“And I’m rich. I have a pool. And a library. Have you seen my kitchen?”
She bit her lower lip. “I have. I admit, I have kitchen envy.”
“Good.” She needed to know he could provide for her. “I have money, Becca. You never have to work”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” She poked him in the chest. And yeah, she had that mom-poke-of-death thing going on that all mothers seemed to have. “I love my job. I don’t want your money, Mitch. I just want you.”
Probably best not to mention he’d bought the row of businesses on her side of Main Street then. He gave her the most innocent smile he could drum up. “Okay then.”
“But I might want your kitchen stove. Maybe.”
He laughed.
“Since I was going to invite you over for dinner, would you like to stay for baked chicken night?”
“I’d love to.” He walked her to her front door.
“And Mitch?”
“Yeah?” His heart pounded. She looked so serious.
“I, ah, Simon knows about us.”
Not what he’d been hoping to hear, but he could wait for a declaration of love. Especially if it happened inside, where it was warm. “I guessed he’d figure it out when I’m taking you out to dinner, the movies, bowling.”
“Oh, right.” She cleared her throat. “The thing is, you and I haven’t been together and around him at the same time.”
“Becca, honey, it’s okay. I promise not to mount you in front of the kid.”
“Mitch.”
He laughed. “You are so red right now. Come on. Let’s go inside and let the boy interrogate me. His nose is pressed up against the glass as it is.”
“Oh, Simon.” Becca shook her head at her son and said to Mitch, “You’ve been warned.”
Jenna stayed for dinner as well. While Simon asked Mitch a ton of questions, Becca did the same to Jenna.
Mitch found it amusing as hell to be in the same predicament as a fourteen-year-old girl. One smart enough to realize the same thing, because she shared grins with him throughout the meal.
At one point, she said, “Simon, enough. Mitch isn’t out to steal your mom’s money or ruin her credit. And I’m pretty sure he’s not after her business either.”
“Nope. Just her sticky buns,” Mitch confessed. “I hear those are to-die-for.”
“They are.” Becca smiled.
Simon stared from his mother to Mitch, nodded once, then ceased with the questions. “Fine. Then Mom has to stop giving Jenna the third degree.”
“Fine.” Becca patted Jenna on the shoulder. “Besides, it wasn’t the third degree. I happen to like Jenna. I was just catching up with her.”
“She was,” Jenna agreed.
“Chicks,” Simon muttered.
Mitch gave him a commiserating look.
After the meal, Mitch and Simon did the dishes while Jenna waited for her mother to pick her up.
“So, you and Mom,” Simon said as they cleaned up. “You’re a for real item?”
