Tony sighs, muttering under his breath, "Not this again."
"The Single Dads Club," she states matter-of-factly. We all gape at her, completely dumbfounded. "You know, you guys have formed a little club for soccer practice. I heard it's a tough club to get into, sorry Tony." The cans in her arms jostle, growing slick from the condensation.
"Here," I offer, reaching toward her full arms, "I can take those." Her soft skin brushes against my fingers and the contact isn’t enough.
I want more.
"Oh my gosh, thank you. These things are freezing." Her arms are speckled red from the cool aluminum of the cans, and I can't stop my eyes from raking up and down her body.
Hazel has luscious, mouthwatering curves that I find irresistible. I noticed her last week from across the complex while Harrison warmed up. She was limping, but I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her legs looked smooth as silk in her denim shorts, and her breasts bounced distractingly in her tank top with each step. When I heard Candice asking around for ice, I didn't hesitate.
"How's the ankle?" I’m dying to have a conversation with her. Wells, Cole, and Tony are talking amongst themselves and aren’t paying any attention to me.
"You remembered," she says, looking surprised.
As if I could forget her.
"I never forget a patient," I tell her, and it's true. I've been a pediatrician for several years and always remember a patient. Especially not one that looks like her.
"Well, then I'm honored." For a second I think her ankle gives out again before I realize she’s curtsying. Her eyes widen and pink darkens her cheeks as if she realizes what she did. It’s so damn cute that I can’t help but smile at her, earning a smile back. We're grinning like fools at each other while a mob of children runs around us. "I'm completely healed, as you can see." She points her left leg like a ballerina, and sure enough, her ankle is back to a normal size. Not even a hint of a bruise.
My gaze locks on her shapely legs, blood rushing to a place not appropriate to mention at a kid's party.
It's not often that I find myself enamored with a woman, especially after the mess of Harrison's mom. But there's something about Hazel...
I've been single since the moment I became a dad, and it's worked out well for me. Work and unexpected fatherhood took control of my life and if it wasn’t for the men standing beside me right now, I’m not sure where we’d be.
Hazel's smile falters as her eyes dart around the yard as if looking for someone. "Is your wife here?" Her voice is no longer fun and playful but has a nervous quality to it.
"How could I be part of your infamous club if I had a wife?" I tease.
Her shoulders shrug, her wild waves slipping over her shoulder. “I could have some bad information. ‘The Possibly Single Dads Club’doesn’t have the same ring to it. Plus, my sister is known to be misinformed." Hazel laughs as if recalling a specific incident.
The noise of the party falls away as I look at her. Her warm-toned skin seems to glow from within radiating through every pore that it escapes from her rich brown eyes. Freckles dotacross her entire face, flitting across the bridge of her nose to both cheeks. And that smile? It makes me want to wrap her in my arms and never let her go.
"Honestly, I'm surprised by that. Would've thought you'd been snatched up by now." She playfully nudges my bicep, her eyes shining with amusement.
If she only knew what that simple touch was doing to me.
The only person I want to snatch me up right now is her. "What about you?" I ask before my imagination gets the best of me.
For all I know, she could be married or have a boyfriend and I don't want to get my hopes up. The jealousy at the thought is hard to ignore.
"Me?" She laughs dismissively. "Nah, I've got no one." She says it like it's always been that way and will always be that way.
Not if I have something to say about it.
Little hands pull on my shorts before I can ask her more about it. "Daddy?" My son's light green eyes gaze up at me expectantly.
"Harrison, I'd like for you to meet Hazel. She's Mason's aunt." His little eyes dart over toward her where she smiles softly and waves.
"Hi," his little voice chirps before he turns right back to me. "Daddy come jump with me." When I don't respond he quickly adds, "Please?" in that way, which makes it impossible to say no.
I look over to Hazel who smiles politely. "It was great talking with you, Grant," she says before waving and walking away.
Her hips sway with each step away from me, and I can’t take my eyes off her.
An insistent tugging of my hand breaks my stupor. "C'mon, son. Let's go bounce." I pluck Harrison off the ground, tossing him over my shoulder as he squeals with laughter.
