Page 41 of Welcome to Forever
His pulse quickened at just the thought of taking that leap again. And it wouldn’t just be his leap. Anytime he leapt, he took Ben with him. That made dating anyone a risk—a risk often best not taken.
As if on cue, his phone buzzed at his side. He glanced at the caller ID, thinking he’d call whoever it was back tomorrow. When he saw his aunt’s name on the phone’s screen, however, he immediately pulled it to his ear. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Now calm down,” she said. “Ben’s okay.”
“Then why are you calling me this late?”
“Ben had a nightmare. That’s all.”
Micah could hear the shakiness in his aunt’s voice, which did nothing to calm his growing nerves. “A nightmare?” Ben never had nightmares. Not since “Uncle” Lawson had let him watch that crazy horror flick with the talking doll. “What was it about? Aunt Clara?”
She sighed heavily. “His mother in the war. I know I said I’d watch him tonight, but he’s asking for you, Micah.”
Massaging his right temple, pressed down harder on the gas pedal. “I’m ten minutes away. I’ll get him on the way home.”
“Good. And I’m sorry,” she said, still shaky.
Micah couldn’t help but smile. “For what?” he asked. “For being a saint of an aunt and watching my kid tonight?”So that I could kiss Ben’s principal.“I’ll see you soon.” He hung up the phone and hurried home as fast as his Jeep would allow. He’d left Ben with Clara so that he could see the gardens that he’d helped design. For the last few months, he’d worked on the layouts at night when Ben was sleeping. Getting this opportunity was a big step in starting up his own landscaping business after he was out of the Corps. And in providing Ben with some form of stability.
Kissing Kat, however, wasn’t a step in the right direction. If they got involved, there’d be dates. Ben would be left with Aunt Clara a lot more, and he was fragile right now with Jessica deployed. The timing was piss-poor for starting a relationship, and he knew it.
So there it was. His choice was made. He’d just have to pretend nothing had happened tonight. He and Kat would run the Friendship Club, he’d take her to the Marine Corps ball and stay just long enough to please his father and keep him from being DD to a bunch of drunks the rest of the night. Then his deal with Kat would be over. If he could keep his eyes, and hands, off her in that silky black dress, he’d be fine.
And most important, so would Ben.
—
“Stop staring at me.” Kat frowned at Val on Monday morning.
“Can’t help it,” Val said, sitting behind her secretary’s desk. “Something is definitely up with you. It’s written all over your face.” She circled a finger in the air, growing giddier by the second. “This has something to do with Micah Peterson.”
“Micah?” Just hearing his name made Kat cross her legs under her desk and made her lips tingle at the memory of their fireworks kiss.
“Uh-huh. Something happened with him over the weekend,” Val accused.
How did her best friend do that? Val always knew when she was holding something back. But she wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened with Micah over the weekend just yet. And, really, she shouldn’t have been kissing a parent at all—not that she had any regrets. She didn’t. He’d put a smile on her face that hadn’t budged since Saturday night.
“Fine. Don’t tell me now. You can spill the juicy details over chips and salsa on Tuesday at dinner.”
Kat gathered a stack of papers from her office mailbox and continued walking. “We’ll see.”
“Ah-ha!” Val pointed another accusatory finger. “You just admitted it. Somethingdidhappen.”
Kat didn’t look back. Her kiss with Micah was the last thing she needed to get out on the gossip network at Seaside Elementary. “We’ll talk Tuesday.” Slipping into her office, she closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief at the brief moment of privacy.
After several minutes of sitting behind her desk, she slammed a folder on her desk and groaned. She couldn’t concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing. Her brain was consumed by the kiss, just like a hormone-ravaged teenager. Like when she’d first met John.
Her right hand absently went to the diamond on her left ring finger. She hadn’t been able to envision dating someone else before, but with Micah, she could. Even if he was a Marine—which was crazy.
A ragged breath shuddered through her. Maybe his being a Marine was one of the things that attracted her to him. Even though the career choice had stolen John’s life, she’d always admired his courage and strength. She admired his sacrifice for his country, too. But it hadn’t just been his sacrifice. She’d also sacrificed something—her future.
Now, maybe she could begin again. With Micah.
Crazy thoughts. Ridiculous thoughts.
Her phone rang on her desk and she snapped upright before picking up the receiver. “Yes?”
“Problem in the Seagull hall,” Val said.
