“I’m so glad you’re here.” Sam’s eyes fill with tears, which he quickly brushes away. “It’s been two whole weeks.”
“I know. Baseball season is rough, kiddo. But now that you’re out of school, you and your sister and mom will be coming with me more.”
“Good.” Sam sighs in relief and grins at Simon. “Did you meet my dad?”
“I did, and he seems like a great guy.”
“Yeah, he’s awesome. He plays baseball.”
“I’ve seen him play,” Simon replies. “Thank you for taking us to see the gators today. I had a great time.”
“You’re welcome. You did good. You didn’t even flinch when you held the baby.”
“Did Aunt Charly flinch?” Gabby asks with a smile.
“Yeah, she didn’t like it,” Sam says when Rhys sets him on the ground and we make our way inside. “But she covered it up good.”
“I did?”
Simon shakes his head no, making everyone laugh.
“Well, you tried,” Sam amends and then yawns. “I don’t want to go to bed.”
“No bedtime shenanigans tonight,” Gabby says with her stern mom voice. “Your sister is asleep, and you’re going to bed. We have lots to do tomorrow to get ready to travel with your dad for a week.”
“Okay,” Sam says and wraps his arms around my waist, squeezing me tight. “Thanks again, Aunt Charly.”
“You’re welcome, buddy.”
“And thanks, Mr. Simon,” he says, offering his hand for a fist bump.
“My pleasure.”
“I’ll get him settled,” Rhys says and kisses his wife on the cheek. “Good night, y’all.”
“We should go,” I say and yawn. “It’s not that late, but it’s been a long day.”
“Why don’t you stay?” Gabby asks. “I had a cancelation, so I have a room available, and it is late. I’d feel better if you slept here.”
“I’d love that. Rumor has it you make a delicious breakfast,” Simon says with a smile. “What do you think?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to make more work for you.”
“Oh please.” Gabby rolls her eyes and gestures for us to follow her up the stairs. “It’s the same amount of work. Adding two is nothing, trust me.” She leads us to the Penelope room and grins. “And you get the prettiest room in the inn.”
“Why is it called the Penelope room?” Simon asks.
“Each room is named after a different woman from our family,” she says with a smile. “Penelope was our great grandmother. From what I hear, she was funny, hardworking, and the life of the party.”
“It’s a lovely room,” Simon says, checking out the four-poster bed covered in an antique quilt. “Thank you.”
“Sleep well,” Gabby says with a wink and closes the door behind her.
I turn to Simon and sigh, happy to finally be alone with him.
“Come here,” he says quietly. I comply, walking to him and stopping just before we touch. “How do you feel?”
“Tired. Happy. Ready for a shower.”
His lips twitch as he drags a finger down my cheek. “Let’s take that shower. Then I want to curl up in that bed with you and hold you while you sleep.”
I blink at him. “No sex?”
He smiles now. “Are you disappointed?”
Yes. “It’s no big deal.” I shrug and turn away, but he catches my arm at the elbow and spins me back to face him, kissing me deeply.
“Trust me, when I’m inside you tonight, it will be a big deal.”
“Promises, promises.”
“I love your sassy side.”
“Is that all?”
He laughs and turns to the bathroom, pulling me behind him. “Come on, sassy, let’s get cleaned up so I can remind you what a big deal I am.”
Chapter Thirteen
~Simon~
“This is the best breakfast I’ve ever had,” I say the next morning. We’re seated at the breakfast bar, watching Gabby bustle about.
“Thank you,” Gabby says with a grin.
“She’s always been a good cook,” Charly says as she munches on fruit and sips her coffee. She’s fresh faced this morning, her hair brushed and up in a tail. She looks young and carefree, and because I know her, well-fucked.
It was the first time we made love without making much noise. I do prefer to have privacy so she can be uninhibited, but last night was just as much fun. We smiled and covered our moans with kisses, as if we were young and trying to hide from our parents.
Charly delights me at every turn.
“What are your plans for the day?” Gabby asks as Rhys walks in the room. He snatches a slice of bacon, shoves most of it in his mouth, then swoops his wife into his arms and bends her back into a dramatic kiss, making her laugh.