“Hey what?”
“Well, if you believe the latest on the Grafton grapevine, you two are quite the item. Playing happy families with Maisey and Hank.”
“Shit. Who the hell told you that?”
He chuckles. “So not a thing, then? Asking for a friend.”
“Yeah right, bud. And no, we’re not a thing.”
But the words don’t fit right. Because even though they are the truth, I’ve started thinking about Celeste Black as more than just the girl next door. The woman who drives me crazy in every way she shouldn’t.
And does she . . .
That’s too soon, right?
We’ve barely had a handful of interactions.
But they were—intense.
No, that’s stupid. I’m overthinking this. Like I do with most of the women I’ve been involved with.
Aren’t I?
“Dude, you look like you’re in pain. Your secret’s safe with me. And I’ll consider her out-of-bounds.” Caleb slaps my shoulder and goes back to work. My face falls from whatever was twisting it up into an expression of surprise.
How is it everyone bar me has this shit figured out. Hell, Maise picks up on this stuff better than I do.
We finish the work for the day, and I swing past and pick up Maisey from school. She’s got a few days left ’til the holidays, and she is literally counting down. She’s elated when she climbs on up into the truck.
“I saw CC today.” Her face beams at the mention of our new neighbor.
Oh no, she’s got it worse than me.
“Was she working on the play backdrops?”
“I think so. But she gave us a talk on art and stuff after lunch. All the kids loved her.”
“Right.”
“Can we invite her over for dinner? Her daddy, too?”
“I don’t know, Maise.” I grind my jaw shut.
She’s giving me the pleading prayer hands, her eyes puppy-wide as she blinks like that will enhance her cuteness to a level I won’t be able to resist.
I sigh. “Fine. But you’re helping me cook.”
“Yes!” She fist pumps the air.
“And...” I say with a low tone, much like a warning. “It’s still a school night, little miss. No staying up late and conning Celeste and Hank into staying later.”
“Okay, Daddy. Geez, you don’t have to repeat everything to me all the time.”
“Just getting in first. I don’t want you to forget conveniently.”
She screws up her face as we pull into our driveway.
“Right, chores and then we can plan dinner.”
