Eve Langlais Read Online Free

problem. Come on, kids. You set the table while I get the water boiling.”
    A half hour later, with only a few minor skirmishes as they decided where Hunter would sit—
    between the twins—they all sat down for dinner, or so thought Suzie with a smirk. An educational experience for Hunter who obviously hadn’t spent much time eating with children. No food ever looks the same after you’ve seen it being spit out, partially chewed so that they can have a drink of juice, then—gross—stuffed back in their mouth.
    For dessert they made super-duper sundaes—ice cream with bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate sauce. Hunter looked at his portion dubiously, but after a few bites, wolfed it down as quickly as the kids.
    “That was delicious,” he said, leaning back and patting his tummy. The kids giggled and leaned back, aping him.
    Suzie laughed. “I discovered that magical combo when I was pregnant with these two. When you’re pregnant, eating takes on a whole new dimension, as did my hips,” she said ruefully, eyeing her rounded figure.
    8

    “I say your hips look great,” drawled Hunter. “Skinny women are way overrated.”
    Suzie hadn’t been fishing for a compliment, but his remark and his admiring gaze made her blush.
    “Oh, thank you,” she said, flustered. She busied herself clearing the table and carried the mess to the sink. Turning around to grab the last of the dishes, she hit a brick wall. Hunter had already grabbed the rest of the dishes and stood right behind her. She bumped into his solid chest and stumbled back. She felt his large, firm hand grasp her around the waist to steady her, and she gasped as a sensual heat flowed through her body. She looked up at him to say sorry, but the words got caught in her throat at the smoky look directed at her. His body, so close to hers, radiated heat, and she felt a matching warmth spreading through her own body.
    They stood there, staring at each other, frozen, waiting for the other to move. A thump from the table broke the trance, and he moved back.
    Suzie looked over at the kids. Jessica had slumped onto the table, half asleep. Jared drooped, not far behind. Their long day had finally caught up to them. Hunter, seeing their drowsy state, picked up Jessica in one arm and then scooped Jared up in the other. Wow, those muscles sure are useful , Suzie thought as she led him upstairs to the kids’ bedroom.
    Suzie stripped Jessica and dressed her in her nightie, then sent her to the bathroom and did the same to Jared. Hunter, who had disappeared, came back with two small cups of water, which he put on each child’s night stand.
    “How—” said Suzie.
    “The children told me quite a bit about themselves today, including the fact that they need a nightlight and a drink of water for bedtime. And also that Mommy,” he said, grinning as he called her that, “gets scared during thunderstorms so they need to crawl into her bed to make sure she’s all right.”
    “What else did they tell you?” she asked. Oh God, exactly how many secrets had the children revealed?
    “I also know you’re scared of spiders, that Jessica hates carrots, and Jared wants to be a cowboy and an astronaut.”
    “I wanna be a priv gator,” said Jared sleepily as he shuffled back into the room.
    “Me too,” said Jessica, right behind him.
    “Well, for now, you both need your sleep,” said Suzie, kissing and tucking them each into their own bed.
    Jessica held up her arms and puckered her lips. “Wanna kiss, Hunta.”
    Hunter, with a look at Suzie to see if it was all right, knelt down and gave Jessica a wet, smacking kiss that had her giggling. Jared, being a boy, didn’t want a kiss, but beamed at the manly handshake Hunter gave him. Suzie, watching all this, felt a pang. If only their father hadn’t been such a lying, uncaring bastard. Her children deserved—no, correct that—needed a father. Even just one day spent with Hunter, their first real masculine influence, seemed