He kisses me again, and then he steps back just as the kids come barreling into the house. I have to respect the fact that he’s discreet. It’s not that my kids aren’t allowed to know I date, but they’re small, and the reality is that spending a couple of days making out with a stranger isn’t the same thing as me falling in love
or dating long-term or heaven forbid, getting married. I need to make sure my kids have a stable life. They don’t need to get their hopes up that some guy is going to be around long-term only to have him leave.
That’s not fair to them, and it’s not fair to me, and it’s not even fair to the guy.
In this case, though, I can’t help but wish things were different. I mean, Heath is an incredible guy who has obviously been really hurt in the past. Is it so bad that I’d love to date him? He feels like a hero from one of the books I write. He feels like someone who could change your entire life if you’d only just let him.
And oh, I kind of want to let him.
He’s sexy and kind and I don’t really see a single thing wrong with him except for the fact that he’s been burned before. Is it terrible that I feel horrible for him? And I kind of hate his ex. I know there are two sides to every story, but I think that what she did was just nasty. She had no right to do that to him. Staying faithful when you’re dating someone shouldn’t be the hardest thing in the world. She should have talked to him if she was having a hard time with their relationship.
She didn’t have to throw it in the trash.
No, she didn’t have to throw him in the trash.
“Did you boys find ten sticks?” Heath asks the kids.
“I found six,” Silas says proudly.
“I found seven,” Sebastian counters.
“I found eight,” Silas glares at his brother.
“I found one million,” Sebastian snaps.
Spot runs around them in a circle, happily laughing.
“Why don’t you boys go throw the sticks and have Spot fetch them for you?” I suggest. “I bet he’d like that.”
“Oh yeah, that’s his favorite game,” Heath encourages them.
The kids laugh and take off back through the door.
“Let them play for a little while,” Heath says. “Then we’ll go get your supplies.”
“I have everything I need right here.” I step forward again and I press my hands to his chest. Firm, broad, and warm: he’s everything I want. I feel like a teenager again as I kiss him over and over, and it’s kind of crazy just how much his playfulness and flirting is turning me on. I can’t remember ever feeling quite this excited about a guy before. There’s something different about him: something magical.
When Heath kisses me, I feel like I can fly.
I feel like I have the entire world at my fingertips.
And I think that no matter what happens in my life, everything’s going to be okay if he just...keeps...touching...me.
Chapter Nine
Heath
By the time we collect the tent, the food supplies, and everything else, it’s mid-afternoon and the kids are ready for a short nap. We put them to bed and then Theresa and I cuddle up on the couch. Spot is out running around, so it really is just us. We’re alone together and it’s kind of wonderful. She rests her head on my chest and touches me gently.
“I have to admit that I miss you being shirtless,” she says. I laugh. I showered and changed before we went to get her things. She’s still wearing my shirt, though.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure I can be shirtless again for you sometime.”
“Is that a promise?”
“It’s more than a promise,” I wink.
“How is it more than a promise?”