Oh, how I loved the way my name sounded on his lips. But I loved the way his lips tasted even more.
No! Stop, now. Get it together Gage.
“So, uh…” I cleared my throat and shuffled in my seat, unsure how to make sure the kiss was never brought up. Ever. The last thing I needed was that embarrassment. “How are you feeling this morning? I didn’t think you’d be such a lightweight?” I teased.
“Ohh,” Madison said from the other end of the table, “I probably should have warned you about that. Dad may look all cool and collected in the moment. But it’s just a performance.” She let out a chuckle. “Underneath it all, he’s a hot mess. Especially once he’s away from prying eyes and can just relax.”
Trent cast Madison a wounded look.
“Ouch, the betrayal. Just go around telling all my secrets, why don’t you?” He put his hand over his heart and cast me the most adorable puppy dog look I’ve ever seen a grown man muster.
Unfortunately for me, it also stirred things in me that had no business being stirred.
“Hey, Dad, maybe you can get some pointers from Trent,” Will snickered. “He can’t even pretend to act cool when he’s had a few. All thumbs.”
My face flushed as the previous night flashed through my head again. How I couldn’t get the keycard working, Trent being all smooth and getting it on the first try, and then the kiss.
“So,” I started with a teasing grin, “you’re faking it just like the rest of us?” I don’t know what possessed me to wink at that man, but the way his cheeks turned pink lit me up.
I knew I was in trouble at that moment. Because I realized I would do anything to get that shy smile and flush on Trent’s face every day.
A giggle drew my attention over to the kids and I couldn’t help the smile from seeing how well they were getting along. I had worried with Will being a little younger than Madison, that they wouldn’t be able to connect.
Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate them connecting over teasing Trent and me.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I turned my attention back to Trent, voice low.
Trent looked up and I saw behind the bravado. I saw the tiredness and the weariness. But most of all, I saw the worry. And I realized maybe the kiss was eating him up just as much as it was eating me up.
“Yeah, I’m good.” He dropped his gaze to his hands and took a deep breath. “Just wondering how much of an idiot I made of myself last night.”
I quirked an eyebrow up at that.
“Do you not remember last night?” I wasn’t sure which answer I was hoping for, but knew I probably wasn’t prepared for either one.
“I do,” Trent said, biting his lip. “That’s why…” His voice trailed off, but he didn’t need to explain because I understood.
Seeing him so uncertain, it made my chest feel tight. More than anything, I wanted to reach across the table and pull him in for another a kiss. A proper kiss. But our kids were only a foot or so away from us and I didn’t want to do something that would embarrass either one of us even further.
“Hey,” I said, nudging his foot with mine under the table. “What do you say tonight we go for dinner? Just the two of us.”
Trent’s head snapped up.
“Ju—Just us?” he breathed out, quiet.
I nodded.
Trent glanced toward the kids and then back at his hands clasped on the table in front of him.
“I think I’d like that,” he said softly, and I let out the breath I’d been holding while waiting for his answer.
“Great!” I said with a grin as I finally started to relax.
Until I remembered that I wasn’t supposed to want to date Trent, or be with Trent in any capacity other than co-workers.
Well, shit.
Trent
