Page 32 of Secret Love

“A-dain, a-dain,” Caleb cries.

“One more time. I don't want to give your grandma and parents a heart attack.” I toss him in the air again and when he comes back down, he burrows his face in my neck and cracks up.

I’m crazy about this little boy.

“How about we go get some ice cream?” Lane asks.

Caleb perks up.

“Ooo, ice cream. That sounds like a great idea,” I say.

“Should we go pick out a flavor?” Lane asks.

We all look at Caleb and he nods. I put him down and he clambers off to take his grandma’s hand.

“I be back, Unca Hen,” he calls before he goes in.

“Okay, buddy. I’ll be here.”

When I look at Tru again, she’s staring at me with an unreadable expression. It’s been a while since I’ve tried to figure a woman out, and even though the guys claim that women fall at my feet over my charm, I call bullshit. Having a divorce behind me proves that I’ve probably never been great at figuring women out, but damn, I wish I knew what was going on in that pretty head of hers.

“Caleb is crazy about his Unca Hen,” Sadie says, laughing.

“That is the cutest thing I have ever seen,” Tru says.

Well, that’s something. The way my ego puffs at that praise is all kinds of wrong since a child’s love for me is not the way to win over a woman, but…hell, I’ll take the help where I can get it.

Not because Iwanther, but because I need to have my daughter’s teacher thinking I’m a decent man.

You are so full of shit, says the devil on my shoulder.

“Hey, Hen,” Penn says, holding out his fist for me to bump. Bowie and Rhodes make their way over and surround us.

They try to act nonchalant, but the nosy bastards are dying of curiosity. I can tell that Weston’s already got them up to speed about who Tru is or else one of them would’ve been flirting with her by now.

“I don't believe I’ve met you yet,” Bowie says, holding his hand out to shake Tru’s.

I’m glad it's him. I trust the guy with my life—not that I don't trust the others—but Bowie is more like me. He's been taking his time getting back out in the dating world. He isn't as much of a player as Rhodes and Penn. They're unable to turn off the flirt when they see a pretty woman.

“Bowie Fox,” Bowie says.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Tru. Tru Seymour.”

“Nice to meet you too,” he says politely.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tru Seymour. I’m Rhodes Archer.” Rhodes shakes her hand and when he smiles, his dimples come out in full force.

Tru looks wowed, as most girls do. I don’t blame her. He’s a handsome guy. Even my mom gets swoony when she talks about Rhodes Archer.

Tru glances over at me and there's a twinkle in her eye as she says, “So you're the infamous Rhodes. I was at Luminary the other night and heard these girls talk about you.” She points at Penn. “And you must be Penn.”

Her fingers stretch out to shake Penn’s hand. He grins, the smug bastard. He’s the one I’m most worried about. Bree says Penn is the hot one and he’s way closer to Tru’s age.

“You’ve got that right. It's great to meet you, Tru. So…what did you hear at the coffee shop?” he asks, holding her hand longer than I’d like.

“Well, I’m sorry to say I had no idea who any of you were,” she says, cheeks flushing slightly. “And now I only know because those girls couldn't stop talking about all of you. I heard Henley's name and had met him already. I did think he looked like he could barrel through people without losing a breath, but no, no clue.”

I’m not sure how to take that, but everyone laughs, including me.

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