Temporary Home by Aliyah Burke Page B

Saturday after Thanksgiving. I don’t know what Laila’s plans are for her house guests but you are more than welcome to continue to crash here. I don’t mind. I do go back to work that week but you have a garage door opener, so that shouldn’t be a problem for you.”
    “Why aren’t you working this week?”
    “I always take off when Eric comes to see me. At least for the first week. If he’s here longer, then other arrangements are made during the day while I’m working.”
    He kissed her middle finger before sucking it into his mouth. Her lids fluttered and she took a deep breath.
    “You’re an amazing woman.”
    “And you are trying to distract me.”
    He flashed a wicked grin. “Is it working?”
    “Most definitely.”
    With a quick jerk, he dragged her to lie across his body. “Wonderful.” Then he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss, explaining all of the emotions he’d not been able to vocalise when it came to this woman. Soon, the only noise in the room was that of skin on skin and Roxi’s soft moans.
     
    * * * *
     
    Roxi smiled at the man across from her and served him some stuffing. “Happy Thanksgiving,” she said.
    With a nod, the man moved on and she cast her gaze askew to check on her nephew. He was a few people from her, serving the mashed potatoes. As if he felt her stare, he glanced at her and gave her a big grin.
    Eric was so outgoing, the complete opposite of how she pictured Sam as a child. Being shuttled from home to home, tossed out on his ear in some of the coldest parts of winter. Hell, it was no wonder the man was withdrawn and very protective of his emotions and who he chose to share them with.
    Since that night in her bedroom when he’d opened up to her, he’d fallen back into the man who barely said anything. Not that he was being snobbish, he just didn’t speak unless what he had to say was truly worth it. Eric had taken a huge liking to him and it made her tear up to watch them together. No matter how he was with adults, Sam never kept things from Eric. He would help him with anything. There’d been a few times she’d overheard them laughing from the living room as they played a video game. Eric was as good for him as Sam was for Eric.
    Sam. Just the thought of him made something warm unfurl in her belly. She wanted to climb as close as she could and wrap around him. Allow his powerful body to press against her, his scent in her nose, the feel of his skin beneath her hands.
    Shaking off the thought, she continued serving the numerous people who stood in line to get a warm holiday meal. When it was time for her and Eric to eat, they took their plates and sat down at one of the tables, joining the members there.
    After dinner, she and Eric helped clean up before they meandered out into the cold, windy night. She hugged him to her as they walked.
    “I’m proud of you, Eric.”
    “For what?”
    “Helping out today.”
    “It’s our thing, Aunt Roxi. I like doing it. Especially with you.”
    Damn, he knew how to make the tears start. She nodded and surreptitiously wiped them away before they could fall. “You’re one heck of a kid, Eric.”
    At the car, she started the engine and did a quick check to make sure Eric had fastened his seat belt. “Hungry for some dessert?”
    “Yes,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
    “Let’s go home then.”
    They chatted easily and told jokes on the way there. When she parked in the garage, Eric was bouncing in his seat. She chuckled as he bounded from the vehicle and dashed for the door. After waiting for the garage door to shut behind her, she followed him in. The house was empty and she tried to ignore why it hurt her so much that Sam wasn’t there and was still over with Laila.
    Putting her things away, she returned to the kitchen to find Eric waiting for her. His large eyes were bright and hopeful. She winked at him and went to the fridge to withdraw the mint chocolate mousse pie she had made before they’d left this