Page 47 of The Lucky List
“I was just playing off the dinosaur comment earlier. I guess I’m cleverer than I realized.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You still have to get them to eat whatever it is you’re making.”
“Who wants to help me cook dinner?” I say with enthusiasm as I turn back to the boys. If I’ve learned anything about kids, it’s that you can get them excited about boring tasks with some enthusiasm and a little competition, especially little boys.
“I do!” Micah raises his good arm.
“MEEEE!” Levi shouts.
I drop into a squat. “Okay, this is very important. Can I trust you two to do something for me?”
They both nod, looking at me intensely for further instruction.
“It’s very important that we get all the germs off your hands so you can help. Can you do that?”
“I can!” Micah says as he walks to the bathroom.
Levi stomps his foot. “I don’t wanna wash my hands. It’s too hard.”
“Then I guess Micah will be my assistant.” I stand and cross my arms.
Levi runs off, and I chuckle when I hear the commotion and sibling fighting coming from the bathroom.
“Okay, that was a little impressive,” Lucy says.
Moving closer to her, I take a minute to fully take her in. Her hair is in a messy bun, her face free of makeup. She looks beautiful.
The leggings that hug every delectable curve of her thick thighs make me want to take my time peeling them off her. But I mentally frown at the baggy shirt she’s wearing that covers her perfect round arse. I didn’t say anything when she put one on after our bath, but I want to rip it off and feast on every delicious inch of her. Instead, I reach out and tug at the hem, unable to help myself as I slip a hand under her shirt and squeeze her arse cheek.
She gasps and then looks at the bathroom before turning back to me. “Before they come back…” She pushes her lower lip out slightly.Fuck, the things I want to do to that lip.“Do I get a nickname?” she asks.
I lean into her ear, my cheek brushing hers as electricity courses through me at the contact. “I’m just going to call you Squirtle.”
“Really?” she says, leaning back, clearly unimpressed.
“Aye. Squirtle seems unassuming but has a hard shell that’s tough to crack. And once I penetrate your shell, I’m going to make you squirt so hard, I’ll ruin you for any other man.” I slap her ass, making sure it’s hard enough that the sting will linger while we cook. “And that spanking doesn’t count for your list.” I wiggle a finger at her.
“That’s… umm…”
I don’t have time to revel in her flustered look before the boys run back in ready to help.
Since picky eaters are involved, I decide to pivot and make dino nuggets for the boys and the chicken dish I planned for me and Lucy. If they get brave and want to try our dish, there’ll be plenty to share. But I have something else in store that I think they’ll really enjoy.
Levi helps wash the potatoes while I peel them over thetrash can. Micah is at the kitchen island, neatly placing florets of broccoli on a baking sheet.
Even though they both lose interest about halfway through the process, it’s the most fun I’ve had in the kitchen in years.
While they’re distracted watching an episode ofNumberblocks, I pile mashed potatoes onto a baking sheet, forming it into a volcano shape while placing broccoli sporadically to look like trees. I pull the dinos out of the air fryer and arrange them into an epic battle scene in the mashed potatoes at the base of the volcano. Using two fingers, I create a channel in the potatoes for the gravy lava to flow, so it stays fairly contained in case they don’t want it touching their food.
Lucy stares with rapt fascination as I work. It takes longer to assemble than I anticipated, but I finally finish my Jurassic creation. Mesozoic creation? What era was the one with the dinosaurs?
“Hungry!” Levi yells.
“Is dinner ready yet?” Micah asks.
“It is. Who wants to pour the lava?” I ask.
Two heads turn to us and then they’re up off the couch, running toward the kitchen. Levi climbs onto a stool, reaching out a hand to grab the gravy, but I hold it up, out of his reach.
