“Homemade cookies?”
The charming grin on his face had her returning it. “Yes. I made chocolate chip cookies last night so that Archer had them when he got home.”
She could have used that time to get other chores done in the house and she had. But the quietness wasn’t lost on her when her son was gone, so she busied herself with other things since nothing good was on TV.
“I’ll take one,” he said.
She opened the container and pushed it over.
He reached in and snagged one, taking a bite, closing his eyes and letting out a soft moan.
Oh God. She might dream of that sound next.
Last night had been torture. She’d woken drenched in heat, her heart racing, and Jayce’s touch from years ago haunting her like it had only just happened.
They were seventeen and tangled together in his childhood bedroom. The very room he slept in now. Their mouths desperate, hands exploring with the kind of hunger that was innocent yet overwhelming, leaving her both embarrassed and electrified.
But Jayce…he had made it feel safe. Natural. He wanted her, not just her body, and that had breathed life into places inside her she hadn’t even known existed at that age.
He’d never pushed for more than she was ready to give, and he wasn’t pushing now. That steady patience was who he was, and she cherished it more than she could ever say.
This wasn’t about them, not yet. This was about Archer. At least that was what she told herself, even as her heart ached with the truth. She was already slipping, already wanting more, craving his time and attention for her and not her son.
That could be dangerous because Archer always had to come first.
“Good?” she asked, clearing her throat. She had to get her mind out of the gutter, out of being selfish, and back on track of her son’s care for the next week.
After that, maybe she could allow herself a little freedom.
“Awesome.”
“I’m glad. They are Archer’s favorite. Me, I love peanut butter cookies. But you know. Can’t have it in the house. Just wanted to remind you of that. I carry an EPI spray with me, but there is an extra one right here.”
She opened the drawer in the kitchen where it was kept. Where everyone knew it belonged, including her son.
“Got it,” he said. “Just spray it in his nose if he needs it, but I’m hoping to hell he doesn’t. You said there are no peanuts in the house.”
“There aren’t. He’s not severely allergic. If he comes in contact, he’s fine as long as he doesn’t ingest it. The few times he has, he breaks out in hives pretty quickly. Benadryl has managed it, but it was years ago. At some point I’ll have him tested again, as kids can outgrow it.”
“Best to just keep it away from him. I’m not risking it, thank you very much. I like not having any white hair.”
She glanced at his dark hair, stylishly arranged but not over the top. Not like Tucker spent thirty minutes doing daily. More time than she did.
His brown eyes were washing over her, examining her reaction to her watching him.
The heat was building in her body again as if he knew what she was thinking rather than focusing on what was important.
“I know you plan on taking him out and doing things. Just watch his food when you go out to eat, but he knows to say he has the allergy.”
“I’ll do it. I promise. Can I carry that with me if I need to?”
She smiled. “I was going to suggest it. Also to have Benadryl with you. Either way, if you suspect anything, call me right away. I’ll have my cell phone on me.”
And she’d be checking her watch for texts and calls to make sure there wasn’t a problem, even if she was with a patient. It was only for the week and Jayce wouldn’t call her unless it was an emergency.
“Can I text you if I have a question?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “I might not get back right away, but if you need a fast answer, just call.”
