He laughed as the opening credits started to roll. “Womenlovedmy banana.”
I sputtered a cough as I choked on a piece of popcorn. Nick shrugged with a sly grin as he settled into the seat.
I leaned my elbow on the armrest between us, and it grazed Nick’s forearm. I jumped at the contact and jerked my hand into my lap, where it was safe. I was catapulted back to my teenage years when the slightest contact with a boy I liked sent shivers up my spine.
Nick wasn't a boy, though. He was a man—a gorgeous man with unforgettable lips that knew how to kiss a woman stupid. I wanted to touch more than just his elbow. Keeping a level head around him was damn near impossible with adolescent hormones ravaging through my thirty-something body.
Nick laughed at my hands, now frozen on my thigh.
I focused on the screen until Nick pulled my hand back on the armrest.
“We can share, Ella-Jane.” He smirked as he slid his hand against mine and laced our fingers together.
My palms were damp as he brought our joined hands to his lips. He pressed a long, wet kiss to the inside of my wrist.
The bristles of his beard scratched against my skin as goose bumps drifted down my arm. I felt the warmth of his mouth all the way to my toes. My body was enjoying the simple but intimate attention too much at that moment to move my hand.
Something felt wrong holding Nick’s hand around Jack. When I glanced at my son, he was munching on popcorn and oblivious to anything but the robots on the screen. I smiled at Nick, but he didn’t smile back. Illuminated by the soft flicker from the movie, the heat and yearning in his eyes burned brightly. My breathing quickened as his finger blazed a light caress back and forth over the top of my hand.
For five years, I never so much as glanced in another man’s direction. Now, Nick simply holding my hand melted me into a puddle. It was pathetic but spoke the volumes I couldn’t admit out loud.
“Well, now I’m spoiled.” Nick rubbed his stomach at our dining room table. “I’ll never be able to order takeout pizza again.”
“We always make pizza on Saturdays. You should come over next week, too.” Jack’s hopeful grin tugged at my heart.
“I’m sure Nick has plans most Saturday nights when he isn’t working. Why don’t you say goodnight to him and I’ll change you for bed.”
Jack tackled him with a hug. “Goodnight, Nick. Next time, I’ll show you all my superhero figures!”
Nick pulled away and nodded. “You have a deal, Jack. Sweet dreams, kid.”
I took Jack’s hand and dragged him down the hallway. My son was already making plans for us with Nick. So much for setting Jack straight on getting too attached. I was attached too, and the normalcy of our afternoon and evening together made the resolve to keep my distance a crap load more difficult.
Jack brushed his teeth and yawned as he crawled under the covers. “Can we ask Nick to come back?”Jesus.This kid was relentless.
“We’ll see.” I’d found myself using my mother’s alternative answer for “it’s really no, but I don’t feel like getting into it now” more and more lately. Jack was out before I even turned off the light.
I made my way back into the living room and found Nick sitting on the edge of the couch. I took a seat on the other side. My heart thumped in my ears at the realization we were all alone—and good things didn’t happen when we were alone. Well, they weregood, but not right.
“Thanks . . . thanks for spending the day with us,” I stuttered. “Jack loved it.”
“Only Jack?” He raised an eyebrow as he lifted his head.
“I loved it, too. I told you, I’m—”
“Complicated. Yeah, you said that.” Nick rose from his end of the couch and sat down next to me. “What I feel right now is pretty damn simple.” He took my hand in both of his, and tingles ran up my arm at the slight contact—again. “It’s only complicated if you want it to be.”
“I don’t want it to be. I’m just . . .” I trailed off as Nick brought my hand to his lips.God, I loved that.
“Scared? If it makes you feel any better, I’m a little out of practice, too.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Really?” I squinted at him. I had a difficult time comprehending how a gorgeous man with mojo to spare was “out of practice.”
“Before I left Florida, I was engaged. I asked her to move back to New York with me so I could help my father. She said yes at first but later refused. She didn’t think she wasinvestedenough. Her words.” Nick shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Nick. That’s awful.”
He let out a deep sigh. “It was better things happened that way. I’d want someone there for the long haul. I would have followed her without hesitation, and it burned me when she wouldn’t do the same. Since then . . .” Nick shrugged. “Easier to be lonely than hurt, right? And it was until I saw you again. Even though it’s an uphill battle.” Nick’s mouth twisted into a smirk.
