Page 3 of Keeping it Casual
“Thanks.”
“You looking forward to starting school on Monday?” I ask.
Lachie gives me a look to show me exactly what he thinks of that question, and his resulting grunt definitely isn’t one of approval.
He actually hasn’t been as upset about moving towns as I’d anticipated. I wonder if one part of him is relieved to have an excuse to leave his group of friends behind. He’s a smart kid. He must have known they were leading him in the wrong direction.
My phone chimes. It’s my sister, Stephanie. I leave Lachie to make himself some toast and walk out onto the front porch to answer it.
I’m immediately bathed in sunlight. It’s one of the things I liked about this house when I did a reconnaissance mission here a few weeks ago to sort out a rental—it’s incredibly sunny with a large garden in the front and back.
“Hi, Steph,” I say.
“So, how’s everything going so far?”
“Good. We’re about halfway through unpacking. Still got a lot to do.”
As I stand on the porch surveying the garden, I notice that the gate at the street, which leads to the little path up to our front door, hasn’t been fastened properly. Clutching the phone to my ear, I head down the path so I can fix it.
“Are people making you feel welcome?” Steph asks.
I huff a laugh. “Almost too welcome.” I reach the gate, but it won’t shut properly. I crouch to inspect the hinge.
“How are they making you feel too welcome?” Steph asks
“Well, the whole town seems determined to set me up with another gay single dad.” A stone trapped in the hinge is stopping the gate from closing properly.
“Don’t they know how much you hate being set up?” She chuckles.
“Apparently, they didn’t get that memo.” I tug at the stone, which luckily comes loose easily. “Honestly, Steph, I think I’ll spontaneously combust if I hear the words ‘Jeremy King’ one more time,” I say as I finish fixing the gate and straighten up.
Only to find a guy standing on the footpath directly in front of me.
He’s incredibly handsome, dressed as though he’s just walked out of a commercial for sportswear, with a toned, lean body, black hair that contrasts with his pale skin, and the reddest, poutiest lips I’ve ever seen.
He’s holding a plate of muffins in one hand. He lifts his gaze to meet mine, tilting those lips into a gorgeously wicked smile.
“Hi, I’m Jeremy King.”
Chapter 2
Dustin
Oh, holy fuck. My stomach plummets
“Ah…I…can I call you back?” I ask Stephanie.
“Sure,” she replies.
I press the end call button on my phone and then drop my hand to my side.
My mind whirls as I stare at Jeremy, trying to think of something to say to salvage this situation.
Yeah, I’m drawing a blank.
Jeremy angles his head to the side to regard me, still giving the same wicked smile. “So, no spontaneous combustion? I have to say I’m disappointed. I’ve never seen anyone combust before. I was looking forward to observing the phenomenon.”
I swallow. “I might have slightly overstated that probability for a dramatic impact.”
