But he’s consistent about it.
“What will Lana think?”
“She’ll be highly amused. Especially if you attempt to teach the boys some of your brothers’ tricks. For use on me only, naturally.”
“Oh, no. Hard line. I’m not getting involved in your kids’ lives. I’m so serious when I say I’m not raising any more kids. And I’m not leading them on.”
“The boys are well aware that I occasionally date and that none of my dates are serious.”
“Are they, though?”
“My parents should have divorced before I was born. Lana’s parents as well. We’ve been very clear with the boys that each of us will have romantic partners, and that they—the boys—will always come first until they reach the age of maturity.”
Is it wrong to be in love with how he says things?
That’s normal, right? For me to have a crush on his speech patterns?
For me to wonder what he’d say if we were naked and he had me on the brink of an orgasm?
Why is it so damn hot in this kitchen?
“If we do this?—”
He angles closer.
Or maybe I’m angling closer to him.
Am I moving closer to him?
Huh.
I am. It’s me.
I swallow and set my tea on the small patch of counter between the fridge and the sink that he’s still leaning one hip against. “If we do this, it’s friends only.”
“Friends with benefits?”
“I—”
I enjoy sex.
I suspect I’d enjoy sex with Simon a lot.
And not because Jake would hear or because I want to hook up with a celebrity so that I can tell a story to my great-nieces and nephews one day.
I’d enjoy having a fling with Simon because he’s fun. And despite my initial irritation with him over the whole jail thing, what other celebrity—hell, what otherperson—would have sought me out to apologize for the misunderstanding? And thenalsomade his kids apologize?
He didn’t have anything to gain from that.
I’m cautiously optimistic that heisa good person.
That he’s not out to hurt me.
“How about this?” he says. “I’ll kiss you, and if there’s no spark, then we will be friends in public for the fun of it. But if thereisa spark, then we will be friends in public with benefits in private for the fun of it.”
“That’s a lot of pressure for a kiss.”
“If you find me sloppy and cold and disgusting, then I shan’t even ask you to be my friend in public.”
