What could possibly be bad about this?
Ivan surfaced with a dramatic roar, and Brady squealed with delight. “Mama! Look! He’s a kraken!”
“I see that,” I called back, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.
Time slipped by as the boys played. I considered things I hadn’t thought about in a long time. Romance was never in the cards for me, but why not? What was I hiding from? My father was dead; he couldn’t force me to marry someone against my will. I had a thriving family and a happy home. But there was that one piece to the puzzle that was still missing. There was no MMC in the plot that was my life.
Well, if he wants to see me, I’m a package deal.Dating had to be good for Brady too.
I worried my lip. What if my son became more attached, but things didn’t work out? Having a child didn’t deter this man, it seemed, which was great! But saints above! Things were so complicated.
By the time the boys exited the pool, Brady was tuckered out and smiling happily. “I’m hungry.”
“Hi, hungry, I’m mom,” I responded.
My son rolled his eyes. “I want food.”
“Can you rephrase that politely?” I arched a brow, not cowed by his demands.
“May I please go get a snack?” Brady insisted.
“Yes, but leave your floaty and goggles out here,” I said.
The child ripped them off with such force that his hair snarled in the goggles. His yelp of dismay was comical.
I sat up to help, but Ivan was already there.
Already helping.
I chewed my lower lip some more and studied the fine specimen. The jeans sagged low on his hips. Black boxers peeped from the top, hiding the trails of ink that spread lower, how low they went, what the artwork looked like down there. My teeth dug into my bottom lip as a telltale buzz hummed deep in my core.
Ivan smoothed back the wild tangle of hair off Brady’s head. Maybe I was imagining it, but I thought he sucked in a sharp breath. I realized a second later that he was staring at Brady’s birthmark. It was big, but not too red now. The pediatrician thought the hemangioma would fade as he grew. I didn’t want other kids teasing him, which was part of the reason I let his hair be this long.
“Want a snack?” Brady offered, and I smiled at his manners.
“No, I’m good,” Ivan said gruffly.
His voice was strange, almost choked.
Brady dashed away into the house. The offer for Ivan to join us tonight was on the tip of my tongue when he held out the goggles to me.
“I have to go,” he said, tone hardened.
I started slightly. “Oh, okay, well, thank you so much for today.”
He nodded, and I took the goggles. Several strands of hair stuck to Ivan’s wet finger as he turned to scoop up his belongings. I wanted to say something, but Ivan’s sudden military shortness was off putting.
“About tonight,” I began.
“Have your last supper,” he interrupted.
“Oh, okay,” I said again.
Ivan began to walk around the house. I stood there, staring at his inked back and the water droplets drying there.
I forgot to thank him for the poppies.Maybe Alessandro could give me his number.
Or maybe today was just a fantasy. Maybe I was meant to be alone. It was the life I chose for myself after all.
