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“Oh my gawd, he’s so adorable!”
Jules’s attention switched to the entrance once more. A woman dressed in fluorescent lime workout gear so tight she could probably lose weight standing still gushed loudly as she held the door wide to let in a guy with a stroller. The cutie pie who was the object of Screecher’s adoration wore a miniature Cubs cap and a manipulative preen Jules instantly recognized. Her bonny baby boy.
And the guy with the stroller was none other than Tad. Oh, hell, what washedoing here? And with Evan, who she had left with Cara not fifteen minutes ago. He couldn’t possibly know about her date, not that it would matter if he did. Because they were just friends.
Anxious, she jumped out of her chair as they approached, registering on some deep, feminine level how the female door-opener’s blatant admiration had moved higher to Tad’s denim-clad ass. Jealousy snaked through Jules’s insides—and the irony in ogling her date’s ass was not lost on her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked Tad, who had bent down to pluck a begging Evan out of his stroller.
“Nothing. I’m getting coffee.”
“No, I mean, why do you have Evan?”
“Cara had an emergency meeting with a client, something about an exploding fondue station. The chance to have some one-on-one guy time with my best boy here was too much to resist.” Brows angled, Tad hugged Evan to his hip. “You don’t mind, do you? I’ve watched him a million times.”
“Of course not. I’m just surprised to see you.” She rubbed her little guy’s chest, making him giggle and lash out for her hair. Securely stashed on Tad’s hip, he looked so happy. In fact, together, they were right there on the corner of picture and perfect.
“Where’d the hat come from?”
Tad grinned, and her heart lifted with the curve of his lips.Stupid heart.“I saw it the other day at Wrigley Field. It’s time he started to learn about all aspects of his heritage. Italian, British, and baseball.”
She returned his smile, and an electric sizzle passed between them. They were both remembering his promise, made on the day of Evan’s birth, to teach her son everything he needed to know. A toasty ache blossomed in her chest at the notion Tad spared a thought for Evan while he was out and about on his day to day.
“So why are you here? You look…” His gaze fell to the floral sundress she wore and dipped all the way to the cute strappy sandals that revealed shimmering blue painted toes. A weird expression came over his face. “You’re on a date.”
Inappropriate guilt pinched her chest and she chased it away with an internal scold.
Kissing her until her lady parts turned to jelly did not give Mr. No-Follow-Through any special privileges over her dating choices.
“Yes. He’s—”
“Right here,” Aaron said, setting the coffee down on the table. “Grande caramel macchiato for the lovely lady.”
Tad’s eyes flew wide and he paled beneath his dark olive skin at the sight of Aaron in all his emotionally available, preppy perfection.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Tad DeLuca,” Aaron said, eyes lighting up in surprise. “Haven’t seen you in what, ten years?” He divided a curious look between Tad and Jules. “You two know each other?”
“Uh huh.” Tad clamped his mouth shut and retained all his energy for sizing up Aaron.
This couldnotbe happening. Of all the guys in all the world, the first decent one she had met was a friend of Tad’s? Though “friend” might be pushing it given how Tad was glowering at Aaron like he had borrowed his rare vinyl recording of the Beatles’Revolverand returned it with greasy smudge marks. Along with the DeLuca death stare, Tad seemed to grow a few inches in stature and inch closer to her. Anxiety spun out from her pores. Surely, he wasn’t going to pull that protective shit now?
Aaron appeared unfazed. “And who’s this little guy? You’re a father now, Tad?”
“This is Evan,” Jules cut in. Evan gave a gurgly grin at the mention of his name and shouted, “Mummy!” She had discussed with the girls how soon she should broach the subject of her kid. Cara had flattened her lips and recommended caution(give them a chance to enjoythe show first before you whip out your mom credentials). Lili had told her that if the guy couldn’t handle that, then he was not worth the time.
In dread, her body clenched waiting for Aaron’s response. She hated herself for it. “He’s a knockout. So you two…” Aaron looked at Jules and Tad, trying to figure out their connection.
Good luck.
“Oh, no!” Jules said, much too vehemently if the sharp look on Tad’s face was any indication. Seeing that no one was focused on him, Evan chose that moment to grab at Tad’s hair with a chant of “Tad, Tad, Tad.” It didn’t help that it sounded like “Dad” to Jules’s frazzled brain—or that she liked far too much how that sounded.
Her heart pounded in her ears. “He’s…”
“The nanny,” Tad finished for her.
“The nanny?” Aaron both smirkedandchuckled. “Thought you were a bartender. Saw you in some magazine at my dentist’s office about best cocktails in Chicago.” He raised an eyebrow at Jules, inviting her in to the conversation. “Tad and I took a few classes together at U of C. Guy was going places; we all expected great things.”
There was an awkward moment of silence as everyone settled into their new roles.
