Page 223 of The Bonus

“Shall we sit over here?” I point to the grandstand, and we make our way over and sit on the bottom row of seats. The music starts and the kids all begin to run to the dance floor. “Oh my god.” Lucia’s eyes are about to pop out of her head.

“Mom,” Dominic screams. “Look, Dad’s here.”

Huh?

I glance over to see Gabriel walking through the crowd to us, he’s wearing blue jeans and a navy checked shirt. He looks different tonight, casual and warm.

How did he even know about tonight…oh, the school newsletter.

His dark hair has a bit of length and a wave to it, and his big brown eyes come to meet mine, it’s like he’s walking toward me in slow motion and I feel his presence in the pit of my stomach. Tall, dark and overpowering.

I swallow the lump in my throat as the kids run to meet him.

Felicity Fox may be onto something here… The dilfiest DILF that ever did DILF.

He scoops Lucia up into his arms and picks her up. “What are you doing here?” Lucia laughs.

“Couldn’t miss your first school dance.” He laughs, he turns to Dominic and smiles down at him. “Hello, Son.” He puts his hand on his shoulder and Dom smiles up at him.

Son.

Something about him calling him that makes me feel emotional.

Gabriel’s eyes come to meet mine. “Gracie.”

“Hi.”

“You look beautiful.” He smiles softly.

My stomach flutters.

You hate him…remember.

“Thanks.”

He sits down beside me. Lucia dives onto his lap and Dominic sits beside him. “I missed you this week,” his deep voice tells them.

“You did?” Lucia beams.

Dominic bites his bottom lip to hide his smile.

I smile too because, no matter how much of a dick Gabriel Ferrara is, he’s turning into a pretty great dad.

His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and my eyes linger on his strong forearms. His veins are ropelike, and as he moves his hand, every muscle contracts.

It’s like a hot wire to my hormones…cut it out.

Another song starts, and the kids’ friends run over to get them. “Can we go?” Lucia asks.

“Yes. Go have fun.” They run off, and Gabriel and I are left alone.

We watch them dance and twirl and laugh. Gabriel is in awe and doesn’t take his eyes off them.

While all I can think about is the visceral reaction my body is having to his.

It’s like there’s this invisible electrical current running between us.

“How was your week?” he asks.

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