“There’s the man I wanted to see.” Penelope picks up a happy Bastian and takes him back to sit in her favorite reading chair.
I’ve always wanted to meet her parents and make sure it’s cool with them that she hangs out here so much, but she just tells me it is and I don’t need to worry, and I never push her. I like her coming around, and she trusts me. I’ll never do anything to break that.
The three of us settle in to read our current books, and soon, hours have passed.
“Oh my gosh,” I say, looking at the clock. “It’s almost six, Pen. Do you have your car here, or do you need a ride home?”
“No need. I’m not far.”
“I insist,” I say, getting up, but she moves like lightening, grabbing her bag.
“No! Really. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then, she pushes the door open.
“Wait! Take a book, at least!”
She stops just to grab a copy and then disappears into the city. A cold breeze blows in behind her, and I shiver. It’s been extra cold this week, and I add “bring a coat” to my date checklist.
Hopefully, this date tonight will turn out horrible and will help make walking away from Leo easier. Because I certainly won’t be a fitting step mom. Penelope won’t even let me drive her home.
Bastian meows, reminding me we can leave now. I finish my daily list and lock up, heading home to get ready for a date I want to go on yet feel so much anxiety over.
Will he think I’m good enough to meet his kid? He offered the thing up in a lie to fool my boss, even though we never saw Katie again, but that was different. I have a lot to think about before he shows up to get me, and I didn’t know how to feel about him anymore.
CHAPTERSIX
Leo
Taking a quick sniff of my pits, I nod at my handsome reflection, approving of both. My stomach’s been in knots all damn day about Olive. I’m both dreading tonight and excited as hell. At some point tonight, she may realize I’m just a night of fun and go home, satisfied but ready for the next guy to come along and to build a life with. Someone without a daughter to co-parent with two other women.
Or worse. The same connection we had last night will roar to life, and I’ll lose myself in her, forget about all my baggage for a blissful moment. In that moment, I’ll dream of more. I could see it with Olive. See her in my kitchen on Saturday morning, pouring coffee in black pajamas. I wonder if she drinks it with sugar or cream. Yeah, I bet under all that guarded exterior she’s sweet on the inside. Matter of fact, I know she tastes sweet.
I can’t stop my smile as I pass the pool, but sure enough, I’m spotted.
“Leo. Don’t you look handsome.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Are you going out with Olive?”
I nod, confirming what she already knows. Fitzy isn’t fooling anyone here as she plays coy.
“You know very well I’m going out with Olive. The woman you pushed me into, and whether you meant to push me into Olive or not, that’s what you did. And of course, you know she won the bid on a date with me that you orchestrated as well, getting me down here in faux emergency, you meddler.”
She gasps in shock, as though she’s surprised, but her smile gives her away.
“I would never push anyone into their soulmate on purpose.”
“Funny,” I say with a laugh. “Soulmate is bit much, Fitz.”
“Well, since you are, I just wanted to ask that you be gentle with her. As you may know, she’s not the warm and fuzzy type, but when she loves, she loves with her whole heart.”
I nod to let her know I hear what she’s saying, but I don’t know what to do with the information. So, I pack it away and accept her pat on the cheek. Well, the beard, in my case. And she sets me off for the night with a rare serious expression.
When I make it to Olive’s, the first thing I notice is the run-down building. It’s a small red-brick duplex. The walkway is broken at my feet, with weeds growing tall through the cracks, and a banister is lying on the ground.
I’m glad I slipped Fitz my card—Olive actually spending any money on me doesn’t sit right. I want to spoil her. She was willing to throw down a thousand dollars for me without hesitation. That amount is nothing to me, but it might have been a painful burden to her, and she still did it, not knowing I went behind her back. I wonder if she’s noticed the lack of charge yet. Hopefully not, but it doesn’t matter. I’d be honored to fight her on it.
At her red-painted door, I knock and wait. The blinds move, and when the door opens, I’m struck silent. The first time I saw her from behind, I appreciated her body. When we came face-to-face, her beauty was still apparent under dark-running makeup, but now…Seeing her for the first time with makeup, her hair done, and a tight-fitting dress makes me feel some way.