Page 9 of Go Away, Darling

He shrugged and stood. “If he doesn’t treat you right I’ll murder him. But you want me to fall in love one day right?”

I nodded.

“I want the same for you.”

Knock,knock, knock.

“I’ll get it!” Linc hollered, running for the door despite the fact that it was after dinner. I had no idea who could possibly be knocking on my door at this hour.

“Wait, Linc!” I ran after him.

But Linc already had the door open by the time I got there. “Who are you?” Linc scrunched up his face.

I skidded to a stop behind him and stared.

And stared and stared and stared.

“Chris.”

He filled my doorway. It was the second man to fill my doorway tonight and it was starting to sound like a dirty joke waiting to happen in my head. He gave me a half smile and held up a dish. “I just realized we were neighbors and decided I should bring over a gift.”

His eyes darted back down to Linc and he smiled warmly. “I’m Chris. Who are you?”

Linc looked back at me for permission to answer. I nodded, mostly because I was too stunned to do anything else. What was Chris doing here? Why was I seeing him for the second time today?

Did I look good?

Wait, did he say he was my neighbor?

“I’m Lincoln but my mom and dad call me Linc. And so do my friends.” Then he held out his hand.

Chris leaned forward and shook it, shifting the dish to his other hand. “They’ve also taught you excellent manners.”

“What’s in the dish?” Linc grinned mischievously, just like his father. It was what attracted me to Beau all those years ago and I already worried for all the women who would swoon in Linc’s path years from now.

It was a really good grin.

“The snapper I caught today, seasoned with my special recipe.”

Linc bounced up and down. “Oh can I have it now, Mom, please?”

“Didn’t you already eat dinner?”

“Yes…but I’m still hungry. Dad said I must be in a growth spurt.”

What kind of mother would I be if I denied my growing son fish? “Fine. Take it in the kitchen. Would you like to come in, Chris?” I made sure to meet his gaze even though it made my knees wobbly.

To my great pleasure he locked his eyes with mine and held before nodding. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Can I get you a drink? Wine, beer, bourbon?” I asked as I stood to the side to let him in.

“Beer will do.” He stopped just inside the door and shoved his hands into his pockets.

“You can go into the kitchen with Linc and I’ll grab us some drinks.”

I took a breath when he disappeared. My insides were doing backflips again and that sizzle was back. The damn sizzle was going to be the death of me. It made me warm—no, it made mehot—and turned on. It was very inconvenient.

My minibar was just off the kitchen. It afforded me some space and a view. Linc sat at the counter with a plate of snapper and Chris leaned against my stove, explaining how he’d caught the fish. His hands moved with each word as if they were an extension of his mind, forming shapes, creating a visual story that went with his voice.

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