Outside the Lines by A.R. Barley

Author:A.R. Barley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“You like Chi-Chi.”

Mitch probably should have expected it sometime, but somehow he was broadsided by his son’s simple statement. It was Thursday morning and they were—maybe—going to get to the elementary school on time. He let the borrowed Pontiac slow to a crawl. “Of course I like him.” He chose his words carefully. “He takes care of you guys. He’s a good cook. He’s funny.”

“No.” Jack put down the paperback he’d been reading since they left the house; apparently he’d decided to brave Harry Potter and girls again. “That’s why I like Chi-Chi. You like like him.”

Some things were more important than escaping another tardy notice. Mitch pulled over to the side of the road and shifted in his seat to give his children his full attention. Not that Sadie noticed. Like her brother, she’d materialized a book as soon as they got in the car. Hers was a set of illustrated fairy tales, and she was industriously mouthing every word as she read the stories for the millionth time.

Jack’s hair was brushed neatly. He was wearing his favorite superhero T-shirt, the one that showed all of the Avengers, “not just the boys.” Why couldn’t he have been a little slower on the uptake? It had been less than a week since Mitch had called Chi-Chi for a ride...less than a week since they’d spent the night together...

Less than a week since they’d danced together on the floor of Ale Mary’s with dozens of hot bodies pressed together...

Less than a week of stolen kisses and quiet moments together. Between Chi-Chi’s multiple jobs and the constant attention of two energetic elementary schoolers there hadn’t been time for anything else. They hadn’t made it back to the bedroom, and they definitely hadn’t taken the time to define their relationship.

Mitch forced himself to take a deep breath. His son might be smart, but he was still just eleven. “Chi-Chi and I are good friends.”

“Be real.” Jack rolled his eyes. “I’m not Sadie.”

“Of course not,” his sister chirped happily. “I’m totally awesome.” She never looked up from her book, but it was just another reminder that she could be listening at any time.

“You want to ask him out,” Jack said. “For real.”

Mitch wanted to do a whole lot more than ask Chi-Chi out. After almost a week of bone-melting kisses, he had the distinct feeling he was going to explode if they didn’t find some private alone-time soon. Every night was a little more torturous as they ate dinner together and then Chi-Chi headed for the front door at the end of the evening. How many times had Mitch thought about stopping him? Asking him to stay? Begging?

But he wanted their first time together to be special. Forget hurried and hushed—the parents’ special—for their first time together he was going to make things special for Chi-Chi.

To show him how damn much he was wanted. To silence the question that still flickered across his face sometimes when he thought no one was looking.

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