Worth the Fall(51)

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Whatever she wanted it to be? She followed him outside, thinking she didn’t know what she wanted it to be. That one touch on her arm brought back the memory of every one before it.

Blue jeans hugged his powerful legs, perfect butt. White shirtsleeves set off the heavily muscled arms that had wrapped around her. That she wanted wrapped around her again. Had she really wanted to forget him? Had she really thought she could?

He looked the same, but so much better. It was all she could think as she watched him with the kids. Hugs and tackles ensued, a reunion   of epic proportion.

“Now you’ve done it.” Matt caught Jack in a headlock, rubbing his head with his knuckles.

“I’m going to be a soldier like you,” Jack said, spinning out of his grasp. “Do you think I’d be good?”

“You have to go to school first, then lots of training. But yes.” He cuffed Jack’s ear and followed with a loving pat. “I think you’d be very good.”

Matt’s eyes slid past Jack to hers. Had she imagined a shadow crossing his face at the mention of “soldier”?

“I’ve already been practicing,” Jack said. “See?” And he let loose with his best karate kick.

Matt’s eyes were still on hers when Jack’s foot made contact with his crotch, and he went down in a heap, both hands cupped tightly between his legs.

He rolled from his side to his back, breathing through clenched teeth.

“Matt?” She knelt beside him in the grass.

“It worked!” Jack shouted triumphantly.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Abby asked.

“No. I’m…Just…give me a…minute.”

The kids crowded around with a mix of curiosity, sympathy, and pride. Gracie’s concern manifested in twenty questions aimed at the patient.

“Are you okay? What did you hurt? Are you going to be sick? If you are, don’t puke on the carpet.”

Abby cradled his head in her lap. “He’s not sick, honey.”

Annie returned with ice balled up in a paper towel. Uh…not going to help.

“Sorry, Matt,” Jack said, sounding only slightly repentant. “But that was a good kick, wasn’t it?”

“Very good,” Matt said, his breathing slow and deep.

Abby continued running her fingers through his dark, cool hair, just like she did to Jack and Charlie. She wanted to hold him, ease him, for all the times she hadn’t been there. Couldn’t be there.

“Mommy,” Gracie said, concerned. “Maybe you should kiss his boo-boo.”

Matt’s eyes flew open and her face went hot. “A kiss would be nice.”

“I, uh…I better not. I mean…I better check on the food.” She left him to recover, trying not to think about kissing his…anything.

When they’d both recovered, Matt grilled the meat and vegetables she’d prepared and they ate outside on the patio. They fell into the same easy rhythm, cutting food and catching spills. The kids bombarded him with questions and details of every day since they’d parted. It reminded her of their last dinner at the beach, except this time, other than the kids, they were alone.

And the kids would be going to bed soon.

Afterward, they cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen like they’d done it a hundred times, scooting around each other, bumping elbows.

Any misgivings she’d had about him being different or her feeling off at having a man in her house blew right out the screen door. Their vibe was the same, only better. Stronger. That should’ve scared her to death, but when he leaned back against the counter and snapped her butt with a dishrag, being afraid was the last thing on her mind. She laughed and flicked soapsuds at him.

He flicked some back, then wiped at the bubbles on her nose. “I’m glad I’m here,” he said. Thoughtful brown eyes reached out to her as he trailed his hands down her arms until he linked their fingers.

“Me too,” she said, unable to lie. Because with a touch or a look, Matt dissolved all her defenses. She was heading straight into his arms when Jack came screaming through the kitchen.

“Matt, come to my room!”

Matt brought her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. It was barely a touch, but it felt like a promise. Maybe of what was to come.

“Matt, come on. You gotta see some stuff.”

With Matt on his home turf, Jack was on a mission to squeeze in as much show-and-tell with him as he possibly could.

Charlie raised his arms to Matt to be picked up. He’d already learned the man would never turn him down.

“Go ahead. Go see stuff,” she told him with a grin. “I’ll finish up.”