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I feigned shock. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Mom stood and headed toward the kitchen. “I’m on Alice’s side. I need you and Tyler to meet someone so I’m not outnumbered.”
Thankfully, she left the room so I didn’t have to answer. Usually, I reminded her I was done with women. She understood why. I’d been hurt the few times I’d tried, and I couldn’t take a chance on someone else. Besides, I was happy in my house and with my business. I didn’t need someone to share my life with. I ignored the pang in my chest whenever I thought that.
“Will you play with me again?” Delaney asked sweetly.
“How can I say no?” Delaney had me wrapped around her finger, and I’d just met her.
Delaney handed me the deck. “Can you shuffle? I have to go to the bathroom.”
“It’s on your right,” I said, pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
“I heard you stuck around on Friday night,” Natalie said when Delaney was gone.
“There were cookies,” I said by way of explanation. The truth was a bit more complicated than that.
“Thanks for playing with her. I think she’s a bit starved for male attention with her father gone. Although we didn’t see him much when we were together, either.”
“Sam’s in a similar situation. It sucks, and you hate that for your kid, but they have one parent who’s got their back, along with friends and family.”
“I thought I was crazy for coming here and not having any family in the area.”
It might make my life more difficult, but it was worth it for her and Delaney, so I said, “You’ve got us.”
Natalie sighed as her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you. I know you’d probably rather not mix business and pleasure—”
Something in my head exploded at the word “pleasure.” The only connotation I could think of was giving her an orgasm. A better one than I was sure her ex gave her. I had a feeling he was more concerned about his own desires, not his wife’s.
“But I appreciate it,” she said as she leaned over and kissed my cheek. Tingles erupted over my skin as Delaney skipped into the room and came to an abrupt stop in front of us. “Did you shuffle?”
I shook my head slowly, sifting the cards in my hands. “Sorry, I was distracted.”
Delaney looked from me to her mother and placed a hand on her hip. She looked like a mini-Natalie in that pose. “Mom. Stop distracting him.”
Natalie laughed, and again, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wanted to hear that sound more often. I wanted her to be comfortable in Telluride. I wanted her to be happy.
I handed the shuffled deck to Delaney as she sat cross-legged on the ground again. I needed to figure out why I felt so strongly about this woman. Maybe it was because, up until a few years ago, she was exactly my type.
The front door opened, and I heard Tyler talking to Mom in the kitchen.
“Who’s that?” Delaney asked as she counted out the cards.
“He’s my pain in the—” Natalie kicked me, and I cleared my throat. “He’s my brother.”
Tyler came into the room, a huge smile on his face as his gaze swung from Natalie to Delaney. “I heard we have guests.”
“Want to play with us?” Delaney asked him by way of greeting.
“Don’t be rude,” Natalie said to Delaney.
“It’s okay,” Tyler said as he sat with us. “I’d love to play. What’s the game?”
“Exploding Kittens,” Delaney said as she handed him five cards.
Tyler raised his brow. “That’s what kids are playing these days?”
“What can I say? It’s fun.”
