“Let’s eat first.”
Andie nodded, “You lot have been spoiling me. I’ve been piling on the pounds,” Andie said as she took the plate of curry and rice.
“It’s no problem. You’re always welcome here, and, let’s be honest, you could do with adding a few pounds.” My mother chuckled.
Andie just shrugged. I thought she was perfect as she was, curves in all the right places. My father excused himself to eat his food in the living room and my mother followed soon after, giving me a quick nod and a wink before closing the door behind her. My heart pounded in my chest and my mouth suddenly felt dry.
“Are you okay?” Andie asked, nodding her head towards my untouched plate of food.
“Yeah, uh, I wanted to talk to you.” I put down my cutlery and rubbed my hands on my thighs.
“Ooh, this sounds serious. Have I been a naughty girl?” She laughed, but the way she said it sent a lightning bolt to my cock, and I had to bend towards the table to hide my growing erection.
“What? Uh, no. I wanted to know if, maybe sometime…”Shit, just spit it out, I chided myself. “Would you like to go out with me, alone, just us, on a date?”
Fuck my life, I’d never been so awkward around a woman before. I wasn’t Mr Smooth or anything, but I could hold my own. This time, I was like a toddler learning to walk for the first time; wobbly, then falling flat on my face.
Then it happened, she started choking on her food, coughing, and spluttering. She hastily reached for the drink I was holding out for her.
“Are you okay?” I placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes, sorry. I just wasn’t expecting that.” She took another drink.
“I know it may sound like it’s come out of the blue. That wasn’t the way I had planned to ask you, but these last few months we’ve spent together have been so good. I’ve liked you for a while. Even before those kisses we shared, but I didn’t know how to ask and thought I wasn’t good enough for you. That’s why I just blurted it out.” I was rambling, I knew it, but I couldn’t stop.
Andie blushed. “It’s very flattering, but I don’t think it would be a good idea to go out with you. I’m sorry.” She looked away and started clearing away her food, though she had barely touched it.
“Can I ask why?” I was trying not to show how disappointed I was, but I don’t think my face got the message because when she looked at me her face dropped.
“Morgan, you’re such a great guy and you know I like you, but I feel a lot older than you, I’m going through a divorce, and you are one of my closest friend’s son. I just don’t think it’s a good idea. The kisses were a mistake. We’re better as friends; I don’t want to lose that.”
“I get it, I do. That’s why it’s taken so long to ask you because I’ve given it a lot of thought. Five years is nothing, I’ve talked to Mum and she’s okay with it. Over the last few months, I’ve come to care for you, more than just friends, and we get along so well.” I placed my hand on hers only for her to jump back like I’d burned her.
“I’m sorry, but it’s a no. I have to go.” Andie grabbed her bag from the back of her chair and practically ran from the room before I had a chance to say anything else. I heard her call out goodbye to my parents and then the front door close behind her.
I collapsed back against the chair and covered my face with my hands. My heart was getting smaller by the second. My appetite had disappeared. Letting out a long sigh, I cleared away my food.
I stuck my head into the living room. “Hey, Andie had to go. I’m headed upstairs for a bit.” My parents sat on either end of the sofa, still eating and watching the football.
“All right, love. Is everything okay?” my mother asked, concern furrowing her brow as her eyes searched my face.
“Yeah, all good. See you later.” I forced a tight smile.
I didn’t want to get into it with my mother. Taking the stairs two at a time, I went into the spare bedroom that I used for smaller woodwork projects.
From atop my workbench, I picked up one of the little cars I’d been carving for Charlie. I’d already built the three-story wooden carpark for him, and two out of the four cars I had planned. This one needed the wheels adding but otherwise was complete. Two down, three to go.
CHAPTER 4
ANDIE
I called goodbye to Kate and Nolan and jogged up the steps away from the house, desperate to get in the car and away from Morgan. I quickly closed the car door and checked the mirrors, glad to see he wasn’t following me. I relaxed a little and sat there thinking.
What the hell had just happened? He was tall, dark, and handsome, with piercing blue eyes and arms a Greek god would be jealous of. Sure, we got on well; he was kind, considerate, smart, and funny. But he was still Kate’s son, and that could be complicated.
I wasn’t looking for complicated. In fact, I wasn’t looking for anything. I’d sworn off men for life. I shouldn’t have kissed Morgan. I had started all of this by being honest. Maybe honesty wasn’t always the best policy. I needed to keep my hands and lips to myself. I didn’t want to lose him because I couldn’t control my hormones.
I started the engine and was about to pull away when I saw the plans for the library I was supposed to give to Morgan. I thought about driving home anyway, but that would cause delays in the work and that wasn’t fair to Kate and Nolan.
