“Heresy! Hush your mouth, woman.” He kissed her again. And again.
She squirmed from his grip. “The kids will see.”
“Give them some credit, bella. They’re smart. They know what’s up.” He glanced back at the prize counter, where Olivia was collecting a plush panda.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Her kids’ easy acceptance of Matteo surprised and delighted her. Then again, they’d already been conditioned by their dad’s revolving stable of girlfriends. It seemed they were sturdier than she thought.
She squeezed Matteo’s waist. “You’ve been a champ, giving up all your free time to entertain my offspring.”
He squeezed back. “Well, I do have ulterior motives. I know you have to get back home for their soccer league, but I’m hoping you’ll let me come up for a few games.” He nuzzled her neck. “Especially when they’re staying with their dad.”
It would be a long time before she trusted her ex again, but Matteo was right. Jason was a grown-ass man, and he had to forge his own relationship with the kids now, independent of hers. At least she trusted Olivia and Noah to tell her when Jason’s screw-ups became too onerous.
Matteo jerked a thumb toward the door. “Gotta get back to Sal soon. I’ll text you after we close up.”
“We’ll have the food ready by then. Your friends still holding a place for us on the beach?”
He nodded. “Got a prime spot. They’ve been camping out there since this morning. Just bring folding chairs and blankets. It’ll cool off tonight.” He snuggled closer. “Unfortunately, we can’t duck into the tent and warm up like we did the other night.”
She stifled a laugh. “My kids would be scandalized.”
He kissed her forehead and fixed her with a gaze that warmed her all the way through. “You’re a great mom, Danielle. Fun, but firm.” He gave her butt a quick squeeze, drawing a squeak. “You know, Trappers Cove is a great place to raise kids. When the tourists leave, there’s still a tight-knit community here. Pretty good school. We’ve even got a soccer league. And kids who need a speech therapist.”
“How would you know that?”
He lowered his gaze and shuffled his feet. “Friend of Sal’s on the school board.”
She laced her fingers through his and sighed. Two weeks ago, she’d have scoffed at the idea of pulling up stakes and moving to a little shore town. Now, the idea was mighty appealing. A smaller house to maintain, smaller mortgage payments too, a slower pace, and daily walks on the beach with Matteo. Not to mention nightly cuddles, waking up to his warm, sleepy-soft body wrapped around hers…
Head out of the clouds, Delfino.
She shook her head. “If it were just up to me, I’d put in my job application tomorrow. But—” she waved toward the back of the arcade. “They get a say too.”
“Fair enough.” He folded her against his chest and rocked her, moving to their own slow rhythm despite the frantic dings and clangs all around them.
Close behind her, someone snorted. She turned, expecting to see Olivia’s teen sneer, but the intruder was a vaguely familiar young woman, arms crossed, nose wrinkled.
“Well, well, well. Matteo’s still hanging onto his cougar. Thought you’da dumped her old ass by now.”
A flash of black and white bounced off the critic’s head as Olivia wielded her new stuffed panda like a club. “That’s right, he’s with my mom. And she’s way cuter than you.” She waggled her fingers in that infuriatingly dismissive manner only a teen girl can master. “So move along now. Buh-bye.”
The young woman flounced away. Noah trotted up, a plush green snake wrapped around his shoulders. “What’d I miss?”
Eyes crinkled in laughter, Matteo said, “Just your sister being a badass.” He fist-bumped Olivia. “Respect, Princess. Well, guys, I’ve gotta go. See you on the beach tonight.”
He shot Danielle a look of longing as he backed away.
Noah huffed. “It’s okay, man. You can kiss her in front of us. We won’t hurl.”
“Just, like, no tongue, okay?” Olivia added.
Giggling, Danielle grasped Matteo’s shoulders and gave him her first kid-approved smooch.
With a laugh and a wave, he made his way through the crowd.
She wrapped her arm around Olivia. “Thanks, kiddo. That was awesome.”
Olivia shrugged. “Who knows? I might want a younger boyfriend someday.” She counted on her fingers. “Let’s see. Eleven years younger. That means he’s—two!”
