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For the rest of the drive, we remained silent, listening to Teddy sing “Baby Shark” on repeat. When Kyle turned into a parking lot, I understood why they’d named this place the Shack. It was a tiny older building that sat on a grassy open area. It was surrounded by half a dozen picnic tables, and there was a small playground that could be seen from each of them. It reminded me of the setups of the shaved ice places we’d take the kids to in Fort Bragg.
Teddy took off for the slide that sat next to the bigger climbing structure, and Callie wandered over to one of the swings.
“Great, there’s a line.”
I followed Kyle’s gaze to the line of people waiting to order. “Perfect.”
He frowned down at me. “Huh?”
“The kids will have plenty of time to run around and play.”
Kyle chuckled and shook his head. “Do you like banana splits?”
“Who doesn’t?” I smiled up at him.
He stared at me and his brows pinched slightly. Almost like he was surprised by my answer. “Wanna split one with me?”
“Sure. No nuts on it, though.”
His gaze drifted down and locked on my lips so briefly I almost thought I’d imagined it. Though the way his irises darkened to that blueish-green color again was impossible to miss.
My stomach fluttered, and one corner of Kyle’s mouth lifted into a smirk as he continued to openly study me. Averysexy smirk.
He nodded toward the playground. “What should I get the kids?”
“What?” I breathed out, apparently unable to form words or coherent thoughts in such close proximity to this man.
“What flavors do the kids like?”
“Oh.” At the mention of my kids, I tore my focus from him and turned toward the playground.
I hadn’t been intimate with anyone other than Levi for the better part of twelve years, but that didn’t mean I’d forgotten the way a man looked at a woman when he wanted to kiss her. And why did that thought excite me?
It shouldn’t.
I wasn’t sure I was ready. My kids definitely weren’t.
How long was the appropriate amount of time to wait before I considered letting another man kiss me? Did I want Kyle to kiss me?
My thoughts continued to whirl until he cleared his throat.
Oh. Right. He was still waiting for an answer.
“Plain vanilla for Teddy. Callie will only eat mint chocolate chip. It was Levi’s favorite.”
I swore the moment Levi’s name left my lips, Kyle fisted his hand at his side, but just as quickly, he flattened it against his left thigh. With a nod, he headed to the window at the front of the small building.
Why did I say that?
Because you liked the way Kyle was looking at you, but you shouldn’t.
My daughter was still mourning the loss of her father, and the last thing she needed was for me to muddy everything up by dating.
Though Callie was pensive as she sat at the picnic table with us and ate her ice cream, her anger had dissipated. Kyle and I shared the most massive banana split I had ever seen.
“Uncle Kyle,” a small voice shouted from behind me.
I turned on the wooden bench and caught sight of Brendanas he ran toward us. Not far behind him, Rhett and Bella were wandering our way.
