Page 50 of Against The Tide

I turn to find Jo standing behind me, smiling as dreamily as I am.

“It is.”

“She’s been up since dawn. I found her in front of the television with a bowl of cereal. I think she might be excited about going to see the school.”

“I bet,” I chuckle, watching as Iris licks frosting off her fingers and Rhett looks on with a wide grin.

Dipping a spoon into the frosting bowl, he hands it to her. “Maybe stick to eating it off the spoon?”

“Nah, it tastes better off my fingers.”

Garbled, her words are a mix of savoring mmms and cheeky chortles that leave me with no doubt that I’m doing the right thing by moving on with our lives.

“That’s kind of yucky.” Rhett sticks his tongue out, brushing her hair away from her face. “Did you wash your hands after you gave Cap his treat?”

“Ummm.” She pauses with a shrug, taking a moment to think about whether she did or not. It means she didn’t.

“Iris!”

“What? It doesn’t taste bad, so…”

She carries on licking her fingers like she always does when we bake. Anyone would think she was raised by a savage. At least she remembers to wash her hands before helping Rhett frost whatever they’ve made.

“That poor teacher ain’t gonna know what hit her with her and Scout in the same room.” Jo starts for the back doors, picking up her fruit-picking basket and hat with Ship and Wave on her heels.

Her move gives us both away. For a moment I’m completely transfixed by Rhett’s bright gaze. His eyes look relucent beneath his thick lashes. With the sunlight shining across his face, they look a vibrant green. And then he beams my way. The corners of his mouth turn up with a right-sided quirk that dimples his smile line.

Good God, I melt in every possible way. He has the very definition of a killer smile. It’s so perfect and so…sexy that it scrambles my thoughts.

Sexy. That thought sets me back. I can’t remember the last time I thought of anything or anyone as that. Let alone a man that makes my heart stop with a simple glance.

“We’ve been rumbled,” Rhett whispers playfully as I bring myself closer to them.

“At least we’re almost finished. That’s better than nothing.” Iris shrugs with glee glowing on her face.

The positive spin she puts on the situation makes me chuckle. This girl is something so special; in a way, she makes me grateful for those first years with Carl. Without them, I wouldn’t have her.

“What have you made?” I ask as I swipe some frosting from the corner of her mouth with my thumb and taste it.

It’s rather good even if it is sugary. Before she tells me what it is, I already know from the cream cheese tang.

“Red velvet cupcakes. I made sure Doc bought the ones we always make together, so you’ll love them.”

“It was a thank-you for helping me with the coop,” he adds.

“They were so smelly, and I got poop on my boots, but we cleaned it up.”

“Sounds like you’ve been busy.”

“We have, and now I have to go help Jojo with the apple picking because Rowan said he misses her pie.” Iris jumps down from the wooden stool she’s kneeling on. “Thanks for the treat, Doc.”

“You’re welcome, champ.” Rhett manages to clean her face with a towel as she grabs one of the cupcakes that has the most frosting and then rushes after Jo with Breeze running behind her.

“You’re going to have sticky hands!” Calling after her, I slump back into the island, looking up at the ceiling like all the answers to my life might rain down on me.

“Coffee?” Rhett holds a hot cup in front of my nose. It smells sweet and creamy, exactly how I love it first thing in the morning. The fact that he remembers all these details should feel strange, but if anything, it makes it easy to let myself go with him.

“Definitely.” I take the coffee, turning to him. “All you morning people sort of make me sick.”