Thwarting Cupid by Lori Crawford

held her in place. A hand cupped her left breast. Talk about deja vu. She turned her head, half hoping to see Josh and Christina grinning up at her from the side of the bed. They weren't. But the hand was still there. She turned her head the other way to see Hutch sound asleep beside her. Details from the previous night emerged in her consciousness. He'd fallen asleep on her.
    Sometime during the night, he'd removed his shirt and climbed under the covers with her. Worried, but intrigued about what else he might have removed, had her sliding a leg toward him. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or disappointed when she felt the fabric of his khaki pants. She rolled onto her side intending to get up, but he rolled with her. His hand slid from her breast downward. Knowing where it was headed, she stopped it just under her ribs. She was confused enough at the moment. She didn't need to add anymore complications to the mix.
    He didn't fight her. Just shifted his body closer to her and settled into sleep once more. That was when she became aware of a new complication. He was erect. She could feel him pressing into her backside. He wasn't at half-mast the way he'd started out in her dream. He was at full attention and ready for action. Action she could not give him.
    Carissa should move. That would be the sensible thing to do. He was holding her in place, but she could escape if she really wanted to. The problem was that she didn't want to. It was a naughty and delicious novelty to feel him pressed against her like this. She'd be a liar if said she didn't like it. She decided to stay put. Perhaps it would be less embarrassing for them both. Yeah. That was it.
     

 

 
    Chapter 6
    Hutch gave his head another shake when more rust, gunk and God only knew what else flaked off the pipe he was trying to take apart. He used his legs to push himself up into a better position to get more leverage on whatever this thing was called so he could twist it. No such luck. His arms were shaky with the effort. He checked his watch then gave his arms a rest.
    He studied the configuration of the pipes and couldn't believe how something so simple-looking could be so stubborn. Perhaps it was less the pipe's fault and more his since he'd never be able to lay claim to the title of plumber. It was strange. With electronics and circuitry, he was a whiz. But add a little water and he was useless. Good thing the title ‘ultimate plumber’ wasn't his goal. He'd fail miserably. The title he was after at the moment, which had him stuffed under the kitchen sink on this impossible errand, was Daddy Extraordinaire.
    Hutch looked out the cabinet doors where a little boy stood with tear-streaked cheeks watched his every move with his big brown eyes. He had most of the fingers of one hand stuffed in his mouth and sniffled every once in a while. Hutch gave the child a smile of reassurance that was a complete and total lie, then compounded it by saying, “It's okay, Josh. We'll have Captain Bobo out of here in no time.”
    The boy sniffed and studied him with big trusting eyes. He nodded. That simple dependence gave Hutch a second wind. He was going to get that action figure out of here if it took all night. Okay, well, maybe not all night, he amended when he felt the muscles in his shoulders start to cramp. The next best alternative was to smash the pipes out and call in a plumber to replace them first thing on Monday. Of course, that meant they'd be without water the rest of today and tomorrow. If that were the case, he'd just treat his family to an adventure in a nearby hotel. Of course, Carissa would have a fit at that expense on top of a plumber, but he was willing to risk it.
    He shot one more reassuring smile Josh's way in time to see the boy be lifted off his feet. Carissa's long legs replaced him. He couldn't see the edge of her shorts so he guessed she must be wearing the clingy short shorts he liked so well. Her bare feet showcased pink toenails. He