Mel sighed, hating that an inside, more intimate look at his life wasn’t a part of the deal. She had yet to ask him about Jen, partly because it wasn’t her place and partly because she was afraid to hear the answer. If things had gotten better, she’d be happy for him, but she couldn’t deny the twinge of disappointment she’d feel, no matter how absurd. And if things had worsened, she’d feel partially responsible due to hijacking his personal life to an extent. Tonight was merely another example of how he’d spent time with them when he probably should’ve been elsewhere. It made her wonder. Why was he spending any free time at all with her?
She peeked up at him and caught him staring. Her cheeks flushed, and he turned to her. His lips parted, and by the look of him, he had something he wanted to say.
“I think we should do something further to celebrate. Go out,” he said and shrugged. “Without the kids,” he added, then busied himself with drying his hands on a nearby towel. He seemed jittery, suddenly, nervous, almost. The notion alone both thrilled and perplexed her.
“What did you have in mind?” she asked, because, really, she had no idea. Unless she was missing something, he couldn’t possibly mean a date. Unless . . .
She didn’t even give herself time to entertain the thought he may have broken up with Jen. That line of thought would only get her hurt. Hope could be dangerous.
“I have an idea. It’s nothing major, but maybe we could do some window shopping for your new place. We should go to Highland Park though. Then we could catch dinner. It’ll give you a chance to pick out some things for the house and see what the area has to offer. “What do you say?”
Mel bit her lip. She wouldn’t dare tell him she didn’t have the money for new things for the house, at least not at the moment. Between closing costs and a small down payment, it was wiping her savings clean. The only things she’d reserved extra money for were new beds for the kids. “Okay, but what about a sitter?” she asked.
“What about your friends at work? If not, I could ask my brother. He may not be the best with kids, but he’s trustworthy.” Blake laughed.
“Is that the guy you were with that day at The Burnt Bean?”
“The one and only.”
Mel snickered. “I’m sure he’d jump at the chance.” Then she leaned back against the counter and grinned. “I think traumatizing one Britton is enough. I’ll see what the girls say,” she said, because as he stared down at her, his eyes shining, his smile wide, how could she say no?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MEL
“Are you sure you can handle this?” Mel asked, eyeing Marti like at any minute she might change her mind and bail.
r /> She was decked out in athletic wear, her hair tied up in a messy bun—her babysitting attire as she called it, so that she could “keep up with the kids.”
Marti opened her mouth to answer, but a knock on the door interrupted her. “Coming,” Mel yelled, then turned back to Marti once more. It was Friday, her night out with Blake, and she was having second thoughts. “That’s him,” she said, twisting her hands in front of her.
“I figured.” Marti grinned and gripped Mel’s shoulders, then turned her toward the door. “I’ve got this. It’s only one night. You go and enjoy yourself.”
“Thank goodness this isn’t a date, or I’d be so nervous,” Mel said as she stumbled over her own feet.
Marti chuckled. “Right. You’re going out with a hot guy alone. I’m sure it’s not a date.” She rolled her eyes as Mel slipped her jacket off the hook next to the door, frowning.
“He has a girlfriend,” Mel reminded her.
“Maybe. Maybe not. Have you asked him recently? Last you heard, there was trouble in paradise, and the next thing you know, he’s asking his hot boss out.” Marti wiggled her brows. “Seems pretty clear to me.”
Mel scowled. It wasn’t exactly out of the realm of possibility.
Great. Now she’d be thinking about that all night, wondering if he was still with her and whether he thought this was a date instead of just enjoying herself.
With a sigh, she glanced at the couch and watched as Brady tackled Peter, who howled in outrage. Meanwhile, Kinsley just barely missed a foot to the head.
Mel winced. “You better . . .” She motioned in their direction.
Marti followed with her gaze and grimaced.
“I owe you,” Mel called out as she placed one hand on the door.
“You don’t,” Marti called behind her as she wedged herself between Brady and Peter. “This is what friends are for. Besides, I’m bailing on the PopNewz party tomorrow, remember? So it’s the least I can do.”
Mel groaned. How could she forget? To celebrate the restructuring of PopNewz, there was a dinner tomorrow in Manhattan, and all employees were expected to attend, families included. “How’d you manage to get out of that again?”
“Logan and I leave for Europe tomorrow, remember?” Marti wiggled her brows. “Prescheduled, nonrefundable tickets.”