Tequila And Tingles: Turtle Pine, Book 2 (17 page)

Oh, they had no idea just how impressive his
swimsuit
was. Actually, everything about him was impressive. Not just the physical stuff either.

Annie stopped next to her and placed a bowl in the sink. “Keep making that face and I’m going to insist on details.”

Beth looked away and tried to wipe the smile off her face. She wasn’t sure she managed. By the roll of Annie’s eyes, she knew she hadn’t.

Jane laughed. “Just wait until she hears Katie’s plans for later. If that happens, she’ll be in deep with the dopey smile.”

Oh, what now? She didn’t know how things worked, but she knew Jason wasn’t refusing Katie anything. Beth searched them both. “What?”

Jane transferred the last of the peas to a container. “I heard something about forts and marshmallow guns and teams.”

Annie worked around them, rinsing silverware and filling the sink with soapy water. “I’m pretty sure it’ll happen if Katie remembers to ask. I don’t think there’s a thing that girl will ask that he’ll refuse.”

Probably not. Her kids were crazy about him. Everybody in her family was crazy about him, herself included.

Chapter Nineteen

Surprised
just barely covered it when Jason picked up his keys and Beth asked if he was coming over for marshmallow guns and forts. He didn’t know what marshmallow guns and forts consisted of, but count him in.

Beth kicked her shoes off in the doorway. “I’m going to the bathroom and changing into something more comfortable.”

Oh, yeah? He caught her gaze, and instead of some scolding tip of her head, she just gave a teasing shrug and eased away.

“We’ll get the game ready.” Katie caught his hand and pulled him, ripping him off that thought path. “Time to get marshmallows.”

“What is marshmallows and forts?”

“We take the couch cushions off, get blankets and shoot marshmallows.”

Sounded simple enough. “Where are the marshmallows?”

She pointed to a high cabinet. “That one.”

She fetched bowls from under the counter and gave one to Kent. “We fill these. One for each team.”

“All right.” He followed her around the table with two bags of marshmallows. They sat and Kent climbed in his lap. He bounced the little one on his knee. “How do we win this game?”

Kent reached for a bag. “Marlows.”

Katie gave him a bowl. “We win. You don’t.”

He laughed. “You sure about that?”

“I always win. Kent and I do. Momma loses.”

“I see. Sounds like you’re used to playing two against one. Now you’ll be evenly matched.”

“We’ll still win. You don’t know how to play.”

She poked a finger in a bag and tore at it, sending marshmallows to roll across the counter. Kent was on them, scooping them into his mouth before she could get them in the bowl.

He hopped Kent once more on his knee. “Don’t eat all your ammo.”

The boy grinned and shoved in more.

Kate took some from the bowl too and then slid it to him. “That one is yours and Momma’s.”

“Now I know why we’re going to lose.”

She pulled the other bag and the second bowl close and eyed him. “Why did you kiss my mommy?”

Kids didn’t miss anything, like his sister said. Meredith had also said they were smart and not to antagonize them. “Because I like her.”

She tipped her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “That’s what Uncle Peter said.”

“Is it okay if I kiss your mom?”

“Uncle Peter said it is.”

Relief hit him that he’d scored that point with Beth’s brother. “But what do you think?”

She lifted a little shoulder to her ear.

Semi-sort of approval from her. That was better than nothing. “What else did Uncle Peter say?”

“He said that if I didn’t like it, Uncle Cade and Grandpa would arrest you. And that your jump shot is crinnel and good enough reason.”

Jason laughed. He was pretty sure she meant
criminal
. “They are right about that, but I see I’m not in jail.”

She picked at the empty bag on the table. “Are you going to be my new dad?”

Not a chance in hell was he going to be that asshole. “No.”

She looked at the marshmallows in her lap. “He left.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t like that.” She grabbed her bowl. “Gotta get the guns.”

Kent wiggled down and chased after his sister. Jason sat back and wiped at the smile on his face. He was pretty sure he’d just gotten a shakedown from a five-year-old.

Beth came around the corner and leaned on the doorway. “That was intense.”

“How long were you there?”

“Long enough to hear she threatened you with arrest.”

“She’s smart.”

“And she’s right.” She eased through the room and placed her hands over the back of one of the chairs. “We didn’t like it when he left, and we don’t want you to either.”

Fullness landed in his chest. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“I don’t know why. My big, nutty family. My kids. We’re a lot to take on.” She stepped around the chair, coming closer. “But I’m glad you want to.”

He caught her by the waist and pulled her down on his lap. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

He caught her cheek in his palm and brought her mouth to his. Lips pressed on his and something squishy bounced off his cheek. Little giggles filled the room. Katie and Kent were armed with guns and peppered them with marshmallows. Beth screamed and ducked under the table, leaving him wide open.

