Love at First Sight: The Complete Series by Poppy Parkes

Author:Poppy Parkes
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Publisher: Parkes Publishing
Published: 2020-08-03T23:00:00+00:00

HATTIE

When the credits roll, I briefly introduce Ben to Amelia, Tatum, Kate, and Harry before hauling him from his seat — and away from their curious eyes. I’m not ready to answer their questions yet, and I’m certainly not going to subject Ben to that on his first meeting with them.

Especially after I forgot to tell him that they were going to the movies with us. I cringe again at my fuck-up.

Outside, the cool night air washes over my skin. It should feel uncomfortably cold for what I’m wearing, but it soothes me.

We walk to my truck, but when we get there, I don’t want to get in. I turn to Ben, taking in his grizzled jaw, the few silver threads in his thick brown hair and the way the corners of his eyes turn upward when he looks back at me.

The movie is over, but I’m not ready for the night to end.

I consider telling Ben that. My heart throbs in my throat.

He’s probably only here to be nice, I tell myself. And there’s Rory to think about. It wouldn’t be fair to weave my way deeper into their family if I’m not even sure what I want.

So I swallow my words and opt for the safety of an innocuous query. “What’d you think of the movie?”

I’m surprised to see Ben wince, a sheepish grin creeping over his face. “The guy got the girl, right?”

“Yes.” I cock my head to the side, confused. “Did you fall asleep and miss the end?”

“No.” His words come slow, as if he’s weighing each syllable before letting them fall from his lips. “But I was distracted.”

I frown, stomach seizing up at the thought that Ben didn’t want to accompany me to the movies after all. “By what?” The question is a rough whisper.

Ben steps toward me, and he’s all that my eyes choose to see. His green eyes blaze into mine but his hands shake. I gulp deep breaths of his scent that reminds me of bark and grass and the windy blue skies of early spring.

He reaches out as if to trace a thumb down the line of my jaw, but then decides against it. I’m surprised by the little sigh of disappointment that escapes me.

“I was distracted,” he says, eyes burning with fear and something else — something that makes my thighs press together and my skin ache to be touched — “by the girl sitting next to me.”

Now it’s not my heart that’s throbbing, it’s my nether regions. Because Ben just gave voice to my feelings, making them that much more alive and real.

“You were?” I breathe. I’m trembling too, and it has nothing to do with the night’s chill.

He nods. “But I’m worried.”

“About what?”

Ben drops his eyes and hauls in a deep breath. When he releases his exhalation, it’s worn and ragged. For the first time I can see for the weight of so many years of being a widower and single father. “I’m worried about overstepping my bounds. I’m worried about pushing away the role model my daughter loves so dearly.

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