I love kids, which is why I chose to work with them. Evan knew I’d always wanted kids of my own one day, but that never seemed to be a priority for him. Despite the sadness I felt at getting older every year and not getting married and having kids, I was fine with that. I’m glad I didn’t end up having children with him. Coparenting would have been anightmare.
Seeing the kind of father Dante was to Leo, I’m confident that he’ll be an amazing parent to our own kids. I just want to spendmore time with him first before we jump into making such a huge, life-changing decision.
“Be careful, Matthew!” I call to my nephew as he trips over his own feet and falls onto the driveway. “Are you okay?”
He nods and continues to run around like he didn’t almost just wipe out. I swear this kid is invincible.
My eyes travel past Matthew to a few houses down where a familiar black truck catches my eye.
“Dante?” I whisper, squinting to try and catch a glimpse of who is sitting in the driver’s seat.
As if on cue, the truck starts driving and comes to a stop in Ebony’s driveway. The door opens, and Dante jumps down from the front seat. My heart races at the sight of him looking so good with his new haircut and dressed in a navy flannel button-down and his usual black jeans and boots.
It just now occurs to me that that’s what the masked man was always wearing, and somehow, I’d never paid attention to it. And same with his eyes. I don’t know any men other than Dante with those beautiful amber eyes.
It was so obvious, and I’d somehow missed it.
He goes around to the passenger side and grabs something off the seat. When he comes back around, he’s holding Lunchbox in his arms.
“Lunchbox!” Matthew squeals, running over to Dante.
Dante sets Lunchbox down so Matthew can play with him, and he comes over to where I’m standing.
“Hi, baby,” he says in that low, deep voice that makes my knees weak.
Even though I’m supposed to be mad at him, I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. “Hi.”
“Sleep well?” he asks in an amused tone.
My stomach does somersaults; I punch his arm. “What you did wasn’t cool, Dante.”
“What did I do?” he asks, feigning confusion.
I look behind him to make sure Matthew isn’t listening, but he’s so engrossed in playing with Lunchbox that he doesn’t pay us any mind.
“You’re intentionally trying to get me pregnant, and I don’t like that,” I tell him honestly.
He frowns. “I thought you wanted kids.”
“I do, but we barely know each other.”
His eyes bore into me as he says, “I know everything about you, Essence.”
“You didn’t know I was on birth control until last night,” I point out with a chuckle.
He nods. “Touché, flower.”
“Plus,” I continue, “we haven’t had a proper date.”
“You’re right,” he concedes. “Why don’t I take you out tonight?”
My face flames. “I’d like that.”
He smiles, and damn, that dimple will be the death of me. “Me too.”
We stare at each other for a while grinning like idiots until I remember something.
“How do you know so much about me?” I ask. “I mean, now I know you’re the one that’s been following me for the past few months, but did you have cameras in my house or something?”
