“Don’t look at me.” Sable shrugged at Cash as she licked ice cream off her spoon. She wasn’t doing it on purpose, but goddamn it, he wanted to be that spoon. “I shared mine.”
“Is this how it’s going to be?” he asked. “You two always ganging up on me?”
“Yes,” Sable and Clover said in unison, and Cash gawked at their matching expression. Dear lord, he was in trouble.
“Okay, fine. One bite, but you had better not complain.” Cash handed his son the ice cream cone. The boy went quiet after his lick, careful to follow his father’s instructions about not complaining, but Cash didn’t need words to hear what his kid was thinking.
“It tastes okay,” Clover finally said. “I like my vanilla best, though.”
“I know you do.” Cash ruffled the kid’s hair.
“But he tried new flavors,” Sable said. “That’s got to count for something.”
“True,” Cash said. “You’re a good influence.”
Sable’s cheeks paled at the compliment, and Cash pinched his eyebrows at her expression. Had he said something wrong? Was this moving too fast for her? It was easy to forget he was a father when they were sipping cocktails and making out in his truck, but was his compliment too much of a reminder that his boy would always be involved in their relationship?
“Dad, are we still making pizza for dinner?” Clover asked before he could overthink Sable’s expression.
“You haven’t even eaten your ice cream, and you’re already on dinner?” he chuckled as his son stepped onto the fountain’s border and walked around it like a tightrope.
“Can Sable come over for dinner?” the boy asked.
“I’m sure Sable already has plans,” Cash said. “We can’t expect her to spend the whole day with us.”
“Oh…” Clover trailed off, and Cash couldn’t tell who looked more disappointed—Clover or Sable. He loved that his son liked Sable and was thankful he was okay with his father dating, but he didn’t want to overwhelm the woman. She wasn’t in collegelike her appearance sometimes suggested, but she was still young. She wasn’t ready to be an instant mother… was she?
“Do you have plans?” Clover asked her as he completed his circle around the water, ice cream dripping from his chin.
“Clover…” Cash warned.
“Not really,” she said, sitting on the bench to watch Clover’s balancing act. “Nothing important anyway. Dinner would probably be takeout or something microwavable.”
“Do you like pizza?” Clover asked.
“Who doesn’t like pizza?”
“So, Dad, can she come over for dinner?”
“Yeah, Dad,” Sable glanced up at Cash through her full eyelashes. “Can I come over for dinner?”
“Is this that ganging up on me you two warned about?” he asked.
“Yup,” Sable and Clover said in unison.
Cash shook his head and settled beside her on the bench, draping an arm around her shoulders as he bit into his ice cream cone. “You don’t have to feel obligated just because my kid asked,” he whispered into her ear. “I realize dinner at my house isn’t the same as when a bachelor asks you over to his place. It’ll be a lot less wine and dine and a lot more fart jokes.”
Sable giggled, almost spitting her ice cream out, and she buried her face against his shoulder. “The fart jokes are the only reason I asked to come,” she said, her lips tickling his arm as she spoke, and Cash tightened his hold on her. “But seriously.” She tilted her head until her chin rested on his shoulder so she could look into his eyes. “I don’t want to intrude on family time or force my company on your son. I understand why parents like to keep their dating and home lives separate, but if you’re worried about Clover bothering me, then your concerns are pointless. He’s a good kid, and I like being around his dad.”
“So, you want to make pizza with us on the weekend instead of going out and having fun?” Cash teased.
“Speak for yourself. Fart jokes sound like a wild Saturday night.”
Cash glanced over her head and spotted Clover on the opposite side of the fountain, watching a pigeon eat spilled pretzels. He wasn’t paying attention to them, and Cash seized the opportunity. He tugged Sable closer and planted a kiss on her lips. She tasted of mint and hope. She tasted like home, and he desperately wanted her to be the home his heart found rest within. She didn’t bat an eye at the fact he was a father. She embraced his reality with open arms, and he’d never seen someone so beautiful in his entire life. She was stunning in her risqué outfits, and she was breathtaking in jeans while making jokes his son would find hysterical.SeemedClover knew what he was doing when he introduced them.
“It’s a date, then,” Cash whispered as they parted. “We’ll stop at the store on the way home and pick up the ingredients.”
“So, is she coming?” Clover asked, returning to their bench.
