“Hey there, Welcome to Tiger Scouts!” I turned to a deep voice beside me. I only saw the man’s back, but it was hard not to notice the black tattoos circling the olive skin of his muscular arms. His Scout shirt strained against his torso and his worn jeans molded to him perfectly. Not quite what I expected for a den leader. I had more of a Davy Crockett type in my head than sexy bad boy. My eyes ascended his body as he turned to me. I looked away, hoping I didn’t get caught ogling.
“Ellie?” His eyes narrowed. Specs of gray peppered the dark buzzed hair on his head and stubble on his baby face. “We met at Evan and Paige’s wedding.”
“Nick!” I nodded as I finally realized who he was. It was hard to forget those eyes—warm and kind, and somehow even sexier with the crinkles in the corners when he smiled.
“I had a feeling when I saw Jack Taylor on the roster.” He glanced at his watch and dropped his hand to my forearm. “I better get in the front and start the meeting. Let me know if you have any questions about anything.” He turned to the boys. “Wait until you see the awesome car we’re going to build for our first project tonight.” He raised his eyebrows as he strolled away.
“We’re gonna build a car?” Jack’s eyes grew saucer-wide.
“Cool!” Dylan reached for the pieces in front of Bianca before she swatted his hand away.
“Okay, spill!” Bianca scooted her chair closer to me. “You know Nick Garcia?”
“He’s a friend of Evan’s. I met him at Paige and Evan’s wedding. Counting our conversation just now, I’ve spent maybe an hour and ten minutes in the guy’s presence. I wouldn’t say Iknewhim.”
“He knewyou; that’s for sure. You didn’t overhear Susan and her little gaggle talking about him the other day? The sexy fire lieutenant?”
I rolled my eyes and huffed. “That’s who they were talking about? Jesus, an attractive man gets within fifty yards of this school, and the mothers turn into scavengers.”
“So, you admit he’s attractive?” Bianca arched an eyebrow.
“I’m not blind. He’s very good-looking, and from what I can tell, a decent guy. If the boys have fun, that’s all I care about.”
Bianca huffed at me. “Right. Still on that dating ban I see.”
I shut my eyes and exhaled. “You sound like Paige. I have a dating app on my phone. I just checked, and a couple of guys winked at me or whatever it is they do to contact you. And you should talk.”
Bianca leaned her arms on the table as she squinted at me. “I’d like to embrace hating men for a few months, so I don’t take it out on the next poor bastard . . . Are you ever going to meet anyone who contacts you?”
I picked up the logs and pegs laid out in front of Jack and me and wondered how the hell they would make a car. “No,” I replied without looking at her. Realizing my slip, I swallowed before meeting her narrowed eyes. “I mean, we’ll see.”
Bianca pursed her red lips at me and shook her black wavy hair. “Just as I thought.”
My priority was my son. I would date when, and if, I was ready. No one knew that but me, so as far as I was concerned, it was none of anyone’s business. That included family and friends.
Nick clapped to get everyone’s attention once he got to the front. His lips stretched into a wide smile, and were those dimples? I didn’t notice them at the bar that night all those years ago. Oh, for Christ’s sake. He was a fireman, with a body like that, and had dimples? For a moment, I didn’t blame the school mothers for drooling all over themselves. Never mind panties dropping; in his presence, they probably disintegrated.
“Hi, everyone. My name is Nick, and I’ll be the Tiger Scout den leader this year. I have a lot of cool plans for us, but we’ll start with this little project. I know there are a lot of weird pieces in front of you, but when I explain how to put it all together, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is.” Nick’s eyes found mine, and I laughed. He addressed the room, but his gaze kept coming back to mine. Was he flirting with me? How the hell did I flirt back?Shit, I couldn’t do that. He was Evan’s friend and Jack’s den leader. Our little moment was in the past, and that’s where it needed to stay.
“He’s staring at you. Stop holding back on me, Ellie,” Bianca whispered in my ear.
I rolled my eyes as I turned back to her. “Like I told you, I had a drink with him five years ago. He asked me out to dinner, and I said no. I’d just lost Jack.”
“Well, the universe is giving you a do-over.” Bianca tipped her chin in Nick’s direction.
I huffed at Bianca and tried in vain to follow along with Nick’s instructions. A do-over? Just because I noticed him a little—okay, a lot—didn’t mean a thing. Fate took away the first best thing that ever happened to me. I had serious doubts it would ever make it right.
“This car is awesome! Let’s race!” Jack dropped to the floor along with Dylan, but I pulled him up by the arm.
“Time to get home, guys. You can race tomorrow.” The boys groaned in response as we left the gym. Jack seemed to love Scouts and I was thrilled, and proud of myself that I could keep up with Nick. I was so happy my son found a group activity that maybe I didn’t have to drag him to, I had to fight the urge to skip to my car.
“Hey, guys! How’d you like our first meeting?” Nick sauntered over to us, now in a black T-shirt that showcased his entire torso. I didn’t notice the cotton on his short sleeves stretching to accommodate his inked biceps one bit.
“It was great!” Dylan exclaimed, still trying to get on the sidewalk to play.
“I thought so, too.” Bianca nodded at Nick. “Well, time to get this little guy home. Goodnight, Ellie. Speak to you tomorrow.” With a side smirk and wink I prayed Nick didn’t see, she took Dylan by the hand and strode away.
“Small world, isn’t it?” I let out a nervous laugh. “When did you move back again?” I struggled to think of small talk as Nick’s steps kept in stride with mine on the way to my car.