He blocked the shots. “Hey, where’s my gun?”

Beth laughed. “We don’t get one.”

“That explains why they always win!” He grabbed a handful from the bowl and threw them, chasing the two out the room. Squeals of laughter came from them as they jumped behind the couch. He started after them when Beth caught him by the arm.

She grabbed a handful of marshmallows and backed from the room, circled through the kitchen and laundry to sneak up behind the pair. The kids stood on tiptoes, peeking over the couch, unaware of the targets on their backs.

Beth mouthed a count of three and he threw the marshmallows in his hands with her, and together they tackled the kids on a pile of blankets and cushions. This was gold, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

About the Author

Keri Ford brings sexy contemporary romance to the American South. With a sprinkling of men in suits and women in high heels, you’ll most likely find four-wheeler riding, ball-cap-wearing fellas trying to sweet-talk sundress-wearing ladies in Keri’s books. Raised in the country in South Arkansas, Keri shares this flavor of life in her books. Glass of sweet tea at your elbow while you read is not required, but strongly recommended.

To keep up with this busy author, check out her website,
www.KeriFord.com
and
join her newsletter to catch all her new releases. Also find her on Facebook (
www.facebook.com/AuthorKeriFord
) and join her reader group, Ford Flirts. You can follow her on Twitter
@KeriFord
.

Look for these titles by Keri Ford

Now Available:

Turtle Pine

Cupcakes and Crushes

Don’t miss the other titles in Keri Ford’s Turtle Pine series!

Sometimes there is enough sweet to make up for the bitter.

Turtle Pine
, Book 1

Years ago, a broken heart sent Annie Cookie running from home, and she’s never looked back—until now. Her grandpa’s broken wrist means the family bakery is at risk of losing two big orders.

Reluctantly, Annie returns to Turtle Pine to help out, only to discover it’s not just seven hundred cupcakes she has to bake, but also a wedding cake for the half-sister who stole her high school sweetheart. Annie left town to get away from her sister. No way is she getting mixed up with her again. Once the cupcakes are done, she’s outta there.

Back in high school, Cade Revlin hid his crush on his brother’s girl, but when his brother dumped Annie for another Cookie sister, Annie slipped through his fingers and out of town. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to give her a reason to stay.

He’s got one week to change her mind. Or she’ll be gone in a cloud of powdered sugar.

Warning: Contains small-town meddling, family drama and all the necessary ingredients for a second chance at love—if they have the guts to turn up the heat.

If you loved this book, then you’re sure to love these Samhain favorites as well!

They’re different as night and day…but it’s the right time for love.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks
, Book 6

Porchia Summers was born into a family who gave her everything except affection. She acted out until her parents sent her to Whispering Springs before their high-society friends found out about her arrest record.

She builds a good life in Texas, but then the old boyfriend who got her in trouble tracks her down. Desperate to find a way to keep her past and present separate, she places a bid at a bachelor auction on the one man who’ll get her out of town for a few days.

Darren Montgomery is thrilled when Porchia wins him and a week of camping with his entire family in a charity bachelor auction. He’s also curious. He’s been flirting with the town’s sweet, sexy baker for years. Sometimes she flirts back, but she’s never let things go further than that. Darren’s not complaining, but he wonders just what’s going on behind Porchia’s pretty eyes.

Warning:
Watch out for chigger bites, love bites, and secrets that bite.

If you loved this book, then you’re sure to love these Samhain favorites as well!

Which burns hotter…their desire, or his need for revenge?

Naked Cowboys,
Book 7

The hunt for the drunk driver who killed his twin sister leads Andrew “Mac” McDaniel to Saddle Wells, Texas. From the moment he buys the rundown Hannigan Ranch, he gets more help than he wanted or thought he needed from “the crew” of Saddle Wells. Including from the sexy realtor who sold him the place.

When Nida Beloit hands over the keys to the Mac’s new ranch, electricity sizzles between her and the investment advisor who sold everything to focus on his independent investigation. Yet even as they indulge in nights of erotic sex, Mac’s obsession drags at what’s growing between them.

Nida wonders if she can bear to stand by and watch him destroy himself—especially when the end of his investigation sends him careening toward a potentially disastrous act of revenge.

Warning:
Contains one hot property of a cowboy, and a lady who knows a fixer upper when she sees one. Question is, is her heart tough enough to take on the job?

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They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

Tequila and Tingles

Copyright © 2016 by Keri Ford

ISBN: 978-1-61923-270-9

Edited by Heidi Moore

Cover by Lyn Taylor

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: January 2016

www.samhainpublishing.com