A light breeze blew through the pine trees, rustling the falling oak leaves from their branches. Autumn’s brilliant colors floated around Renner and Landon, as they huddled over the campfire.
The kindling lit, and finally, the flame caught hold of the wood, and spread to the rest of the logs. Sparks crackled to life, filling the evening air with pine and maple.
“I did it!” Landon’s grin filled the lower half of his face. The exact same as Cassie’s smile.
“Well done, champ.” Renner gave him a fist-bump. “You’re an expert now.”
“All by myself.” He grabbed a seat on an old stump, and prepped a stick with a marshmallow. “S’mores. My favorite!” With the recent haircut nearly to his scalp, he looked older than his nearly-seven-years. And with every day, he looked more and more like his father, Kyle.
He rubbed Landon’s head, and kissed his forehead.
“Ugh!” He wiped his head with his arm. “Kissing is for girls!”
Renner chuckled. “When it’s just you, me and Mom, it’s okay, pal.”
He shrugged. “Okay. But not in front of my friends.”
“Oh, of course not,” he mocked with a smile.
The screen door to the cabin banged shut, and Cassie appeared, carrying a tray of hot chocolates for them. Her jeans hugged her hips perfectly, and her scarlet cowl-neck sweater outlined her frame in the cozy, delicious way meant for health magazines. Her boots shuffled through a new layer of leaves, crunching beneath her soles. “Ready for the sugar overload?”
“Mommy, we made a new rule.” Landon stuck his marshmallow in the flames. “No more kissing. Not around other kids.”
“Oh, really?” She handed him a mug, and raised her eyebrows.
Renner threw her a wink and set the tray aside.
“But it’s just us. So I can do this—,” Cassie grabbed their son’s head and peppered kisses all over his face, “—all I want.”
The kid squealed and laughed, giggles filling the camp air with love. A love that warmed Renner down to his toes.
“Daddy, help me!”
His heart stuttered.
Daddy.
Cassie’s expression was just as stunned.
The boy had called him by his name ever since they’d met, and well after the wedding. He knew his real father was Kyle, and talked about him with so much pride.
“Cassie,” Renner murmured, careful to keep his voice calm and positive. “Are you okay?”
She took a deep breath, and kept looking at him. But no words came out.
“He’s my dad, too.” Landon stood and blew out the fire that had wrapped around his marshmallow. “I have two. A daytime dad, and a nighttime one.”
Cassie pulled Landon onto her lap, and gave him a hug. She helped him pull the melted, burned sugar off the stick with two graham crackers. “What’s a nighttime dad, honey?”
“Daddy comes to me when I’m sleeping. He said everything will be okay. I can talk to him in my dreams. I told him all about Renner. He was happy.”
Renner’s heart squeezed in.
Cassie’s eyes watered, which she hid by kissing Landon on the cheek.
He could tell by the way she pinched her lips together, she couldn’t get any words out.
The fire sparked again, and the smoke climbed higher among the pine trees.
Landon accidentally dropped his s’more on the ground, and gasped. Then pouted with that adorable bottom lip jutting out.
“Come here, big guy,” Renner patted his leg. “I’ll help you with a new one.”
The little boy complied. Before long, he had another marshmallow completely charred in the flames.
Cassie watched them, silently sipping her hot chocolate.
“I’m glad you talk to your daddy in your dreams.” Renner squeezed Landon’s shoulder. “He can still tell you a lot of things, and watch you grow.”
He shrugged, his oblivious smile focused on the sugary treat in front of him.
“Will you do me a favor?” Renner asked.
“Sure,” the kid replied.
“The next time you talk to your daddy, tell him your mommy loves him very much.”
Cassie smiled, her gaze glassy in the firelight locked on him.
“Okay,” Landon answered.
“And that I said thanks.”
His stepson frowned, his little forehead crinkling. “But he already said thanks to you.”
Renner blinked, and tilted his head. “For what?”
“For making mommy smile. And making blueberry muffins with me.”
Cassie’s grin widened, her pearly white teeth easily visible in the shadows. After a one-shoulder shrug, she continued sipping from her mug.
Renner gave her a wink. “Making blueberry muffins with you is my favorite.” He helped Landon gobble down the s’more, chocolate smearing down his chin.
The hard Marine, and former Knight escort had never imagined having a kid in his life. He didn’t feel qualified. Or worthy. But little Landon had not only grown on him, he completely flipped his world upside down. He was the sweetest, most genuine thing Renner had ever seen, and a carbon copy of his mother in both heart and soul. Who knew a six-year-old could teach him how to be a loving father? All it took was a smile.
Funny, that was the same kind of thing a former Knight believed. To charm a client with only a smile. Only now he knew it’s real worth.
