“The dugout.”
“I wanna sit by you,” she tells him.
“Ris?”
“Dugout it is. You sure it’s okay?” I ask, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Positive,” he replies, grinning wildly.
“What’s the big grin for?” I ask. It’s causing a flurry of butterflies in my belly. Easton Monroe is gorgeous, but when he pulls out the big guns and you’re on the receiving end of one of his megawatt smiles, he’s breathtaking. That’s the only word I can think of to describe him.
“My girls are coming to watch me play,” he says simply.
We finish dinner, and I pack up Paisley’s things to take her to Mom’s. “Thank you for today,” I tell him.
“You’re coming back, right?”
“Uh, I…. Do you want me to?”
“Ris,” he says, snaking an arm around my waist.
I look into the kitchen where Paisley is sitting at the table playing on her tablet. “I wasn’t sure,” I confess.
“I want you here as much as possible. I like the two of you being here.”
“Okay. I need to go home and change, but I can come back.”
“Pack whatever you need to spend the night.”
“Okay.” I repeat the answer, because really, I don’t know what else to say. I want to spend more time with him. I want more of his touches, more of his kisses. I’m too far gone to turn back now. If things were to end today, Paisley and I would both have broken hearts. Might as well forge ahead. I can hear Chloe’s voice in my head telling me to take chances.
“Be safe,” he says, kissing me quickly.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll be here.” He kisses me yet again and then pulls away. He walks to where Paisley is sitting at the table and lifts her into his arms. “You be good for Grandma, okay?”
“I will.” She hugs him as tight as her little arms will allow.
Easton walks us to my SUV that’s parked in his garage. He buckles Paisley into her seat, kisses her cheek and shuts the door. “Drive safe, Ris.” He kisses my forehead then opens my door for me. “Wait.” He jogs over to a shelf on the wall and brings back a small plastic remote. “Here’s a garage door opener. Just come on in when you get back.” Reaching in, he clips it to my visor. He waits until I’m buckled in before closing the door and standing back, watching us drive away.
When we get to Mom’s, Paisley has to tell her all about our day with Easton. Mom smiles and asks questions, all while wearing a knowing grin. When Paisley runs into the house, Mom asks me when she gets to meet him. Honestly, I thought about inviting him to come with me, but I needed a minute to breathe, to process this freight train we seem to be riding. Things are moving fast, and normally, I would be scared out of my mind. The worry is there, but Easton, he just makes it easy. I’ve never had that, not even with Steve. There’s something about him that calms me. Maybe it’s the way he’s so open with how he feels, about how he wants to see where this takes us. Maybe it’s because he told my daughter he loves her. Either way, it’s a lot to process.
I promise Mom it will be soon, kiss Paisley goodbye, and hightail it out of there, making it to my place in record time. I grab the clothes I’ll need for work tomorrow, my toiletries, and some clothes to sleep in, just in case. I’m now sitting on the end of the bed, debating if going back is the right decision. I know he’s waiting for me; I also know that the chemistry between us is undeniable. I’ve only slept with one man in my life, and if I go back there, that’s going to change. I know that, and so does he. The question is, am I ready for that? My body’s ready and has been for a while. His hands are like magic, his kisses like candy. But my heart and my head, are they ready?
I think about how good he is to me, how he’s been upfront and all-in from the night we met. I think about how great he is with Paisley, and I know I have my answer. I loved my husband, but I’m still young, and I miss having a man’s arms wrapped around me. I miss the touches, the sex. I miss all of it.
Decision made, I double-check I have everything I need, lock up my apartment, and head back to his place. As soon as I make the turn to pull into his driveway, the garage door opens and Easton’s standing there, as if he’s been there waiting since I pulled out. I park and climb out of the car, only to be pushed up against the passenger door of his truck and have his lips welded to mine.