Page 55 of Playing With Temptation

A bout of diarrhea?

A sudden fever?

Hives?

Something.

“Cool, they’re here!” Lucas exclaimed. “We don’t have to wait.”

Damn.

Jase was out of his SUV, standing on the sidewalk in front of the ice cream shop. To his right was the adorable Juni.

To his left was a miniature version of Jason. A carbon copy. I knew that boyish smile. Colson might’ve been two years younger than his dad was when I met him, but that didn’t matter, they were so similar they could be twins at that age. And I knew that as fact because I’d seen copious pictures of Jase at all stages of his life.

Oh God, I couldn’t breathe.

I had not given this enough thought.

Lord, God, if you can hear me, please give me the flu. Right now. Give it to me, so I can go home without breaking my son’s heart.

I watched Jase say something to his kids. They both nodded.

“Mom?” Lucas called.

I didn’t have a chance to get my breathing under control so I could form words before Jase opened Lucas’s door.

“Wanna go keep Juni and Cole company while I talk to your mom for a second?” Jase asked.

Lucas being a good kid didn’t jump on the chance to leap out of the car to get to his friend. Instead he asked, “Is that okay, Mom?”

“Sure thing. Just stay where I can see you,” I pushed out.

That was all Lucas needed to hear.

He was out of the car, and Jase was rounding my hood making his way to me.

Shit.

His kids were probably freaked out.

I wasn’t even out of my car and I was already making a mess out of the whole “meet the kids” gig.

Jase had my door open, his left arm resting on the frame, the rest of him leaning in so only I could hear him when he asked, “You okay?”

I shook my head.

“Fuck,” he hissed. “I wasn’t thinking⁠—”

Oh no, he wasn’t taking the blame for my freakout.

“It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I just…it just hit me all at once. Then Colson… he.” I stopped to take a breath. “He looks just like you.”

“Yeah,” Jase agreed softly. “If we need to bag ice cream, I can tell the kids I have a call⁠—”

“No. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“So you’ve said, but you forget, I know you. I know what ‘fine’ means. We can do this when you’ve had time to prepare. I know you don’t like surprises. I should’ve⁠—”