“Okay, Kayla, what’s good here?” Sam asks as he pulls a menu over to look at it. He places it in front of both himself and Toby, and I love how Toby’s tongue sticks out as he looks closely at the words.
“Dad! I see cheese! Ch-eeeeeeee-sssssss. Is that gwilled cheese? Can I have that?”
“Mmmm good choice, buddy. The grilled cheese here is awesome. And if you like tomato soup to dip it in, that’s even better.” I rub my hands on my belly for emphasis. “In fact, I think that might be what I get!”
Toby’s eyes grow big. “You like gwilled cheese? It’s my favowite!”
Sam is watching his son with love in his eyes and when he turns that gaze on me, I feel a rush of heat go down my spine. Good grief, that look is potent.
“Yeah, I love grilled cheese,” I stammer out my reply to Toby, hoping my lust isn’t showing to the five-year-old sitting across from me.
Now Sam’s eyes are filled with laughter and heat, as if he knows how he’s affecting me.
“Grilled cheese for three it is.”
When the waitress comes over, Sam places the order, adding a chocolate milk to Toby’s joy, and water for him and I. The waitress, Terry, is the daughter of Lois and Charlie, who own the diner and her eyes are moving in a circle from Sam and Toby, then over to me so quickly I’m surprised she isn’t dizzy.
Let the gossip games begin.
After scarfing down his lunch in record time, Toby shows that he is, in fact, a regular kid by starting to whine about wanting to go outside. Sam handles it well and informs his son that if he can sit nicely while he and I finish eating, then he’ll take him to the playground they walked past on their way here. When he glances up at me, I see the unspoken question and nod. Of course I’m going with them. There’s no way I want to leave these two yet. I feel happy, and calm, and complete.
To appease Toby, I quickly finish my soup and sandwich, and we head out after Sam pays the bill. Toby asks if he can run on ahead and after a reminder about traffic safety and not turning any corners without us, Sam lets him go. The energy that kid has is amazing.
Without Toby hovering around us, the energy changes. I drift closer to Sam as we walk down the sidewalk and our fingers brush together. After the second time, Sam reaches one finger out to grasp mine. I take the invitation and entwine our hands together. It feels so natural to be walking with him like this.
When we reach the park, Toby is already climbing all over the wooden structure like a monkey. Sam leads me over to a bench and we sit down close enough that our legs are touching and our hands are still clasped together between us.
“I want you to know, I haven’t been in a relationship with a woman in a while. And never around Toby.”
Sam’s voice is low, full of heat, and also holds a thread of hope. I squeeze his hand in response as I think about what to say.
“It’s been a while for me, too. But if I understand what you’re trying to say, then that means you feel it, too. The pull between us. I don’t want to make things awkward for you with Toby, so you’re in charge. All I know is I want to spend more time with you. With both of you.”
I’ve always been up front and honest with my feelings; that’s part of what’s bothering me so much with my sisters not knowing what happened. Keeping secrets is very unlike me. But putting myself and my attraction to Sam out there so boldly is nerve-racking, nonetheless. The piercing stare he sends my way and the sensual perusal of his eyes up and down my body does more than melt away my nerves. It obliterates them in a tidal wave of pure lust.
“Oh, I feel it, Kayla. I love my son to the ends of the earth, but right now it’s killing me that you and I aren’t alone so I can properly show you just how attracted I am to you. Holding your hand is both heaven and hell. Feeling the heat of your leg against mine and not being able to touch that soft skin is the most extreme torture. I don’t want to sound too forward, because I truly am a respectful guy, but ever since I saw you on that ferry boat, I’ve wanted to see you naked and spread out beneath me, mine to worship.”
Holy. Shit. Did he just say that?I’m speechless. But in a good way. In an incredibly turned on, squirming to ease the ache between my legs, kind of way. Suddenly that shower fantasy I had earlier seems like it could become a reality. There’s something powerful about knowing he wants me just as much as I want him, but there’s Toby to consider. I’ve never dated a guy with a kid, so I have no idea how this can even work.
But when I look back into Sam’s eyes and see the fire burning there, I suddenly know what the sayingwhere there’s a will, there’s a waymeans. We will be together. Soon. Or I may spontaneously combust from pure arousal.
5
Sam
I grin at that. Kayla’s forward and honest, and that’s a massive turn on. She’s not afraid to say what she wants and I admire that. But she’s right, we need a babysitter. It’s not that easy when you’ve just moved to a new place, however. The only solution for now is to wait a week until my parents arrive.
“That problem will be solved soon. My parents are coming to visit and I know they’d love to hang out with Toby for an evening. What about your sister, the teacher? Would that be weird for her to hang out with Toby outside of class?”
Kayla laughs and I realize just how eager I must sound. I shrug, not embarrassed in the slightest. She makes me feel bold enough to go after what I want as well.
“What? I don’t want to wait over a week to get you to myself.”
“Slow your roll, lover boy. My sister doesn’t even know about you yet, so I can’t exactly ask her to babysit.” A shadow comes over her face.
“What’s that look for?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. I just have a lot I need to discuss with my sisters. Including an explanation of you and whatever this is.” She gestures between us.
