“What you said earlier, about how we never dated.”
“Mmmhmm.” I wait patiently for him to continue.
He looks up then back to my lips. “Let me change that. We’ll go on a date.”
I nearly bug out in a wonderful way. “You didn’t exactly ask, you just stated.” We have banter, and it’s great.
“Now who’s being clever? Besides, I already know your answer, so I’m saving you the consideration in your head.” He doesn’t let my pinned arms go.
My body curves up to him, and it’s far more sensual than what I intended. We should just end our misery of feeding into our magnetism but neither one of us dares to.
“Are you going to let my wrists go so I can sleep?” I raise my brows.
He releases me. “For now, yes.”
That earns him my back, because I need to roll away from him to avoid his sweltering stare, and my body feels alive in the way that’s eager for me to ignore that my first time since becoming a mom will be different. Then again, itwillbe different with Vaughn, because we are on the other side of a life change.
The feeling of a warm body swooping in behind me doesn’t surprise me. However, Vaughn’s cuddly nature kind of does.
I’ve seen him with Nora, but that’s fatherhood. When we all shared a bed, sure, I would tuck my body against Vaughn’s while one of us held our baby. But now?
I snort a laugh. “We suck at boundaries. Our new motto.”
“Totally right, but that’s why we can knock them down,” he confirms but only wraps his arms tighter around me.
* * *
A few days later,I’m taking note of when Nora’s next check-up is with the doctor on the shared calendar with Vaughn, when I notice that in two weeks, he will be away for pre-season games. I focus on that a little longer than I should because the thought is a little daunting.
Vaughn arrives home just as I connect my cell to my charger.
“Get dressed,” he insists.
I give myself the once-over, and I’m in my usual skinny jeans and tank top. “What’s wrong with this?”
He leans against the counter like a man who doesn’t know anything else but swaggered stances. “Relax, it wasn’t an insult. We both need to change, as we’re going out.”
“Oh, I should probably go pack the diaper bag.” I’m about to go to my task when Vaughn grabs my wrist in record time.
He has a grimace which is slightly unnerving. “She isn’t coming with.”
“Huh?”
“You know, normally you don’t bring kids on your first date.” He watches me while everything registers. An unrecognizable sound rumbles at the back of my throat. “Remember? Date. You and me,” he clarifies.
Before I can answer, the doorbell rings, and I decide answering it is the distraction I need. Only, I answer to find Connor. Now I’m confused again.
Vaughn arrives behind me to greet our guest. “Nice, the babysitter is here.”
My head whizzes straight to Vaughn. “What?” I nearly spit out with great disapproval on the babysitter choice.
Connor strides in and raises his hands up. “Relax. We all know that I’m not capable of handling itty-bitty humans.”
“Oh really?” I’m cynical. “Had you pegged as babysitter of the year.”
“Yikes, someone is frosty today,” Connor highlights to Vaughn.
He just grins at his friend before placing his hands on my shoulders from the side. “Ignore her. I caught her off guard with the date-night surprise. Perhaps now is the time to tell her the plan regarding our daughter.”
