Embarrassed at herself? I don’t think that’s even possible.
“Well, maybe we just make a really good team,” I hint, letting that comment linger in the air for a moment. I want to tell her more—to talk about her and her life and me and my life—but the game moves on, and we both become distracted.
She starts chatting with the girls as the guys and I bullshit, but I can feel her next to me all the same. Her thigh brushes mine, and she moves it back abruptly. She tosses her long hair over her shoulder, and it hits my arm. This one she doesn’t notice, and I don’t mind at all.
Shit. Here I am, with essentially the girl of my fucking dreams by my side, and I can’t do a damn thing about it.
Quinn gets up and goes to the kitchen, ending their conversation, and she turns back to me, a small smile on her face. “This is fun.”
“We do it as often as possible, you’re welcome to join us.” Ugh. Even I hate what I just said.
Welcome to join us? As if I don’t have a solid vested interest in her being here?
She tilts her head forward, letting her hair fall in her face and hiding her from my view. “Maybe I will. My sister says I need to get out more.”
“That’s hard with a little kid, I assume. Unless she hangs out with her dad?” Yeah, okay. The hint is not even a hint but a blatant question, but I have to know.
“Ah, it is hard with Rora, but mostly because I want her all to myself.” She grins, thinking of the little girl and doesn’t answer my question about whether the dad is in the picture at all.
“Do you ever have help?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation back to the original question.
“Yeah, of course.” She nods her head and turns to me, giving me her full attention. It’s exactly what I want. “My sister lives with us, so she’s a major help. She’s with her tonight. And my parents don’t live far from us and help me out when Hattie can’t.”
“Hattie’s your sister?”
“Yup. My little sister.” She purses her lips together, and her eyes, golden like freaking honey itself, look down. “She stepped in when I had no one else. I’m not quite sure where I would be without her. She watches Aurora all the time for me.”
“That’s nice,” I comment, thinking of the cute little girl. “If you ever need any extra help, I’m great with kids.”
Annnnd why thefuckdid I just offer that?
Her eyes spark with… something. Amusement? Excitement? Surprise?
Hell, I’m surprised too. I wouldn’t mind watching her daughter, she’s cute as a button, and I really am great with kids. But I don’t want to just watch her kid. I want to take her out, I want to kiss this woman in front of me, and I want to show her that I could be someone she has fun with when she needs a break.
“Wow.” She breathes out a sigh and nods her head, and I can tell from the movement—mostly because she’s not great at hiding her feelings—that she did not expect that from me at all. Her and I both. “That’s so kind. Maybe I’ll take you up on that.”
“Sure, let me give you my number.”
For a split second, she halts her movements, and I swear I see something like disappointment in her eyes.
I’m disappointed in me too.
But she recovers quickly, handing me her phone and letting me type in my number. I add my last name too, and when she gets it back, she looks at it in amusement. “Fowler?”
“Yup,” I answer, pissed with myself for messing this up so royally. I need to get it together. “Is that funny?”
She shakes her head, a smile on her lips. “Oh, no. Just an interesting last name.” She opens her mouth to say more, but we’re cut off by the next team getting up to play their round.
Not long after the awkward conversation—the one where I was supposed to woo the woman and absolutely flopped—she announces her departure.
I stand with her and Quinn, and she says bye to the group, receiving the same in return. I walk her to the door, Quinn staying back to let me and shooting me a wink. Oh, she is going to love what I’ve roped myself into.
“Well.” Elizabeth clears her throat, her hand clutching her purse strap tightly and looking at me like she wants to say something. She licks her lips, and I wait on bated breath for her next words. “Thanks for having me.”
“Anytime,” I reply, clenching my fists and unsure what to say next. But what I came up with should not have been it. “Let me know if you need any help with Aurora.”
Again, there’s a shadow in her expression like that is not what she wants me to say, but my tongue is tied, my foot is lodged somewhere between my windpipe and tongue, and my brain has decided to take a vacation.
