“Who’s ready to play on the playground?” she asked, causing the kids to cheer again.
Lexi stood and gave the talk about how they needed to behave and listen to Nora. Meanwhile, Slater had the unfortunate task of asking about the drone.
“So, um…Milo seems to think that you deliberately tried to break the drone,” he began slowly. “I’m sure it wasn’t anything like that, but…”
“Oh, it was,” Nora said sweetly. “And he knows why.” Turning to the kids, she asked, “Are you guys ready?” They were dancing around her excitedly when she gave Milo a smug smile. And without another word about it, she led the kids out of the restaurant.
The four of them exchanged glances, but Milo—mild-mannered Milo—looked like his head was about to explode.
“Excuse me,” he murmured before storming off in the opposite direction of where Nora went.
“Well, that was…unexpected,” Slater announced. “And that’s my cue to leave. You two enjoy yourselves.”
And finally—finally!—he and Lexi were alone.
“How about another dance?” he asked, holding out his hand to her.
Her smile was radiant. “That sounds lovely.”
They only got the one dance before the party started to break up. But when the music ended, Connor’s arm went around her waist as they walked around saying goodbye to everyone.
“Do you need to go and check on the staff?” she asked.
“I should, but…not yet. This is nice, just walking around like a normal couple.”
Laughing softly, she shook her head. “A normal couple?”
“Yeah, you know, the kind of couple who can just be themselves in front of everyone without feeling self-conscious or worried about what their kids think.”
“Ooh…I see what you’re saying.” They’d been very careful with how they interacted with each other in front of their children, but it was getting a bit old. “Too bad we can’t really test that theory since the kids aren’t here.”
He smiled down at her. “Are you saying you’d be open to maybe introducing them to the idea of us being a couple?”
“That is what I’m saying,” she confirmed. And before she knew it, she was in his arms and being thoroughly kissed.
“Jeez, get a room, you two,” Walker said as he walked past.
The kiss lingered just a little longer, and when they broke apart, she was breathless. “Look at us. Kissing in the middle of a semi-crowded room.”
“It’s good, right?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“Should we head down to the playground and see what everyone thinks?”
It was tempting, but…
“That depends.”
“On?”
“If you need to be back here, then it’s going to be rushed, you know? Like if Annabeth has questions, it’s going to be awkward if you have to interrupt her so you can come back and check on the progress of the cleanup.” She glanced around. “Where’s Lauren? You said she was the best event planner you’d ever worked with. Maybe ask her to work with Sunny so you can leave?”
“Um…”
Sighing, Lexi stopped in her tracks and faced him. “Connor, you hired a very competent staff, and the only way you’re going to know that they can work without you…you know…hovering, is if you let them do their jobs. Everyone knows how to find you if they need you. This is a good first step in learning that you don’t have to work all the time.”
He looked ready to argue, but thought better of it.
