Page 30 of The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

“You have no idea how amazing it is that you know how to deal with these things when you don’t even have kids.”

We trade seats so I have Percy’s larger one, and she follows me to the garage. “You should see me change a diaper.”

“I have.” After stowing the seats and Percy’s bag by the steps, I thank her again.

“Anytime. Seriously. Your kids are fun.”

I walk her back to her car, open the door, and take a deep breath. “Think the bell would chime if I kissed you again?”

She hesitates a fraction of a second before stepping close. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. Why not enjoy today?”

I nod, even as I say, “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt. Especially my kids.”

“Eh, even if you turn out to be a jerk, I’d be nice to your kids.”

“You promise?”

“I do.”

Leaning over the top of the car door, I press my lips to hers. When they part, I’m lost in the feel of her, the slick of skin on skin. Until I hear the peal of a bell in the distance.

Breaking the kiss, my heart thudding hard, I whisper, “Did you hear that?”

She shudders, but it’s hard to tell if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. “I did.”

My hand trembles as I reach for hers, but when I clasp it, everything calms. “I’ll be honest, Avery. I have a hard time seeing past next week, and my life is not my own. But you make me want… more.”

She bites her bottom lip and traces a finger over my thumb. “I know what you mean.”

After a long moment where we just nod at each other, followed by mirrored goofy smiles, she sighs and disentangles us. I watch as she settles in the driver’s seat, starts the car, and backs out of the driveway. I keep watching until her taillights disappear around the corner, needing to hold on to this feeling. Like she’s unspooling a thread between us even as she drives away from me. My attraction to Avery is off the charts, but there’s something else too. A connection that tugs at my heart. That has me wondering if I’m falling in love.

For the very first time.

ChapterEleven

AVERY

There’s something about the way that Josh looks at me that has lit a fire in my belly.

I’m a little afraid of it burning out of control, but I’m not ready to douse it either. Kissing him is so good that I can’t stop wondering what else he might be good at. It was not an easy feat to keep such naughty thoughts packed away during Playgroup this morning, especially when Josh tossed Percy up in the air, making his muscles bulge deliciously while the little boy giggled adorably.

Now, while I plug away at data entry for CPR’s fall classes, my imagination replaces Percy with my torso and shifts Josh from his feet to his back. I’m straddling him and he drags his hands from my rib cage to my breasts. When he pinches my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, I grind into him greedily.

“You going to answer that?” Leia yells from inside her office.

“Yep!” I call, blinking back to reality. “Just had to finish… this.” Not that I actually finished anything. That’ll have to happen later. In my bed. With my favorite vibrator.

“This is Avery,” I say after snatching up the phone before it can ring again, my voice a little breathless.

“Hello, Avery. This is Frieda Harmon. How are you?” Josh's mom asks.

“I’m fine, thanks, but how areyou?” It’s been several days since the accident, and Josh told me that his mom had returned from the hospital, but in the crush of Playgroup, I didn’t get many details.

After assuring me that she’s on the mend, she says, “I understand that neither my husband nor my son paid you for babysitting Mabel and Percy the other day.”

Suddenly the make out session outside their house feels even more like teenagers sneaking around. But if I’m the babysitter, who is Josh in this scenario? The dad or my boyfriend who came over when he wasn’t supposed to?

“Are you still there?”

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