Page 19 of Something Like That

Alex held her fork, speared with spinach and a cherry tomato, halfway to her lips and glanced from her daughter to him, and back again. “Em—”

“I think that sounds like an excellent idea.” He kept his gaze on Alex. She was staring at him, bewilderment, disbelief, and a touch of concern in her storm-cloud eyes. She was probably concerned he would hurt or disappoint Em in some way. Which was ridiculous, even though part of him understood where she was coming from. If Em was his, he’d be super protective of her, too. But he really shouldn’t consider Alex’s worry a challenge, and yet, he couldn’t seem to help himself.

He looked back at Em. “How about this Saturday?”

“Really?” Em’s eyes were wide, excitement dancing in their hazel depths.

He nodded at the same time Alex shook her head.

“Uh-uh. Did you forget that you’re grounded?” Alex waved her fork at her daughter.

Em scrunched up her face for a second and then shook her head. “Nope, my grounding is officially over as of midnight on Friday, which means Nick and I can go to the market on Saturday.”

Alex narrowed her eyes, and he could tell she was doing the math in her head. She obviously came to the same conclusion, because she pursed her lips and gave a single nod. “You’re right.”

Em grinned, her smile so big he wouldn’t be surprised if you could see it all the way back in New England. “It’s a date, then.” She picked up her fork and dug into her meal like she hadn’t eaten in weeks.

Alex was still frowning as she took another bite of her salad. The way she chewed was feminine and sexy.

What the actual fuck? She chewed sexily now? He needed to slow his fucking roll and get a bloody grip on reality. Although he couldn’t seem to get himself to really want to right now. Especially not when it was so much fun to needle her.

He nudged her ankle with his foot under the table. She gave a tiny squeak in the back of her throat and jumped a little. He smiled at her, a full smile that felt tight on his face. Good though, too, because it had been far too long since he’d actually found anything he wanted to really smile about.

Somehow, here, with Alex and Emily, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Alex shook out her umbrella and pulled the clinic door shut behind her. The little bell over the door chimed. It was a tinkling, happy sound, and it felt like it skittered across her too sensitive skin.

Lunch had gone way better than she’d expected. Em being there had helped, she was sure. After her daughter had finagled her way into spending Saturday with Nick, she’d been all smiles and laughter. It had definitely lightened the weird tension brewing between him and Alex.

And he’d been a saint. With Em, anyway. He’d listened when she’d talked, and answered the thousands of questions she tossed at him. He didn’t get angry or dismissive when she had an opposing view or opinion. It had been nice.

Once the two of them really started talking hockey, it was like they were long lost, kindred spirits. So many stats and details flung back and forth. It had been like attending a masterclass of the game.

One more tick in the reasons-to-like-Nick-Sadler column.

Not that she needed any more fuel flung on that fire. She already felt strange when she was around him, very unlike herself. Remarkably light, and yet jumpy at the same time.

And she absolutely couldn’t get the image of him grinning like a fool at lunch—with teeth and everything—out of her head. She’d thought he was attractive before, but it was nothing compared to when he smiled. When he smiled, he was knock-your-socks-as-well-as-your-panties-off hot.

It had taken everything in her to not crawl across the table and kiss his gorgeous mouth. Which would have been highly inappropriate. Especially in front of Em. She was still pretty sure her daughter had a major crush on him, and it wouldn’t do for Alex to be panting after him.

Not that she was.

Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. But she definitely wasn’t going to do anything about her attraction. There would be no giving in to her rogue hormones.

Besides, her hormones were probably only acting up because she’d neglected them for so long. She’d been too busy, raising her daughter and finishing school, to worry about relationships.

She smiled at Sabrina. “Is Janelle in?”

Sabrina nodded. “Her three o’clock cancelled, so she’s free.”

“Thanks.” Alex walked through the door next to the desk and wandered over to Janelle’s office. The door was open, but she stopped at the threshold and rapped on the doorframe.

Janelle, who was sitting at her desk, bent forward so her face was close to her computer screen—she really needed to get her eyes checked—looked up and smiled.

“Well, hello there, stranger.” Janelle leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. There was a cheeky smile on her face.

“What?” Alex walked over and flopped into the chair across from Janelle.