“Can I cut in?” he asked, addressing her rather than Shane, no doubt recalling their run-in at the mini-mart when Shane had called him on his crap. She fanned herself. It made her hot even thinking about it.
“No,” she said pertly. “You may not.”
Mason’s hand wrapped around her upper arm, and she remembered the way his calloused palms used to drive her nuts. “Come on, Faith. I know I screwed up, but it was years ago. I want a chance to make it up to you.”
Okay, she was not letting this asshole from her past mess up the best night she’d had in forever. She shrugged his hand off and stared him down. She might have cowered last time she saw him, but in this dress, she felt like the boss bitch she knew she was, and she wouldn’t shrink from anyone.
“Why would I give you a second chance when I already have a perfect man?”
With that, she hauled Shane into her arms and swept him into the dance.
Shane was tryingto get his head around the unexpected turn the evening had taken when a shrill ringing from his jacket pocket interrupted their dance.
“Sorry, I need to check this,” he said, knowing it could be about the kids. His stomach sank when he saw that it was Bex. “Is everything okay?” he asked as the call connected.
“I hate to interrupt your night, but Dylan isn’t feeling well, and I’m not sure what’s wrong.”
His good mood evaporated, and with a hand gesture, he excused himself from the dance floor to somewhere quieter. “Is he vomiting?”
“No, but he’s clutching his stomach and moaning. He says his head hurts too. I thought you’d want to know.”
“I do, thank you.” Even if his date was about to go up in flames. “I’ll be over soon. We need to make sure it’s not his appendix, although if his head hurts too, that would be unlikely.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Shane. I know how much you were looking forward to tonight.”
“It’s okay. The boys come first.” They always would. That’s what being a father meant. “See you in five.” Hanging up, he turned to find Faith at his side.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Running a hand through his hair, he wished—for the first time he could remember—that he could have a night off from daddy duties. “Dylan is sick, and Bex doesn’t know what it is. She’s worried. I’m really sorry to do this to you, but I need to go home.”
She nodded. “Of course you do. I’ll come with you.”
Disappointment settled in his gut. He didn’t want to ruin her fun. She’d been having a great time, and he had no doubt someone else would happily partner her once he’d gone. Perhaps that Mason guy. Yeah, okay, so maybe he wouldn’t mind if she left with him.
“That would be great, thanks. I might need someone to watch Hunter if Dylan needs to go to hospital.”
She paled. “You think it’s that bad?”
“I’m not sure. Let’s go and find out.” Together, they gathered their things and headed out to the car. Faith shivered, and Shane cranked the heater up to keep her warm. He stopped at Bex’s place, and she greeted him out front with the boys and bundled them into the vehicle.
“How are you doing, buddy?” Shane asked as he drove home.
Dylan moaned. “I don’t feel good.”
“Is it your stomach?”
“Yeah, but not like pukey sick. It just hurts.”
Uh oh. That could be appendicitis. Or potentially some kind of indigestion or cramp.
“When we stop, I want you to show me exactly where it hurts.” He pulled up the drive and put the car into park. “Faith, can you take Hunter inside, please?” He handed her a key.
“Come on, cutie pie.” Faith roused Hunter, who’d been napping, and he looped his arms around her neck so she could carry him in. Meanwhile, Shane unbuckled and checked on Dylan.
“It hurts here,” Dylan said, gesturing broadly to his upper abdomen.
Shane frowned. Now he could understand Bex’s confusion. That wasn’t where you’d find an appendix. Perhaps indigestion was the more likely option. “What did you have for dinner?”