Page 158 of Cold As Ice

“Yeah.” I smiled and it didn’t feel fake or forced. It felt… real.

“In case you wondered, the flowers were in fact, for you. And they came with an invitation.”

“An invitation?” That piqued my interest.

“Yeah. I’d like to take you out one night.”

“Like on a date?”

“Yeah.”

“Where would we go?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“It might be a struggle this week. I have an extra shift at the bar, and I’ll need Jer or Jacqui to watch Imogen.”

God, how was this ever going to work? Imogen needed me. And I had to use my childcare sparingly, prioritizing my shifts at the coffee shop and the bar.

Our relationship would be limited to after-work trysts and the sparse date here or there when I could arrange for someone to watch Imogen.

It wasn’t exactly what most guys were used to.

“So we’ll take her,” Austin said as if it was that simple.

“You want to go on a date with me and Imogen?”

“Why not?

“Sorry, I guess I’m just having a hard time getting my head around that you’re okay with this.”

“Let me know when you have a free evening and we’ll arrange something.”

“Wednesday,” I said, throwing caution to the wind. Hoping like hell I wasn’t making the biggest mistake of my life.

“We’re free Wednesday.”

* * *

“Immy, we’ve got twenty-five minutes, baby. Are you almost ready?” I called as I fluffed out my hair.

Austin was picking us up at six, but the location of our date was top secret, something Imogen had discussed far too much over the last two days.

“Mommy,” she shrieked, turning my blood to ice.

“Immy, what is? What’s wrong?” I raced into her bedroom, grinding to a halt to search for any signs of injury.

“My tummy hurts.”

“Oh, baby. Maybe you need—”

Imogen vomited all over herself and the pink and purple outfit she’d picked out especially for our date with Austin.

The tears started then as she puked again.

“Gosh, okay, let’s get you into the bathroom.” I scooped her up, holding my breath the best I could as I carried her into the bathroom and set her down on the floor.

“Mom—” She projectile-vomited all over the toilet bowl, most of it managing to miss the actual bowl.

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