Page 8 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

“Hello? This is Colton Harrison of the Cedarwood Diner. How can I help you?”

“Holy shit.” Ashley slapped his hand over his mouth. He hadn’t expected Colt to really be on the other line, to sound so damn sexy when he answered, and he hadn’t planned out what he was going to say in return.

“Hello? Who is this?” Colt asked.

His voice cracked as he answered. “Hi, this is Ashley from the support group.”

“Oh, hey. I was just thinking about you.”

Thinking about me. Yeah, right. “Were you? Jordan gave me your number. He suggested you and I work on the art and food selections for the festival. I think he might be putting the proverbial cart before the horse, but it did give me a reason to call you.”Shit.He hadn’t meant to spout out that much. He’d wanted to stay cool and collected. Not Ashley. The only time he could be cool under pressure was in the classroom.

“I like the way he thinks. Say, I’m done at the diner in half an hour. Are you available to meet somewhere? Oh wait, you’ve got a kid.”

Ashley pinched the bridge of his nose. Colt knew about Wyatt—well, no shit. He’d been at the diner with Wyatt. He rolled his eyes. This was why he shouldn’t have given Colt a second thought—most single guys without kids didn’t want to date a guy with kids. “Yeah, I have a kid and I’m the only parent.”

Colt didn’t answer right away and it sounded like he was talking in muffled tones to someone else. The line crackled and something clunked. “Okay. I had to go to my office. The restaurant floor was too noisy. So here’s the thing. I know I sounded like a dick when I mentioned the kid. That wasn’t my intention. I’m not used to guys with kids, is all.”

“No harm taken.”Not really.Mistakes happened and he wasn’t beyond his fair share of them. But he couldn’t deny a twinge of irritation. He’d also run into too many jerks who wanted the kid out of the way.

“Second, meeting at a bar or something with a kid won’t work, but what about the ice-cream shop? My treat.”

He glanced up at the school picture of Wyatt on the wall. “I owe Wyatt a phone call to Grandma, but sure. We can work in a trip to get ice cream. When?” His foot bounced, and he balled his free hand. Putting himself out there sounded so much easier in his head. Now that he’d actually done it, fear gripped him. No, this wasn’t a date, but it could lead to something like maybe a few more longing glances and a couple of brushes of his hand on Colt’s.

“How about around two? Then you’ll still have time for Grandma and we can get some planning in.” Colt chuckled. “I agree, though. I don’t see the point in planning art or food without some sort of idea whether or not the festival will even happen.”

“Maybe this was Jordan and Colin’s way of putting us together.” His eyes widened as he realized what he’d said.Fuck.He hadn’t meant to utter that out loud, even if the very thought warmed him to the core.

“Remind me to clock the bastards when I see them next.” Colt laughed again, the sound warm and rich in Ashley’s ear. “No, I can’t do that. Neither deserves that.”

Ah, so Colt wasn’t interested. At least he knew and could act accordingly. He shook his head to clear his mind of the lusty thoughts. “Anyway, I’ll get Wyatt around and meet you at the ice-cream shop at two. Deal?” Maybe by then Colt would have forgotten his slip of the tongue and they could both get past the attraction that wasn’t there.

“You’re on. See you in a while.”

Ashley dropped the now silent phone onto his lap. His foot stopped bobbing and he unclenched his fist. He massaged his temples. A dull ache had formed behind his eyes. If he was going to screw up, he had to go big-time, didn’t he?

In his mind, he heard Danica urging him on.You’re tired of being lonely. You’ve been doing this on your own for too long. Let someone in. If that someone happens to be Colt, then cool. If not, the right guy will come along. Don’t sell yourself short because you’re afraid of getting your heart broken. Lane was a pissant who didn’t deserve you.

He sighed. She might have just been a voice in his head, but she was right. He did deserve better and Wyatt deserved to be happy. If that meant getting out there, then so be it. Colt might not want to be the guy, but that didn’t mean Ashley had to keep himself hidden away.

“Hey, Wyatt? Want some ice cream?” Ashley called. He should call his mother, but that could wait.

Wyatt raced into the room. “Chocolate with sprinkles and gummy worms?”

Although the kid’s choice sounded gross, he nodded. “Whatever you want.”

“Yeah!” Wyatt pumped his fist and ran to the mat where they kept the shoes. “I’m getting extra sprinkles.”

Giving the kid so much sugar probably wasn’t smart, but he’d get to spend time with Colt. He should forget Colt and his attraction, but the desire was too strong. He warmed all over his body and blood rushed to his dick. Things could be looking up…in more ways than one. He’d only spent a few minutes with Colt and he refused to ignore the way Colt made him feel. If he’d been single and childless, he’d have gone into the alley or office with Colt for a quick blow job or a mutual hand job. Ashley stifled a grunt and adjusted his jeans. Damn, his dick pressed against his zipper. He’d gone too long without sex. Thinking about a guy who might or might not be interested had him hard as steel.Oh well.Once the meeting and the rest of the day were over, he’d tuck Wyatt into bed and head to his own room for a quick jack-off session to get Colt out of his system.

Or to fantasize about the hunky restaurateur. Either worked. He was tired of believing the worst in people and himself.

Ashley stepped into his loafers and grabbed his keys. Better to be positive than to not be anything at all. Thinking positive meant he believed there was a chance for them and a chance was what he needed.

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