Ace doesn't bring up Johnny once, but I do catch him looking at his phone more and more as time creeps by. It's during those times that he's not smiling.
Any other time, he's all smiles. Not just sexy smirks, but genuine curves that make my stomach tingle.
Everything around us is calm and steady. Life almost feels normal again.
This late in the afternoon, we're just spending time watching television. Leliah's sitting on the ground, her eyes glued to the big screen while I sit on the couch. Spread across the other cushions is Ace. Heels resting against the arm, his head is using my thighs as a pillow.
We've been this way for the last hour, and I haven't found it in me to ask him to move. Not when I'm even feeling comfortable.
His dark strands are soft. During commercial breaks, I find myself exploring the waves. Every now and then, his deep brown eyes will lift up to catch me in the act, but he doesn't say anything. He always looks like he's enjoying the moment.
Every now and then, I'll get a little courage and trace his ear or his stubble. Call it curiosity. Yet, every time I catch myself in the act, my eyes don't take long before they are drifting toward his mouth.
I want to kiss him. It's been days, and he hasn't touched me like before. He's giving me space like he thinks I need it.
The only thing he's giving me is frustrating thoughts.
"You know, I've been thinking." Rolling his head to the side, he looks back up at me. "Do I look like the minivan kind of guy?"
That makes me laugh, and despite his grin, I realize he's serious. "Uh, no, not really."
He looks like he was made to sit on a motorcycle, no matter what season it is. Just thinking about how he'd look on the one parked outside has my stomach doing little flips.
I hate how quickly my mind conjures up an image of his bike. He's not wearing his leather jacket in my head. No, he's shirtless with that inked skin of his glistening beneath the sun's gleam.
It's a crime to have a man this good-looking stuck in my head as much as he is. Even more to picture us there with him.
Will there come a time when I could ride behind him? Maybe once Leliah's a little older, or maybe if she had a babysitter?
Catching myself in the thought of the future and realizing I've placed Ace in it, my sudden shaky breath is met by the gentle stroke of his knuckles against my cheek.
"You're picturing me in a big truck, aren't you?"
Another laugh leaves me, but this one is paired with a warmth that crawls up my throat. "Why are you asking?"
He's thinking about it too, isn't he?
"I can't fit a booster seat on my bike." Chuckling under his breath, he rolls until he's on his back so all he can do is look at me. "I considered a side cart, but I didn't think you'd let her near it."
He's correct, but that's not the reason behind my sudden grin. It's him. He's thinking about her like she's his responsibility now.
"She won't want to go near that thing." Chuckling, I bite my lip to contain another chuckle. "I still don't think a minivan is the right call. Maybe some kind of SUV. Something bulky."
Look at me, entertaining him. The more I picture it, the more it seems possible.
"I'll look into it," he mumbles, setting it in stone.
He's not really going to go out and get his hands on a vehicle, is he?
Maybe he wants us to stick around to make it worth every penny.
Looking down at him, I search the deep brown of his eyes for any hints of amusement. Anything to tell me that he's only joking, and that I'm getting my hopes up.
He's smiling, but there is no tease. Just excitement for the future.
This guy is really something. Does he realize what he's doing to me? A question like that shouldn't be what knocks more of my wall down, but that's what he does. My defenses are down, and there's nothing I can do about it.
Without anything blocking my inner wants, what's to stop me from doing something reckless?
