Page 4 of Big Obsession

She shrugs. “Why can’t I? It sounds like the perfect summer to me.” She leans in. “And don’t say it like that. He’s nine. He doesn’t need a babysitter. He just needs a friend to hang out with and take him to all his activities.”

“Right. Well, I just don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s all.”

She pulls her eyes from me, but not before I saw the hurt shining in them. She wraps her arms around herself.

Fuck. She’s the last person I want to hurt, but that’s all I seem to do. I have two options. One, I can let her watch Ace, but I know there’s no way I’m going to be able to keep my distance. Or two, I can hire someone else to watch Ace and then Dolly will be freeto do what she wants. Hell, she’ll probably be engaged before the end of the summer.

“Hey,” I say softly.

She forces a smile to her face and looks everywhere but at me. “Okay, so how do you plan to find a sitter? Where are you looking?”

“Dolly.”

She acts like she didn’t hear me say her name and keeps talking. “It needs to be someone trustworthy. I mean, you know that. Forget it, I’m being ridiculous. I’m sure you will pick someone good, and trustworthy, and dependable.”

When she won’t look at me, I pull her from her chair because I can’t squat again. Riding bulls has done a number on my hips and knees. Dolly stumbles, falling into me, and I catch her. She gasps as her chest leans into mine. I hold her to me, longer than I should, and even though I don’t want to let go, I ease my hold on her but keep my hands on her shoulders. She is still close and has to lean her head back to look up at me. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

She blinks. “I know you didn’t. Ace is your son, and if you don’t want me to spend time with him, then?—”

Shit, I can’t do this. “Stop, you know that’s not it. I would never try to keep you away from Ace.”

She pulls from my hold and steps back. “Then what is it? Why don’t you want me to watch Ace?”

“You want the truth?”

She rolls her eyes. “Duh, yes, I want the truth.”

I nod and put my hands on my hips to stop from reaching for her. “Fine, I don’t trust myself.”

She shakes her head in confusion. “What does that even mean? You don’t trust yourself?”

I stuff my hands in my pockets. “Yeah, I don’t trust myself. If I’m around you, I don’t trust myself not to touch you.”

Her eyes widen. “Touch me?”

And just like that, I’m hard. Just the thought of touching Dolly makes my pulse race, and the need to possess her takes over. “Yes, I can barely keep my hands to myself when you’re around, Dolly.”

She’s stunned, but before she can react, Ace is running up to us. “Did you see my double, Dad?”

I turn and give him a high-five. Thank God for the interruption because if Dolly and I continued this conversation, I would have embarrassed myself even more than I already have. “I saw it, and it was awesome! You did great, Ace.”

Dolly chimes in with her own high-five and hug. “You did awesome, Ace.”

He’s smiling ear to ear. “I love this team. We have our first game next week.”

I put a hand on Ace’s shoulder. “That’s great, Ace, and you know I’m going to try and be at every practice and every game, but when I’m working, Dolly is going to watch you—” I cut myself off with a laugh. “I mean, not that you need a babysitter, but she’s going to make sure you get back and forth to practice.”

He looks between Dolly and me with a huge smile on his face. Dolly still looks stunned, and I’m sure it’s from my admission earlier. “Really? Yes!” he says, jumping up and down. “Dad, can we eat pizza for dinner tonight?”

“Sure!” I answer him. “I’ll race you to the car.”

Ace takes off running as I grab Dolly’s chair, fold it up, and hold it under my arm. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”

Dolly is watching Ace as he runs across the grass. “Uh, I can’t tonight. I’m going out for drinks with some friends.”

Instantly I want to ask her about her night, but I realize I’ve already looked like a controlling, obsessed asshole. I shouldn’t question her. I should let her go about her business. She’s younger than me, and she deserves a night out. As we’re walking toward the parking lot, one of the moms stops in front of me. Dolly tries to keep walking, and I don’t know why I do it, but I reach for her hand and thread our fingers together.

The woman, I think her name is Josie, says, “Tucker, can I talk to you for a minute?”

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