“At least for now. I’m taking a break from dating. I’ve decided I like my single life and have wasted enough time trying to find ‘the one.’ No such thing. I’m just going to live my life and enjoy every minute of it.”
He shoves a huge piece of chicken breast in his mouth and chases it with half a bottle of water. “Sounds nice. You want to make God laugh? Make plans. That’s what Mama always says.”
“Why do you bring up your mother in every conversation?” I lean in my seat and add, “I must say, that’s a huge red flag.”
“Don’t change the subject, Queen. Your plan was working until the plot twist.” He uses his hands to scoop the vegetables and shove them in his mouth. “You should put that in your book,” he says with his mouth full. “A big plot twist. You don’t have to give me any credit. You’re welcome.”
“And what plot twist would that be?” I grab a napkin and hand it to him.
I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say, and I’m proven right when he opens his mouth. “Me. Colt the bolt Chastain.”
I can no longer resist the urge to laugh. I pull out the chair across from him and sit. “Cocky, aren’t you?”
He wiggles his brows. “Very.”
I lean forward and put both elbows on the table. “Where is your son, Cole?”
He surprises me when he takes hold of my hand. His touch is warm and a shock to my system. I do my best to appear unaffected, but when I try to pull my hand away, he holds on.
“I really, really love how you always make it a point to ask about him. For someone who doesn’t like kids, you sure are thoughtful when it comes to mine.”
“First off, what gives you the impression that I don’t like kids? I love them. And I’m not being thoughtful. I’m judging you. Here you are on a Friday night, eating all my leftover food when I know for a fact you probably just got home from the west coast. Shouldn’t you be spending time with him right now? You’ve been gone for days.”
“Oh, darlin’, I love it when you keep track of me.” He lifts my hand and kisses it, surprising me yet again tonight. “But he’s spending the night with his maternal grandmother. I fly her in once a month so she can see him. Is that okay with you?”
I shrug. “No skin off my nose.” I pull my hand away and stand up. My throat is suddenly dry, so I grab a bottle of water. I don’t hear him move, but he’s suddenly standing behind me, the heat of his body like a burning inferno.
“Stop pretendin’.” He turns me around, and I crane my neck to look at him.
“I’m not pretending at anything.”
He runs a hand through my hair, which I’ve had flattened earlier. Long fingers stroke my skull. “You’re a bad liar, but I still like you.”
“Everyone likes me.”
“I bet they do. I’m leaving for Milwaukee on Sunday. I have meetin’s and practice tomorrow.” I wait and stare, doing my best to pretend like I don’t understand what he’s saying. “I won’t be back this way until Wednesday for the remainder of this series, and when we win, we’ll go to the finals.” I look down and try to move away, but he holds onto me. “Let’s have tonight, and when the season is over, we’ll have the summer.”
It would be so easy to give into that. Spend the night together, and the summer. Lose myself in this man and his bigger than life persona. I imagine how that would look. The three of us enjoying a carefree time at the beach or hiking in a foreign country. Then I remember I have my own plans, which I would not change for anybody, let alone with a man who’s only interested because I told him no. There’s also the added complication of his kid hating me.
“I won’t be here for the summer. I’m spending most of it in Atlanta, then we have our annual family vacation. Dad and the evil one have a house in the Outer Banks.”
“You know, I can travel. I do it pretty frequently.”
“But you’re not invited.”
“Oh, darlin’. You underestimate me.” He smiles and steps away. Just like he did the first time he came to my family home, he clears the table. He takes it a step further and loads the dishwasher too. Once everything is put back in order, he takes my hand and leads me to my couch. He takes the remote, but instead of turning on the television, he plays soft music.
“I thought you’d put on ESPN and watch the highlights from the game.”
“See, that’s what you get for making assumptions about me. I already have that on my phone. The only sport I watch for fun is football, and maybe baseball. Throw in a little hockey too. I don’t hate soccer either. That’s it, but for now, all I want is to sit here with you and talk.” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it.
“So, you watch pretty much all the sports?” I roll my eyes. “Boring.”
“I’m well rounded,” he counters.
“You have women falling at your feet everywhere you go. Why me? Why the one who has made it clear she’s not interested? You’re wasting your time.”
“You mean the women from my mama’s church that she wants to fix me up with? Or Robin, my dead wife’s sister?” I look into is face in surprise, certain that he’s exaggerating.
