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She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into his chest. This reality—this slow, easy evening, with a beautiful, handsome man—this was what Lauren wanted. This was the ultimate goal of her Seaside Strategy.
“Oh,” she said. “I got a job this afternoon.”
“You did? That marketing firm in Charleston?”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“That’s amazing,” he said.
Lauren pushed up and looked at him, because he genuinely sounded like it was amazing. “Thanks. Part-time, which I wanted. Four days a week.” She leaned down and touched her lips to his. “I think I’m ready to look at a few new places. Would you come with me again?”
“Sure,” he said easily. “Whatever you want.”
She searched his face, and it sure did seem like he’d do whatever she wanted.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Do you strategize your love life?”
Lauren smiled at him. “No, Blake. This is all me flying by the seat of my pants, which is why my love life has been so pathetic for forty-four years.”
He chuckled and said, “Oh, it can’t be that bad.”
“It has been, but I don’t want to talk about it.” She leaned closer, but Blake pulled back.
“You just came to kiss me,” he accused.
“But it wasn’t part of any strategy.”
He laughed and then he obliged in kissing her. Lauren wasn’t sure how long they sat on his couch kissing. She couldn’t hear anything but the beating of her own heart and the way Blake exhaled like he really was falling for her—until someone said, “Dad, what in the world is going on here?”
15
Blake pulled away from Lauren and stood, all in the same motion. He extended his hand to Lauren, who got to her feet in a much slower fashion. He liked how close she stood to him, and he liked that he found her downright sinful in a simple pair of shorts and a tank top. She usually dolled herself up for their dates, which he also liked, but what he needed was someone real.
Lauren felt very real to him, especially as she’d told him about how she kept people out. Now that he knew that, he’d have to work to keep the walls from building up.
He cleared his throat and focused on his son. Another boy stood with him, and Harrison glanced to Ryan. “I told you I was seeing someone new,” he said. “This is her.” He indicated Lauren, who lifted her hand in a wave. “Her name is Lauren Keller, and she…popped in for a minute.”
Tommy’s eyebrows pulled down, and then he straightened them out. “I guess I forgot.”
“I’ve been out with her while you’ve been here,” he said.
“You have?”
“Remember when I took you to your grandmother’s?” Blake asked. He shook his head. “Like, two weekends ago?”
Tommy obviously didn’t remember, or if he did, he hadn’t realized it was so he could be babysat. “That was so I could take Lauren to the grand opening of Fisher’s.”
“Excellent fish there,” she murmured.
“Lauren, this is my forgetful thirteen-year-old, Thomas.” He indicated the boy. “He’s the tall one, obviously. His friend is Ryan Shaffer from down the street.”
“We just came because Tommy said you had soda pop.” Ryan looked between Lauren and Blake, almost like they’d jump into action and serve it to him.
“Sure do,” Blake said. “Help yourself.”
