“Absolutely.” Mac smiled. “My cousin’s wife is a master chef and part owner of the pub with her sister, who’s married to my other cousin,” he told Dante. “You’re going to enjoy the food at the pub and the sangria.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Cooper met his gaze and smiled. “And I’m looking forward to the barbecue because Gabe and I are going to whip all of you in horseshoes.”
Amanda frowned. “Horseshoes?”
“Yeah.” Cooper nodded. “Dante is filling in for Rylee, so he and Dex are the Double Ds.”
Dante sighed. He might’ve known the idiot would come up with that moniker.
“And Mac needed a partner too,” Cooper added.
Mac nodded. “Stef is sitting it out this time.”
“Oh, boy.” She winced. “I have to warn you, Mac. I seem to have two left hands when it comes to horseshoes.”
“That’s okay.” Cooper snickered. “Dante has two right hands andhe’sagreed to play.”
He smiled and counted the chuckling squid lucky his “two right hands” were busy holding his son, or he would flip the guy the bird when the kids weren’t looking.
“Daddy doesn’t have two right hands.” Noah frowned. “Do you, Daddy?”
Meeting his son’s gaze, he shook his head. “No, Noah, I don’t. It was just a figure of speech.”
“It was dumb,” Noah stated.
Dante tried to hold back a laugh but failed when he heard the others chuckle.
“Yes.” Still smiling, he looked over at Cooper, who’d just finished putting Mindy in her car seat. “Sometimes Cooper says dumb things. He can’t help it.”
Noah shrugged. “Maybe he should go to preschool.”
Cooper and Mac laughed outright. Amanda bit her lip and with a wave, she turned and walked away.
This time, Dante managed to hold back a laugh but was unsuccessful in stopping a grin. “He’s too old,” he said, hooking his son into his seat.
During the short drive home, he contemplated the rest of the week while Noah sang his ABCs. Provided Amanda didn’t substitute on the daycare side of the building, he felt confident he could avoid her presence.
But as for Saturday? He ran the entire conversation through his head.
Was Cooper trying to set him up with Amanda too?
The guy hadn’t said anything suspect, still, Dante picked up a subtle vibe from him. But if he was trying to hook them up, wouldn’t he have just paired him with Amanda for the game? Maybe. He blew out a breath.
Christ, he hoped not.
Dante had a hard enough time fighting his attraction to the woman the way it was. He didn’t need any encouragement.
Chapter Four
Saturday afternoon, Amanda sipped sangria at the barbeque while Stef and Rylee enjoyed lemonade because they were still nursing. The day was warm, and the breeze was cool as they sat on the patio, which gave them a great view of the fenced-in backyard and the volleyball game going on toward the side.
Horseshoes were slated to start after volleyball.
She was in no hurry to maim.
After all, it was nice here and she wanted an invite to come back.
