.
Once in the room, he closed the door and leaned heavily against it. Shit, this wasn't going to work. After three and a half years and miles and miles of distance, the yearning for something he couldn't have had returned. The excuses he'd made over the years came back to him, but he still wanted the impossible. Silver eyes, tilted at the corners, looked back at him every time he closed his eyes. Lush red lips taunted him. God, he wished things had turned out differently the last time he was here. This wanting something he couldn't have was for the birds.
Drew needed air, the room was stuffy despite the air-conditioner churning. He shut off the lights and followed the dim light to the set of French doors that led out onto a balcony. He opened one and sat down on the floor, breathing in the cool early summer air.
Home. God, this smelled like home. Night-blooming jasmine, the scent of pine, and damp earth filled his senses. Crickets and cicadas picked up the chorus of summer. The breeze caressed his face, cooling the frustration that seemed to wrap around him like a heavy cloak so much of the time lately. Another sound caught his attention. A heavy thud followed by a masculine laugh.
He knew that laugh. The sound washed over him, caressing him just as the breeze had. Nathan's dark head came into view as he crossed the patio to the other side of the pool where Quinn waited in the same chaise lounge they'd shared earlier.
That Drew hadn't noticed the blond at all gave him a moment's pause as their voices drifted up to meet him. He leaned against the door frame, he wasn't intruding, he told himself. The two of them would disappear into the night back to their cabin in the woods and into each other's arms. Damn, but he was pathetic.