Page 12 of Make You Stay

I have one rule when it comes to dating—the woman has to have kids.

Why?

Because I have kids. My family is complete and the last thing I need is to get wrapped up in a woman wanting more babies. I’m a single dad who dates single moms.

Pretty simple.

Chloe doesn’t have children. I knew this before our breaking bread luncheon, although the knowledge is infinitely more painful now.

Still, rules are rules.

We finish our meal, complete with the requisite jokes and ribbing. By the end, I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I snatch the check before she gets a chance, earning a fake glower that doesn’t reach her eyes.

On the short drive back, I point out some of the local haunts—the pub, post office, and grocery store. Pulling up to my house, I chew my lip as I glance at her snow-covered walks. “I’ll blow out your driveway in just a bit.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.”

“I saw you earlier, Chloe. You’re a bit unwieldy with the shovel, so I can sit back and laugh at you, or I can use the snowblower and be done in ten minutes. Your choice.”

“When you put it like that,” she mutters, a grin crossing her face. “Thanks for lunch, Aidan. Thanks for everything.”

Shifting in the seat of my truck, I face her, my gaze inadvertently dropping to her lips. Hey, she has a sexy as hell mouth. I’m allowed to look, even if I can’t taste. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

“It better be worth it.You’dbetter be worth it,” she teases, giving me a light jab in the arm.

She pops out of the truck, waving at my ex-wife who’s standing in the yard. “Hi, Enid. How are you?”

“Just fine. Jeff and I left you a fruit basket. It’s on your porch.”

“You’re so sweet. Thank you both.”

“Is my ex-husband being nice to you?” Enid questions, quirking her brow at me.

“Tolerable.” Chloe smiles at me, biting that full lower lip and once again sending my thoughts to the gutter. “Lucky for Aidan, he redeemed himself with some good old southern barbecue.” With that, she disappears into her house, right after bending over in full view of me to grab Enid’s gift.

Turns out, her peach is far more delectable than anything in that basket.

“Lucky for him, indeed,” Enid mutters as I stroll toward her, shooting her an innocent look. “I see you two have kissed and made up.”

“I don’t know about the kissing part.”

“You like her. I see it in your face.”

“Doesn’t matter. You know my rule.”

Enid rolls her eyes, throwing up her hands in resignation. “You and your stupid rules. The girls said you want to keep them an extra day?”

“I want to take them ice skating. That cool with you?”

“Aren’t we invited?”

“Sure, if you want to come, but I’m not buying you and Jeff hot cocoa.”

“No, you’re saving that sweetness for someone else,” Enid retorts with a wink, pulling open her car door.

“I told you—”

“I call bullshit. I give it two weeks, tops.” She’s in her car before I have the chance to reply.

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