“She’s fantastic with Ben,” Ryker says. “You picked a winner.”
“Well, Delaney really picked her,” I say with a shrug. “But yeah…she’s pretty great.”
“Who’s pretty great?” Kate asks as she climbs up the stairs followed by Ben.
When she hits the top step, my heart gives a tiny stutter. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair is wild from playing with Ben, and she looks sweet and completely fucking edible right now.
“You are,” I say honestly as I point my spatula at her. “With Ben.”
“I am,” she preens and gives a curtsy. “I really am.”
“And humble too,” Delaney says drily, and we all laugh.
Delaney and Kate get along extremely well, and I’ve been hearing plenty these last few days from Delaney, who has been consistently patting herself on the back over her wise choice of hiring.
“Okay, Peter Peter Poopy Eater,” Kate says to Ben as she takes him by the shoulder. “Let’s go get cleaned up.”
My eyes stare at her hungrily as she opens the sliding door for Ben and lets him go in after her. I watch her until she’s out of sight, and I cannot wait for the moment I get back from dropping Delaney and Ben off at the airport tomorrow. I’m going to attack her the minute I get in the house for sure.
“Oh, no,” Delaney says all of a sudden. “Oh, hell no.”
My head rotates her way and she’s glaring at me. “What?” I ask, confused.
“No, Zack,” she commands me as she points back toward the sliding glass door. “Absolutely not.”
I stare at her, flummoxed. My eyes cut over to Ryker, who says, “Did I miss something?”
Delaney leans forward in her chair toward me and then lowers her voice. “I saw the way you were looking at Kate,” she accuses.
Ryker says, “Oh, man.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” I say casually as I open the grill and start pulling the burgers off.
“You stay away from her,” Delaney presses me.
I turn and level a penetrating look at my sister. “You don’t tell me what to do.”
“Zack…she’s Ben’s nanny. She—”
“Back off, Delaney,” I say with an undercurrent of menace. “My life.”
She sits back in a huff and grabs her bottle of beer. I relax, but then Ryker asks, “I think I understand. But maybe not. Zack and Kate?”
This question is clearly addressed to Delaney, who answers, “Yes. Did you see the way he was eating her up with his eyes? And there was knowledge in those eyes. Oh, yes…he has carnal knowledge of that girl.”
“Holy fuck,” Ryker says slowly, and, I have to admit, with a little bit of awe in his voice.
I slam the grill lid closed and turn off the burners. Picking up the plate of hamburgers, I walk them over and set them on the table with a bit of a clatter. “Discussion is over,” I tell them both. “Now, I’m going in to get another beer. Do either of you want one?”
Ryker holds his hand up and Delaney mutters, “Bring the bottle of bourbon with you. I think I need it.”
I snicker and then head into the house. As I open the sliding glass door, Ben comes barreling out. I let him pass and then step inside, shutting the door behind me. When I step into the kitchen, I see Kate with her head in the refrigerator, that beautiful ass sticking out slightly. In two strides, I’m behind her and my hands go to her hips.
She startles but then immediately realizes it’s me, and I know this because she gives me an exasperated sigh and slaps my hands away. “Stop. Someone might see us.”
My hands go right back to her hips, then one slides across her stomach to pull her back in to me. “No, they won’t,” I whisper in her ear, just before I nip at it.
Kate gives a tiny moan and her head falls back on my shoulder. “Come on, Zack. Stop playing around.”
“This isn’t playing,” I tease her. “After I get back from the airport tomorrow, I intend to do a whole lot of playing around with you.”
And Christ…she fucking shudders hard in my arms.
I release her quickly before the bulge in my pants grows any bigger. “Hand me three beers, if you don’t mind.”
She pulls them out, holding them to me one by one over her shoulder. She pulls another one out for herself and shuts the refrigerator door. When she turns to look at me, she asks, “That, um…thing down there with Ben. You okay with that?”
“What?” I ask with my eyebrow cocked at her. “The fact my son didn’t want me to comfort him but wanted you?”
She nods hesitantly.