Page 6 of Gunner

Don’t get your hopes up, Lily. This is just dinner with an old friend… A friend you want to see naked again, but that’s beside the point.

Right as I finish curling the ends of my hair, the doorbell rings, and butterflies take flight in my stomach. I’m so nervous I can barely think straight.

Caleb yells from downstairs, “Mommy, the door is ringing!”

I laugh before yelling back, “I’m coming!”

Sprinting down the steps, while remaining mindful of the wedge sandals I’m wearing, I stop at the entryway. I quickly fluff my curls, then calmly exhale an anxious breath. When I open the door, James is standing in front of me looking just as delicious as he did at Smith’s. It’s really unfair to the rest of us that this man can look so damn good.

“Fuck, Lil,” James mutters as his gaze rakes over my body, lingering for a long pause when he sees the soft swell of my cleavage.

My cheeks flush and I take the time to check him out as well. He’s dressed in a simple white t-shirt with black jeans while sporting his Disciples cut. He looks good. Really good.

“You’re beautiful, babe.”

I giggle nervously at his praise. Biting my lip, I return his compliment. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

We don’t move for a moment longer, lost in each other’s eyes, until we hear little feet approaching.

“Mommy?” Caleb steps out from behind me.

“Oh, right.” I glance down at my son and ruffle his hair. “Where are Mommy’s manners?”

“You’re silly, Mommy.” His eyes sparkle with his big grin.

I turn back to James. “I’m sorry you’re just standing out there.” Moving to the side, I tug Caleb with me. “Come on in.”

James steps across the threshold while looking around at my home’s interior. I notice a brown paper bag in his arms and attempt to take it from him, but he pivots it out of my reach. “It’s okay. Just show me the kitchen and I’ll put this away.”

“I can take that for you.”

“Why would I let you carry anything when I’m here to do it for you?”

Well, that’ll take some getting used to. I’m not used to people offering to do things for me. And certainly not some hot biker.

“The kitchen is just through the living room.”

I step in that direction, but Caleb darts ahead of me. “C’mon! I’ll show you.”

I’m glad to see he’s no longer afraid of James. Maybe he just needed time to think it over.

“Thanks, buddy.” James follows behind Caleb while I close the door.

My little monster watches as our houseguest puts a pie in the fridge, along with a six-pack of beer. Then Caleb walks up, standing at one side and craning his neck to look at James. The corner of James’s mouth twitches as he patiently waits for my son to speak.

“You and Mommy are friends?” My son narrows his gaze at the towering man in front of him, and I hold back a smile.

“Yeah. We were really good friends a long time ago. Special friends.” James lets his last words hang in the air. My face heats at his innuendo and I cough loudly, earning myself a chuckle.

“Would you like something to drink?” I ask.

He smirks with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “How about you sit down, and I’ll get you a drink?”

Oh! I’m definitely going to have to get used to this kind of treatment. And I’m not complaining one bit about it.

3

GUNNER

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