Page 57 of Just Ten Seconds

Amanda shrugs in understanding. “Yeah. Dad always stops me when I’ve had too much soda. Gives me a tummy ache.”

“I thought you were at your grandparents’ house?” I ask her.

“Dad got me early,” she answers easily. “How did you know I was at Grammy and Pop Pop’s?”

Jackie chimes in as she lifts the tray with syrup, orange juice, and coffee. “Yeah, Mara. How did you know she was at Grammy and Pop Pop’s?”

I ignore Jackie as she walks to deliver the items to the table and answer Amanda, “Your dad told me when I was at your house.”

Dean walks up behind her. His aviator sunglasses are hiding his eyes, but his pearly whites turn up in a grin. “Morning, Mara.”

That grin. Damn. Just the sight of his lips brings a mixture of anticipation and trepidation coursing through my body.

“Breakfast?” I ask quickly.

“Yes. And coffee. Lots. I didn’t sleep well last night,” he says with a stern look, causing me to lean back at his accusation. He lowers his voice. “Someone was supposed to text that they got home safe last night.”

My hand rises to my cheek. “Sorry about that.”

He places a hand on Amanda’s shoulder and wipes his brow. “Then, I had to wake up early to pick this little one up from the Bronx.”

“They posted the roles outside the theater this morning!” Amanda says as she follows me to a table near the window.

My eyes widen. “How did it go?”

“Are you going to tell her the good news, or should I?” Dean asks her as he slides onto his chair.

“I got the part!” she shouts.

My jaw drops. “You’re going to play Ariel?”

“No. I’m Flounder, but that’s still awesome because they never give the part to a third grader.” Amanda sits on her heels and then pops right back up. “I have to pee. Be right back.”

“You do that.” I giggle as she bounces away, and I ask Dean, “Does this call for celebratory pancakes?”

He slides his glasses off, and those damn blues twinkle. “Absolutely.”

I take the menus from the table and turn to walk away when I feel the warm touch of Dean’s hand against my own.

I look at his hand summoning me back and then up to his tender gaze that makes me feel like I’m falling down the rabbit hole. His fingers dance lightly on my skin. The simple touch leaves a warmth on my skin that flows down to my toes. Mr. Kenner’s brow is furrowed as he looks in the direction of Dean’s hand lying against mine.

“I can’t.” I gently pull away.

That easy look on his face falls. “Too soon?”

“Yes.” Although that seems to be a half-truth.

When I glance at Dean’s steely-blue eyes, they’re locked on mine. Just like that, he’s back to the guarded Dean I have grown to know. I didn’t realize until this moment how much he had relaxed around me, but now that that look is up, I wish he’d lower it again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on. I just got carried away, and it was wrong.”

“I understand,” he says like he means it. Maybe he’s been wanting to say the same thing to me. “Just so you know, I didn’t plan on kissing you last night, but I’m glad I did. It’s just”—his lips quirk up to the side as his eyes dart to the table, as if studying something important, and then back up to me—“I slept through the night last night. I wanted you to know that.”

I bite my bottom lip as I quell the flourish of emotion. How do you respond to a statement like that? It’s so simple and yet profound.

“I’m glad. From one insomniac to another.”

I hear him sigh.