“Thank you,” Tide says, sounding relieved. “Mom said she’d watch her, but she can’t get away from work until four. And Dad’s on the road until Friday, so he can’t step in either.”
“I told you before, you can always call if you need me to help out,” Rose tells him, and I watch his face soften.
“I can pick her up at five, five-thirty. Or call Mom and have her pick her up at four. Whatever works for you.”
“She’ll be fine with me until you come to pick her up. That way, your mom doesn’t have to leave work early.”
“You sure?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions. You know I love spending time with my girl,” she scolds, and I can see it in her eyes that she really does love spending time with Olivia.
“Thanks,” he says again, and she nods.
“I’m going to grab my bag and jacket. I’ll be right back,” she assures, then she looks at Colton and me. “You two will be good here, right?”
“We’ll be fine, Ma,” Colton replies while I nod.
“Good.” She heads into the office and comes back a minute later, wearing her coat and asking, “Where did Olivia go?”
“I’m right here,” Olivia answers, and I look around like I can’t see her either.
“That’s so strange. She was just sitting right there.” I point at where she’s sitting on her father’s lap.
“I’m right here,” she giggles, waving her hands out toward us.
“It must be the mermaid juice,” I stage whisper, and she giggles louder, making me smile.
“Oh, there you are!” Rose says as Olivia stands on her dad’s thighs to get our attention.
“I was Indavidsable,” she announces proudly.
“You were.” I wink at her and she smiles then looks at Rose. “Can we go bake cookies now?”
“Yes, just kiss your dad first and say goodbye to everyone.”
“Love you, angel. Be good for Nana Rose,” Tide instructs after she turns toward him and plants a kiss on his cheek.
“I will,” she promises happily before scooting off his lap.
“I’ll call you when I’m on my way,” Tide tells Rose, handing her Olivia’s bag, and she nods with a wave of her hand.
Watching them go, I smile when Olivia yells, “Bye, Uncle Colton! Bye, mermaid lady!”
Laughing, I give her a wave.
“Thanks for distracting her,” Tide says once they are out of sight, and my eyes go back to him.
“No problem.” I shrug.
“You’re good with kids,” Colton adds softly, and I turn my head to look up at him.
“I love kids,” I reply quietly, and his entire expression softens and something I’m not willing to decipher right now, fills his eyes.
“I need to get back to work,” Tide inserts, thankfully breaking into the moment, and I look at him as he stands from the stool and sticks out his fist to bump it against Colton’s. “I’ll see you at the gym in the morning.”
“See you then,” Colton agrees.
“Take care of my boy,” Tide demands of me before turning to leave, which in turn leaves Colton and me alone. Still feeling him at my back, I try to scoot away, but he doesn’t let me get very far.
“I need to work,” I whisper as his hand splayed against my stomach tightens.
“It’s lunchtime,” he reminds me, dropping his mouth to the side of my neck. “We’re off the clock.”
“We’re not off the clock,” I laugh, rolling my eyes at him even though he can’t see, and I feel his lips smile against the skin of my throat.
“It was worth a shot.” He kisses my neck then lets me go, and I turn to face him. “Where did you learn to make mermaid juice?” he asks, and I laugh, shaking my head.
“I made it up so she wouldn’t cry,” I admit. “Thank God you guys keep juice in the fridge. Otherwise, I would have looked like an idiot.”
He tosses his head back and laughs loudly. Seeing him laughing, my chest gets warm and I smile. I know it’s way too soon to be falling for him, but I so totally am.
~**~
“Oh, God,” I breathe, as Colton’s mouth leaves mine to travel down the side of my neck. Leaning my head back, I gasp when his hands grab my ass that he put on the counter in his kitchen moments ago, as he pulls me deeper into him and his erection. It’s so hard I can feel it through his jeans and mine. “Dinner is going to burn,” I tell him, sliding my hands up the back of his shirt. Not that I care at all about dinner right now. Especially with his tongue and teeth doing amazing things to the skin of my neck.
“Let it. I’ll just eat you for dinner instead,” he replies, and my eyes slide closed.
The last few days, ever since he found out what happened with Lisa and her posse at the bar, things between us have gotten more and more heated with every single kiss and touch. I know it’s just a matter of time before neither of us will be able to stop the inevitable from happening, and I know at this point I don’t want to.