Chapter 260: It’s Been Too Long
When Alison got up, she found today’s clothes neatly laid out by her bedside. In the bathroom, toothpaste had been squeezed onto the toothbrush.
Did Jack prepare everything for me?
The thought warmed her heart.
They came to the playground with the kids.
After sending the children to the bumper cars, she pulled Jack down onto the grass.
Feeling uneasy, she offered, “I want to talk to you tonight.”
“Sure,” he replied, his eyes fixed on the children.
“Hey, look at me. Stop staring at them.”
“Are you getting jealous of the kids now?”
She swung a fist at him. “That’s nonsense. Look at me when I’m talking, okay?”
“Haha, okay.” He laughed and gazed at her.
His gaze made her heart race. She pushed his chest. “Forget it. Don’t look at me.”
“Why?” He gazed at her rosy lips. The desire he’d suppressed for days suddenly surged.
Something in his chest tightened; the air between them turned heavy with everything unsaid.
Without hesitation, he lowered his head and met her lips with his. “Alison…”
In a daze, his lips found hers, warm and unguarded.
Her breath caught against his, the kiss deepening until the world around them seemed to fall away—the noise of the park fading beneath the rhythm of their hearts.
He kissed her hungrily, as if he could make up for every lost moment with one lingering touch.
He had no idea what troubled her, and he just wanted to see her smile.
“Alison, I…” In the heat of their kiss, his arms tightened around her, his body trembling with restraint.
Alison jolted awake clearly feeling the heat pressed against her. “Jack, we’re outside! The kids are watching!”
She found the children were staring at their kiss. Her face flushed crimson.
She pushed him away forcefully. “The kids…”
He released her just in time, his eyes meeting hers as he saw the children.
“From now until we get home, don’t tempt me anymore.”
She lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze or the children’s.
“Mommy, you’re blushing! It’s so pretty! Daddy, keep kissing Mommy!”
“Sophia…” Alison was at a loss for words.
Without hesitation, Sophia declared, “Mommy, Daddy’s in the newspaper! That woman next to him isn’t you!”
Jack’s expression darkened instantly. He covered Sophia’s mouth with his finger. “Shh. Daddy only loves Mommy. Don’t say things like that.”
Hearing Jack’s words, Alison’s heart settled.
Truthfully, this wasn’t the first time she’d heard gossip about Jack. He’d been featured in tabloids and magazines almost daily.
Seeing that Alison wasn’t going to press further, Jack sighed in relief.
Ethan suggested, “Mommy, I want to ride the carousel with Daddy. Can you and Sophia go together?”
“Sure,” Jack chimed in. “But two rounds. First, we’ll do it your way. Next time, I’ll ride with Mommy. Ethan, you have to protect Sophia, okay?”
“Okay, deal!” Ethan clapped his hands and high-fived Jack.
As they took turns riding the carousel, Alison asked, “Hey, why two rounds? And why does it have to be me with you?”
Jack smiled. “Well, I love that feeling of flying. Alison, I want to hold you and remember the way you laugh when the world is spinning around us.”
Alison leaned against him as the carousel rose and fell. “Silly, there will be plenty more days like this.”
Jack grabbed her arms, preventing her from holding onto the carousel. She could only stretch her arms out against his grip.
They spread their arms as the carousel spun. He whispered, “Alison, does it feel like flying?”