It grows quiet for a beat, and his mind seems to drift before it returns. “Anyway,” he begins. Perhaps his father’s passing is more raw for him than I thought. “Shall we agree that we can see all of our parents in a few weeks?”
“Yeah, that gives us a little more time to fit into one another’s lives.” My eyes squeeze closed when I recognize that my sentence is up for interpretation. Opening them, I see Hayes already thinking two steps ahead, with that grin still perfectly pasted. “I don’t meanus, I mean Lola and parental us.”
He casually picks up his tea for another sip, his self-satisfied smirk staying put. “Careful, Elodie, honesty always seeps through,” he taunts.
I rub my temples as I grow frustrated with myself for being unable to hold it together. It’s easy to crumble even slightly around this man. “Can we just focus on… I don’t know, preschool lists or something?”
“Random topic, but okay, I’ll play along. I guess she starts that soon?”
“Next year, but right now I’m on the waiting list for one. It’s super hard to get a spot, and it will cost a fortune, but it’s perfect for her and near the office, too.”
Hayes gives me a stern look that feels like a reminder. “Money isn’t an issue.”
Shaking my head, I’m not doing well at picking topics right now. I don’t want to argue. “Okay.” That's all I reply. “Anyhow, I feel a headache coming on.” It’s only half a lie.
It causes Hayes to sink further into the cushion and throw his arm over the back of the couch. “I’ll stay for a while then in case Lola wakes. You need your rest if you have a headache.”
Nervously, I smile, because he’s on to me. I’m digging myself into a hole. “Fine. Let’s just get it out in the open. We kissed.”
“I’m aware.” He’s confident and doesn’t seem concerned that this could lead to an uncomfortable conversation.
“It’s not exactly smart of us,” I say, and it feels scratchier in my throat.
“Is it?” he challenges.
For a fraction of a second, our eyes meet, and I’m wondering if there is any way out of this circle, because he won’t be bringing logic to the situation. Inside, I wrestle with myself because I’m exhausted from fighting it. I give up in defeat.
“Maybe not.” I look away from him, hoping his heated eyes on me won’t feel like daggers of a man who is winning.
“It’s pretty intelligent of us, if you ask me.” He really is easy breezy about this.“No point in ignoring our chemistry. Lola having two parents together is only a small piece of it.We’re allowed to be selfish in life. Just so happens it comes down to you and me.”
Licking my lips, I carefully bring my gaze to meet his eyes that don’t blink; instead, they are resolute. “I’mperhapsgetting closer to agreeing.” Hayes doesn’t respond and seems to be waiting patiently for me to say more. “You kind of scare me.”
He seems taken aback by my revelation. “How so?”
The corner of my mouth curves into a delicate smile. “You’re impossible. Stubborn. And do things only when it’s guaranteed you'll win. That’s a lot to soak in. Especially if I’m the target.”
“Oh, you are most definitely the target.”The swelter in his voice is sexy, and the message is clear. If I let him in, then it won’t be casual. He won’t allow it.
I’ve debated with myself about whether I should be with a man who is dominating as my type of partner. But once I was able to stand my ground with him on the Lola front, I began to see that everything he does is very attractive and causes flutters of excitement inside me.
His smooth smirk is trying to persuade me right now.
I crack a smile and playfully shoo his arm. “Your message is clear, and maybe you will wear me down, but not tonight.”
“Sweetheart, I wasn’t aiming for tonight.” He begins to adjust the blanket on me, and I’m not sure where his mind is. “You’re not feeling too well. I hear it in your voice.”
“You mean mentally?”
He laughs. “No. I meant your voice is turning hoarse. You need sleep. Want me to stay in case Lola wakes?”
“Now someone is brazen,” I tease him, and my voice does sound scraped.
He can only smile, and I feel his strong arm pull me, encouraging me to lie down. Studying him, he isn’t a manwith a hidden agenda right now. He genuinely wants to take care of me.
“You were watching a hockey game before. We can finish it if you want?”
Hayes seems pleased with my suggestion. “Good. It was only the end of the first when you arrived home.”
