“I loved every second with them.” She placed a hand on his chest, once again appreciating the finely honed muscles under yet another of the sexy Henleys he seemed to own in every color. This one was a heathered sage that brought out the green in his eyes. “Did you have your meeting with Mac?”
“He pushed it to one thirty, which gave me time to bring lunch to my new girlfriend.”
“She’s very glad you did. What are we having?”
“I got salad and a sub from the grocery store. What’s your pleasure?”
“Other than you?” She had no idea where that came from, but he seemed to like it.
Grinning, he said, “For lunch, Cindy. Focus.”
“Oh, I’m focused. And how about we split them?”
“That works.”
They set up their lunch in the reception area. He’d also brought her lemon-flavored water, which she opened and drank half of, and an iced tea for a midafternoon boost.
“You’re only allowed to drink a tiny bit of that.” Jace pointed to the tea. “We don’t need any migraines around here.”
“No, we don’t, and I only have a sip or two late in the afternoon.”
“I know. You told me that.”
“And you remembered. Big boyfriend points for that.”
His smile lit up his sinfully handsome face.
As Cindy stared at him, she wanted to pinch herself to believe this man was hers, that she was allowed to feel all the things for him and that he seemed to feel the same way about her. In her world, things like this happened to other people. Not her.
“What’s with the wrinkle between the brows?” he asked, smoothing a finger over the spot in question.
“I’m amazed by this, by us.”
“So am I. I’m amazed and thrilled and every other word I can think of. When I came here, earlier in the summer, I had one goal in mind—get to know my sons. It’s been so much more than that.” He took her hand and linked their fingers. “Not only do I have a beautiful, sweet, sexy new girlfriend, but I’ve made some of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life through my AA group, at the gym and the bar. I’ve made an unlikely friend of the man who’s raising my sons and his wife. And there’s this job opportunity with Mac.” He shook his head. “It’s just incredible. All of it.”
“You’re incredible, and people see that. They respond to your genuine desire to start over and live a productive life. And for what it’s worth, you’re amazing with the boys. I was already falling hard for you but seeing you with them really sealed the deal.”
“That means a lot to me. I want to be good with them and to them.”
“They see that, and they like you, or they wouldn’t tease you the way they do.”
“They are pretty ruthless,” he said with a laugh. “I hate that Carolina got hurt, but to have this chance to step up for them… It means so much to me.”
“I know, and you’re doing a great job.”
He put his arm around her and kissed her right there in the window, where anyone walking by might see them.
Cindy couldn’t find the wherewithal to care if someone saw them.
“In case you were wondering,” he said, leaning his forehead against hers, “you’re not the only one who’s falling pretty hard.”
“No?”
“Not at all.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I haven’t felt this good in, well, ever. I loved Lisa. I truly did, but my life was a mess the entire time we were together. I never got a chance to be this person with her.”
“I’m sorry for her that she didn’t get a chance to know this guy, because he’s very special.”
“I’m glad you think so.”