I don’t know why I look at Roman when my heart pangs. “Oh.” I usually have plenty to say, but what would I say to that? Was the sex at least good? No. No. No. Do not say anything.
When I look at him again, he’s stopped a few steps back. I turn to face him. Maybe it’s the light that hasn’t broken through the cloud cover, or that the arrogance he wears like a second skin seems to be missing this morning, or perhaps he’s just tired like he said, but it’s the most connected I’ve felt to him. He’s strong in muscle and quick-witted, but he’s still just a man looking for approval from the world around him. I’ve been there.
“It doesn’t matter if you and her worked out. You got Roman. And it sounds like you guys are great parents. She takes him to see you when you’re not traveling, you have him for the summer, and he’s polite and as cute as a button. He’s a great kid.” I take a step toward him, wanting to leave room for the conversation. “Anyway, it’s not too late. You’re like what, forty?”
“Forty? Fuck me.” His head rolls back on his neck. When he pops it up again, he asks, “Are you serious right now?”
Laughing, I do a little tap dance to the side and curtsy. “No. But I had you going.” I close the gap and poke him in the stomach. Hard as a rock. “I know your age from your profile.”
It’s cute seeing him annoyed as he shakes his head. “Right.” Bumping playfully against me, he asks, “How old are you? It’s only fair.”
“I’d have you guess, but I’m way too sensitive for that game. I’m twenty-six.” The nod feels like the approval I needed. “A little age gap thing is happening.” The smile is wiped from my face. Really, Summer? Ugh. “Not that we’re together. I didn’t mean to infer you’d date me or any?—”
“I would date you.”
That shouldn’t be as sexy as it is, but hearing him say that makes me wish I’d chosen a different outfit than denim cutoffs and a striped crop top. A little more makeup wouldn’t have done any harm, but it's too late now. Blush, a thin line of eyeliner, and a swipe of mascara will have to do. It’s tempting to pull my hair from the ponytail at the crown of my head, but I raise my chin and look at him instead. “You’re good with the comebacks, but I have to say your sweet lines are my favorite.”
“They’re not lines if they’re true.”
“Come watch, Summer,” Roman calls as he turns the tire and jumps on, entertaining himself. Even with a gaggle of siblings, I’ve done that myself.
Smiling, I reply, “Coming.”
Daniel’s steps slow to fit my stride.So sweet.“About those rules?”
“Ah. Right. Number two: Don’t go in the woods past the shed.”
With a furrowed brow, he glares at me. “That’s ominous.”
I laugh, pushing back on the tire when it comes swinging in my direction. “It’s not meant to be. It’s just an area of the property we like to protect.”
He nods. “Okay, easy enough. Any other rules?”
“Only one more.”
It’s his turn to push the swing. “My mind is going wild.”
Watching his muscles work under the pressure has me staring at him. “My mind already did.” He flexes his bicep for me and sends a wink along with it. I want to die inside. Instead, I wait for the tire to be away from us, and say, “Rule three: we can’t sleep together.”
His eyes practically bug out of the sockets. Covering his heart, he leans back as if the pain is too much to bear. “Wow, straight for the kill.” When he finishes the Academy Award-winning performance, he says, “I tell you I’d date you, and you pull sex from the table. I’m losing my touch.”
I cackle, holding my arms out. “Easy come. Easy go.”
“Except we never had the easy coming part.” He’s not wrong, but we’re not going there.
Glaring at him, I frantically nod toward Roman. “Little ears.”
He chuckles. “Don’t worry. He was out of earshot.”
“Out of earshot for what?” Roman asks, swinging by. “What’d I miss?”
As he whips through the air in the other direction, I say, “It’s time for breakfast. Do you like eggs?”
“I like pancakes more,” he replies, hanging upside down with a cheeky grin on his face.
“You’re a stinker, you know that?” I start for the house.
“What’s a stinker?”
