“Wild man?” Miles prompts. “Why don’t you get started?” He pats the big white leather ball with his left palm and gently tosses it across me to Jake.
Jake drops the ball to the ground, and recites a handful of life rules, ticking them off on his fingers as he does. I’m amazed. Totally impressed with the things on that list that Miles obviously thinks are important enough to instill in the kids he coaches.
“And the most important one?”
Jake makes a big show of sucking in a huge lungful of air and blowing it out through his nose. His sweet little mouth is pursed, and his brows are pulled low over the chocolate-brown eyes he got from his father. “Always mind your manners, and above all else, be a gentleman,” he says.
A broad smile stretches across Miles’s face, pride evident. “Nicely done.”
He holds his hand out for Jake to toss the ball back to him. And when Jake holds off, tossing the ball between his hands, Miles hops to his feet with a growl, sending Jake running as fast as his little legs can take him. The sand makes it a challenge, so it takes nothing for Miles to be within reach.
Miles taps at the ball, zigzagging around Jake, chasing him, and playing.Playing. Of all things, who would think that such a simple thing as a boy playing ball, laughing wholeheartedly, would be such an amazing sight to behold?
I gather our trash and carefully fold the blanket, shaking out the sand. And then I just stand. The sun-warmed sand shifting beneath my feet as the cool evening breeze swirls my hair around my head in an unruly black cloud. Peace wraps me up, not just from seeing the carefree way my kiddo is laughing and playingand thoroughly enjoying life, but also from seeing that reflected in Miles as well.
“Come on, Bronson,” I call, throwing the blanket over one arm and grabbing the bag of trash in the other.
Miles and Jake trot toward me, the rugby ball flying back and forth between them as they run.
“Mom, can Miles and I go get ice cream?” Sweat plasters sandy-brown curls to Jake’s temple.
“Just you and Miles? I don’t get any?” I huff out a laugh.
“You don’t even like ice cream,” Jake says, his lip popping up in a sneer.
Concern, maybe confusion, clouds Miles’s face. He props his hands low on his hips and looks at me like I’m insane. It’s not the first time I’ve gotten that look over this. “You don’t like ice cream? Is that a thing?”
“She’s weird, right?”
I toss the trash into a nearby can and click the locks open on my car. Miles reaches forward to open the back hatch, tapping the bumper for Bronson to hop in. He takes the blanket from me, giving it a final shake before tucking it in the back.
“I don’t know about weird. But she’s definitely one of a kind.”
Electricity skitters up my spine as Miles’s hand gently guides me to the driver’s side. He opens the door for me, holding it until I’m settled.
“A single scoop, I promise. Then, I’ll drop him home and head out.”
“You can hang with us for a bit if you want. Maybe make a beer float. Watch a movie or something?”
“You don’t mind?”
A laugh bubbles up, escaping through my nose. “No. I would love to watch another movie with you.” I wink, giddy at the huge smile that lights up his eyes.
With a quick nod, Miles closes my car door and calls to Jake, “That’s how it’s done, my friend. It’s never the wrong thing to do?—”
“To open a door for a lady,” Jake finishes. “Iknow. Can we just go now?”
I roll down my windows and yell, “See you at home,” as I take off out of the parking lot.
“What’s your secret?”I ask Miles as he pulls my feet onto his lap.
He chuckles as a moan settles deep in my chest. His thumb pushes into the arch of my foot, a warm palm wrapped around my calf. It’s intimate but so comfortable, like we’ve been doing this forever.
“I dazzle you with my good looks, manly muscles, and sparkling personality,” he replies. “If it all goes to plan, I get to carry you upstairs again tonight and fall asleep to the sound of you snoring.”
I dig my toes into his side, hitting a tickle spot on the first try, making Miles jump. His hand wraps around my ankle, and my ass slides across the cushion as he pulls me toward him. There is something so amazingly sexy about the way he moves me. On more than one occasion, Miles has used a minimal amount of effort to manipulate my body, putting me where he wants me. Not in a forceful way, always gentle. Always with respect. And always to my benefit.
“That goes without saying.”
