“I highly doubt that,” he snorts. “That would involve lasting for longer than a minute.”
“I’m not complaining,” I reply, happy to have a change of subject. “I’d say we both enjoyed that minute.”
He gives me a one-sided smirk. “Practice makes perfect, right? I’ll build up to normal at some point.”
“What exactly is normal?” I ask.
He laughs. “Not sure. It’s been too long, and I’m old now. But I’m cautiously optimistic normal is longer than sixty seconds.”
“But if it is the norm from now on, I’m fine with that.”
“Good to know.”
“My Leo!” Oliver shouts, jarring both of us. I’m still not used to how loud Oliver is in the morning. He’s on the floor by the couch, playing with a box of Lego Duplo building bricks. “Can you help me play with my Legos this morning?”
“Only for a few minutes, buddy,” Leo answers. “I have to get to work.”
I watch as Oliver’s face falls, and my heart breaks a little. This sweet boy is desperate for a father figure in his life. I wish I was closer with my brother, and that he recognized how much his nephew and niece need him. I hate that my parents are both gone, because I know they’d be the most doting grandparents in the world.
“Hey,” Leo says quietly, rushing to Oliver’s side. Crouching down, he looks Oliver in the eyes. “How about I come back after work? I was thinking I could make you guys dinner for a change, and I think I’ll need a helper. You up for that?”
“Really? I can help?” Oliver asks, hope blooming in his voice. Emotion fills my heart as I take in the picture before me, and it makes me fall even more for Leo. If this goes badly — again — I won’t survive it.
“Of course,” Leo replies. He smiles sweetly at Oliver. “Can’t lie to my favorite dude. I was thinking about making pizza. Does that sound good?”
“You can make pizza?” Oliver screeches. “I thought it only came in a box!”
Leo looks at me and winks. “Box pizza is really good. But every now and then, I like to make it fresh.”
“Do you member my favorite kind?”
“Extra cheese?”
“Yup. I like cheese,” Oliver says, grinning. “Can I go back to my Legos now?”
“Yeah, bud,” Leo says with a chuckle. “I’ll see you later.”
I watch quietly as Leo puts his shoes on, then places his dishes in my sink. “You still like sausage and mushrooms on your pizza?”
My mouth falls open in shock. “I can’t believe you remembered that. I still like sausage and mushroom pizza, but I’ll eat just about anything that I don’t have to cook.”
“I was thinking I could also make my Nonna’s bolognese for the two of us. We can see if Oliver likes it, but if not, I know he’ll devour the pizza.”
My mouth immediately begins to salivate. “I haven’t had her bolognese in so long! You know how to make it?”
He snags a hand around my waist, pulling me against him. “I do. And if I promise to cook and clean up, can I have a sleepover again?”
I can’t help the smile that covers my face as I giggle. “Are you bartering with me, Mr. Santo?”
His answering smile is easy, sensual, and borderline wicked. “Maybe. If I do a good job cleaning, can I dirty you up after the kids go to bed?”
Leo doesn’t give me time to answer, bending down to seal his lips over mine. I sigh against his lips, allowing his tongue to slide in and circle mine. Standing on my tiptoes, I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hand flexes against my back, and I feel his length grow against my core. He breaks the kiss, moving his head so his lips are next to my ear. “Behave, Ms.Langley. I promise we’ll have more time for making out after dinner.”
“Auntie Ella,” Oliver whispers, making Leo and me turn toward Oliver. His eyes are as wide as saucers. “Why are you kissing my Leo?”
“Because I like him,” I answer simply.
“And I like Auntie Ella,” Leo adds in.
