Risking Fate (Mitchell Family #4)(10)
Author: Jennifer Foor

She pulled a pillow over her head and growled. She worried too much. We obviously were not the only couple on the planet to sleep naked. We didn’t do it all the time, mostly because Izzy liked to sneak into bed with us, but last night we knew she was at Colt’s house.

I sat up and wiped the sleep out of my eyes. “Just go back to bed. I will take care of the little trouble makers.”

Miranda wrapped her arms around my waist. “If you would just teach our daughter what the word ‘wait’ means, you could cuddle up and sleep with me.”

I leaned back and kissed her on the head. “I love that you hate sharing me.”

She knew I was teasing but threw a pillow at me anyway as I got up to find some clothes. I bent down to grab something out of the suitcase and heard her making a funny sound. When I turned around, she was leaning on her elbow eyeing up my naked body. Naturally, I woke up with an erection, and those eyes she was giving me, didn’t help matters. “You know we can’t. Calm down cougar, you can hunt me down later and pounce all over this shit.”

She rolled her eyes as I continued to laugh at my own comment. “Nevermind! I didn’t want any anyway.”

That made me laugh even louder. I threw on some boxers and jeans and walked over to the bed. “You are an awful liar. Go back to sleep.”

I didn’t wait for her comeback as I headed down the stairs. Surprisingly, Lucy was already cooking breakfast. She put down the spatula and wrapped her arms around me. “I can’t believe you came to visit. I heard the news and I am so excited for you both.”

“Who told you?”

“Who do you think?” She cocked her eyebrow and looked toward where my daughter sat coloring.

I shook my head. “Should have known. She doesn’t keep good secrets.”

“Where’s my aunt? Is she still sleeping?” I wanted to run upstairs and scare the shit out of her.

“She isn’t here. Her and Karen are doing a fundraiser at church today. They will be back at dinner time.”

I grabbed a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. “Damn, Miranda will be sad about that. She wanted to spend the day with her mom.”

“Savanna and I were going to stop by later. Miranda can ride with us. I am sure you men can handle the kids for a few hours.” Lucy was teasing me. I knew it without the wink she threw in my direction. They didn’t always approve of my actions, but my family never doubted my parental skills. They knew how seriously I took that shit.

“Yeah, I think I can handle these two trouble makers.” I grabbed my daughters messed up ponytail and shook it.

“Daddy, stop it! I am trying to color in the lines.” Izzy looked annoyed.

“Sorry, you need to fix that mop before Mommy sees it. Although, her hair looked like a monster was hiding in it this morning. Don’t tell her I told you that.”

“Too late! I heard it for myself.” Miranda walked into the kitchen and smacked my ass.

I pretended she hurt me and looked at Iz to get her sympathy. She started to giggle and I leaned over to kiss her. “Tell Mommy she is pretty.”

“Mommy, Daddy says to tell you that you look pretty.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “Thanks, Iz!”

She giggled some more, causing Noah to follow suit.

I saw Miranda heading for the coffee pot and dove in front of her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Ty, just let me have one cup. It won’t hurt the babies. I’m so sleepy.” She was whining. “The doctor says some caffeine won’t hurt me. Just one cup.”

I poured her a small cup and filled it half of the way with coffee and half with milk. She rolled her eyes, but accepted what I was offering. She curtsied me before taking the cup. “Thank you, Master Ty.”

I thought it was funny, but that made her more mad. She rolled her eyes and knocked her hip into my side as she walked by me. “Master likes watching you walk away.”

She shook her head and gave Lucy her attention, while I sat down with the kids. “So, what are you drawing?”

Noah slid his paper toward me. “This is me and Bella with Mickey Mouse.”

His stick figure characters were hilarious, especially the one with giant mouse ears. The best part was that the stick figures he drew had three legs, like the body continued a little too long. As I noticed it, coffee shot out of my nose and I began choking. Feeling kind of embarrassed, I acted like the coffee just went down the wrong hole, until my wife came over and took one look at the paper. She lightly smacked the back of my head. “Tyler Mitchell!”

“I’m sorry, Honey. I try to behave, but sometimes I just can’t help it.” I talked in a sad voice.

She sat down on my lap as our daughter pushed her paper toward us. Izzy didn’t have stick figures, but I could tell she was drawing people. One of the bodies was wearing something with two dots next to one another on the shirt. “What did you draw, Sweetie?” Miranda asked.

“This is you and Daddy.”

Miranda pointed to the dots on the body. “What’s this? A fancy shirt?”

“No silly, it’s your boobies, cause you and Daddy sleep naked.” Two little kids filled the room with laughter while Miranda sat wide eyed on my lap. Lucy was over at the stove beside herself, while I just sat there waiting to be slapped again. After a few seconds the air wouldn’t stay in my mouth any longer and I just burst into uncontrolled laughter.

Miranda got up and grabbed the little girl’s art work. “Isabella Mitchell, you do not draw people without clothes ever again. Do you understand me.”

Izzy put her head down and started to cry. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

This was where Miranda and I disagreed, in fact, it was the only time we disagreed. I grabbed my daughters hand and kissed it, as I handed her another piece of paper. While Miranda’s head was turned I leaned in and whispered in Iz’s ear. “Mommy isn’t mad. She is just upset you told Lucy we were naked. You can’t tell people private stuff, okay Sweetie?”

She shook her head and I kissed it. When I sat back down I saw Miranda shaking her head at me. I shrugged my shoulders like I couldn’t help myself. She could punish me later and I was definitely looking forward to it.

To get the subject dropped for the time being, I assisted Lucy with breakfast. By the time Van and Colt showed up with the baby, everything was ready to eat. It felt weird sitting at my aunts without her being around. In fact, it seemed so quiet without Conner and the ladies.