After the bill was settled, I stood, and Mick waited for me to walk out first. I felt his gaze on my ass as I made my way out of the restaurant. Normally, that would have made me uncomfortable. Probably because Tommy would have noticed, and I would have paid for it later.
“Walk you to your car?” Mick asked, interrupting my crazy train of thought.
I nodded, afraid of what would come out of my mouth.
“Lead the way,” he said, and I did, around the corner to the side street where I’d parked for free.
“Here I am,” I said in front of my Volvo SUV. Of course, only the safest car on the road was good enough for Tommy’s wife. Ironic, considering the least safe place I ever went was home.
“This was fun. No pressure, but I’m here if you need me, Margo.”
Mick’s voice was low, his dark eyes drawing me in. I had to force myself not to step closer.
“It was, but ...”
Mick reached for me. “Leave the buts for another time. I get it.”
Leaning in, he brushed his lips across my cheek. Sparks lit up over my skin and back again as his mouth pressed light kisses there.
“Leave the buts,” he whispered again before giving my shoulder a light squeeze. “Get in the car.”
Stunned, I choked out, “Thanks,” and then scooted in.
With Mick’s warm gaze still on me, I closed the door, trying to convince myself that it was not only closing on the car, but on whatever this was between us.
Margaret
Priscilla was all smiles when I picked her up from soccer the afternoon after her sleepover.
“We made s’mores in their firepit. It was so much fun!” she said excitedly. “We should get one. You just flip a switch and voilà, fire. I could use it myself, and then I could have everyone over.”
I smiled, loving it when Priscilla rambled happily. Apparently, the sleepover was a huge success, and now all the girls wanted to make s’mores at home. I yearned for the days when such a simple pleasure resulted in so much satisfaction.
“I’ll look into it,” I said, glancing over my shoulder before pulling my SUV into traffic.
“How was your night? Were you lonely?” she asked, her mood turning somber as she stared at my profile from the passenger seat.
“No,” I said a bit too quickly. “I had some wine and watched TV. I’m all caught up on my Netflix show.”
“Oh, good, now you can watch something with me.”
I didn’t deserve her giant heart, for sure.
“No vampires,” I said, glancing at her.
“Mom, seriously, vampire shows are the best kind of TV.”
This made me laugh. “I’ll take your word on that.”
“I should’ve checked to see if Dad was going to be gone, and then I wouldn’t have left,” Priscilla said, retying her hair in a messy bun.
“It’s okay, sweetie, really. I was fine.”
“Oh.” She jumped a little in her seat, making her bun bounce. “Mrs. Alexander said they’re going to the Paula next week, on Tuesday for some meeting ... you should be there. Six thirty, okay?”
“Parents’ association. Probably about the holiday fundraiser.”
“That’s right. She said for you to call her if you need any more information.”
