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I rationalize this plan in my mind, marking off all the reasons it could work, why it could be ideal, because I want it to be.
“Just one dinner, huh?” I tease.
“That’s where we’re going to start, but I’m hoping that’s not where we’re going to end.” His smile is uncharacteristically shy as he hooks his finger through one of mine, pulling me in closer. “I wouldn’t be pursuing this if I was looking for a casual hookup. You must have figured that out by now.”
“Your effort has been impressive.” I revel in the feel of his thumb drawing circles over my palm. “This fence has never looked better.”
He chuckles. “I did that because I’m a nice guy, not because I was trying to get laid.”
“Uh-huh.”
His gaze drifts to my mouth for a moment, the weight of it palpable. I expect him to pull me in close and kiss me like he did last Friday night. I wait for it, my heart hammering in my chest in anticipation.
But he merely sighs. “Penelope doesn’t get a say in who I date. I’ve never said a word about anyone she’s dated, and a couple of them have been real dickheads. But as long as they’re good to Cody, that’s all that matters. I expect the same courtesy in return.”
“She’s never given you issues before?”
“She’s never heard of any of them before. I haven’t introduced any woman in my life to Cody yet.”
“Why not?”
He shrugs. “I just figured there wasn’t any point unless it was serious, and I’ve never been serious about any of them.”
The sound of Shane’s front door creaking open carries into the quiet night. Shane instantly releases my hand.
“Dad! I can’t get past this level!” Cody pokes his head out, his mop of brown hair that matches his father’s disheveled. “Oh, hey, Ms. Reed.”
I smile. “Hi, Cody.”
His eyes dart to Shane. “Can you help me? Now?” There’s that touch of impatience in his tone that I’ve heard him use around his father before.
“Be there in five, bud. I have to clean up out here. Unless you want to come and help me?”
The brown-haired head ducks back inside.
“Yeah, didn’t think so.” Shane eases off his hood to tower over me. “He got a PS4 a few weeks ago and he’s becoming an addict. I think Penelope and I are going to have to agree on daily time limits.”
“His teacher approves of that idea.” Behind my smile is a lingering wariness over the reminder that Shane is tied to Penelope for the rest of his life, whether she makes him want to saw off vital appendages or not. Which means as long as this—whatever this is—between Shane and me exists, she’s also in my life.
But we are no longer teenagers trying to survive the treacherous social strata of high school, where people like Penelope Rhodes can make my life hell. And, now that I’ve stopped focusing all my energy on pushing Shane away, I’m seeing him for what he has grown into—a responsible adult and a loving, devoted father. Add in his physical attributes and he’s basically any woman’s dream.
I’m not about to give up this chance because she doesn’t approve.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home,” he offers.
We cross Shane’s lawn to mine in comfortable silence. Shane wordlessly takes my hand as I climb over my white picket fence and doesn’t let go until we’ve reached my porch steps.
“I know it’s a safe neighborhood, but you really should leave your light on at night,” he says, standing idly by as I fumble in the dark for my keys.
“I know. I wasn’t thinking when I left.” I was too nervous about the presentation.
“I could set it up on a timer for you, so you don’t have to worry about it if you forget.”
“You know how to do that?” With a turn of my wrist, the dead bolt unlocks. “You’re far more useful to me than I first suspected.”
He chuckles. “Listen, I’m working tomorrow and then I’ve got Cody until Monday. Why don’t we do dinner on Tuesday night, if you’re free?” He climbs the three steps to tower over me on my front porch. Even in the dark, I can make out his handsome features. “We can continue discussing exactly how useful I am to you.” His voice is grating, his unspoken promise clear.
If Cody weren’t in the picture, now would be about the time I’d do something rash like grab Shane by his belt and lead him up to my bed. “Sounds good,” I manage around a hard swallow.
He hesitates, checking his porch over his shoulder—to make sure Cody hasn’t poked his head out again, I assume—before he leans in to lay a soft kiss against my cheek, a mere inch from my mouth.
It’s an obvious bait. My heart races as I battle the urge to turn and catch his lips with mine.
