“Look at mine!” Troy holds his up for her to see—covered in footballs, hockey sticks, and baseballs. “I want to be a football player just like my daddy.”
The pride in his voice whenever he talks about Derek is the most precious thing in the world. You can see how much he loves his dad, and it makes it that much easier to fall for someone who is so good with their kid.
Patricia walks over to me and hands me a piece of paper. “Here’s both of our phone numbers and our address. We’ll get the kids pizza for dinner and make sure they’re in bed at a reasonable time.”
“Thank you.” I tuck it into my purse, smiling at her. “And thanks again for watching them tonight.”
“We don’t mind at all,” Tony tells me, grabbing both kids and heading out to their car. “You two deserve a night out.”
“I’ll never complain about that,” Derek confirms as we follow them outside and help strap the kids into their car seats.
“Now, Lydia. Make sure you say please and thank you, and when they say it’s bedtime, you go to sleep without any fussing, okay?” I plant a kiss on her forehead.
“I will.”
“I’ll pick you up in the morning, and you can tell me all about the pool.”
Her face lights up, and I give her one more kiss before shutting the door.
“Have fun!”
I wave as they pull out of the driveway and head off down the street.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Derek pulls me into his arms for a kiss that sweeps me off my feet.
“Fuck. I’ve been wanting to do that since you got here.”
Wrapping my hands around his biceps, I hold on as he dips me lower. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of his front yard and that any one of his neighbors could see us.
I’m desperate for his kiss. It’s hungry as his tongue tangles with mine. Derek’s hand slides lower, squeezing my ass as he pulls me into him. I wrap my leg around him, swept up in this kiss.
The way he amps up my pleasure makes me want to stay at home and take advantage of our free night in the bedroom.
Setting me back down on both feet, Derek presses a kiss to my forehead. “C’mon. Let’s get going before I say fuck it and take you to bed.”
I groan. “Would that be so bad?”
Derek nods. “Yes. Because I want to take you out. Wine and dine you like you deserve.”
“Fine, then let’s go.” I slap his ass in those tight shorts he loves wearing. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back.”
“Fuck,” Derek groans. “You can’t say that to me, Sutton.”
“Hey, you’re the one that’s teasing me.”
“I’m regretting every minute of it.”
The boardwalk is hoppingthis afternoon. It’s like everyone over the age of twenty-one came out to celebrate the first wine fest held here. When we checked in, they gave us each a plastic wine glass and a map of the boardwalk where all the different booths are set up. Different wineries from all over California are here, selling whites, reds, and rosés. Every stall has lines of people wrapped around them, waiting for samples. A few food trucks sit on the edge of the parking lot. Old wine barrels with bouquets of flowers take over the rest of the space, giving people a place to drink their wine.
The waves are crashing in the distance, a soothing sound that I love.
It’s the perfect time spent together.
“Rosé or white?” Derek asks, as we make our way to the front of the line of one of the many booths.
“Rosé, please.”
We each get our sample and sip on it as we link hands and walk through the crowds of people. With every brush of his arm against mine, heat ripples through me.