~ The End ~
SNEAK PEEK OF TELL ME WHAT YOU CRAVE
The next novel in the Knights of Texas series
Chapter One
Dorian
The hour before sunrise filled Dorian’s mind with peace. The rest of the city waking up, bursting with life, just as he was headed home from a good night’s work. Or, he should say a good night’s play.
Sweet exhaustion.
Dorian loved mornings like this.
He strolled down the sidewalk among skyscrapers and street stalls opening for Saturday’s Farmer’s Market. With a yawn, he scraped his hand across the stubble on his chin. He draped his suit jacket over his shoulder, absorbing the city air. More than ready for a nightcap and his down comforter. Everything was quiet inside his high-rise’s lobby. Even the doorman hadn’t shown up yet.
His footsteps echoed across the marble floor on his way to check his mailbox. The elevator dinged, and the mirrored doors opened.
The curvaceous woman of his dreams, from 9C, stepped through, her cocoa brown hair elegantly piled high on her head. When she looked up from her smartphone, she stopped. The perfect rose lipstick formed a small O, and her glorious blue eyes widened. Then in a flicker of a heartbeat, her expression morphed into annoyance.
He reveled in the spontaneous grin he couldn’t contain. “Ms. Evans. You look phenomenal, as always.”
Her scowl darkened her beautiful gaze. Before she had a chance to deny him again, he cut in. “I assume you’re all unpacked and settled. Since you’re heading to work so early. On a Saturday morning?” Dorian glanced down her perfectly ironed blue suit, with matching knee-length, pencil skirt. Her three-inch heels were the same color as her mauve nails. She was always so put together, but in a way that seemed effortless.
Grace’s jaw twitched. “You’re returning extremely late from your date, Mr. West. Or should I presume you’ve already been home since I saw you leave last night? In the same suit.”
He sighed with a smile. “I love that you pay attention to my details.” Then he shrugged. “But the bills have to be paid. And you’re one to accuse me of loving my job too much. You came home from yours so late last night, and now you’re back out in less than…” He checked his silver A.Lange & Sohne watch. “Seven hours.”
Her scowl disappeared instantly. To become a completely blank expression. The change so sudden, he almost stopped breathing. Or maybe it was from her delectable lips pressing together, and smudging the lipstick in the corner of her mouth.
It took everything he had not to reach out and wipe it away.
“Please,
Grace. Just one coffee. That’s all I ask. You won’t regret it.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’ve perfected your speed dating pitch, Mr. West. Excuse me.” She brushed past him.
Her spicy perfume with a hint of floral overtones almost knocked his senses sideways. With every click of her heels on the floor, her scent faded.
His chest ached the more it dwindled.
An envelope fell from under her arm and slid across the floor. Dorian couldn’t even tell she’d had something tucked there. He craved to discover more secrets of her body. Even more…what went on inside that gorgeous head of hers. Her expressions always betrayed her silence.
“Ms. Evans?”
She stopped and turned.
He picked up the envelope, noticing the handwritten address, from someone in Frisco, Texas. Only twenty-minutes away.
Grace grabbed it and pulled, but he didn’t let go. Her slate-blue eyes met his.
Her slow and deep intake of breath made him imagine the kind of slow and deep pleasure she’d have under his touch. The image stirred in his mind, and mirrored in his pants.
“Mr. West, did it ever occur to you I’m too old to play your games?”
He blinked. Too old?
“Set your aspirations to someone more your age—”
“How old do you think I—”
“Or someone more fitting to your…lifestyle.”
His bit the inside of his cheek. This wasn’t the first time a woman disapproved of his profession. It was the first time he felt the need to defend himself. “Does my occupation offend you?”
Her nostrils flared. “Good day. Or should I say, good night.”
“Try my name. Just once.” Dorian threw her a wink.
Grace studied him for a minute, until she finally left.
He smiled. She hadn’t frowned at him again. Chiseling away the ice, little by little.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Sheehey writes contemporary romance, and romantic suspense adventure. Water plays a crucial element in all of her novels, and she’s a strong advocate for Autism awareness & acceptance. She squeezes in writing time between chauffeuring around her two boys, and guzzling down French vanilla coffee. Her beloved husband keeps her relatively sane, and full of laughter. She and her family live in Texas.
www.SusanSheehey.com
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Novels by Susan Sheehey
Royals of Solana series
Prince of Solana (Book 1)
Jewel of Solana (Book 2)
Crown of Solana (Book 3)
Knights of Texas series
Tell Me What You Want
Tell Me What You Crave
Tell Me What You Need
Stand Alone Novels
Audrey’s Promise
Tell Me What You Want: Knights of Texas Book One Page 10
