Page 89 of Secret Love

Tru stills when she sees me, her eyes bright and smiling. Her mom turns to see who has her attention and her eyes widen.So she has told her mom about me.The thought warms me. It’s been a few days since Stephanie got into town and I’ve been trying to give them space to work through things, but I’ve missed Tru like crazy. We’ve been FaceTiming late into the night, and I’m dragging as much as my teenager in the mornings.

All worth it, though.

I walk over to the table and when Clara and Lane see me, they hug me, and then I’m face-to-face with Tru and her mom, suddenly nervous.

“Hello, I’m Henley Ward, a friend of Tru’s.” I hold out my hand and she gets up and hugs me.

“Hi there. I’m Stephanie. I know I have you to thank for that incredible first-class pod. Thank you. I really appreciate it and the way you’ve been here for Tru.”

“It was no problem at all. And any chance I get to be around Tru—well, I’m the lucky one. I hope you’re getting adjusted to the time difference and liking Silver Hills so far?”

“I love it,” she says, smiling warmly. “We’ll have to have you over for dinner to thank you properly…and I’d like to get to know Tru’s friends.”

I look at Tru then and she’s eyeing me with what I can only describe as hunger.I know the feeling, tiny dancer.She flushes and my eyes fall to her lush lips wishing I could bite that lower one right now. She lets out a whimper and it pulls me out of my lust cloud. I blink and look at Stephanie again.

“I’d love to come over for dinner.”

“Excellent. Tomorrow night?” She looks at Tru to see if that’s okay.

Tru laughs nervously. “Or whenever works for you. He’s busy, Mom.”

“Not too busy for you…or dinner.” I smile at them, and when I look at Clara and Lane, they’re beaming at me like two proud moms.

It lets me know that it’s obvious how into Tru I am, but it also reminds me that I need to call my mom back. We talked yesterday about nailing down the details of their upcoming visit, but I’ve been so preoccupied with the girls and thoughts of Tru, I haven’t touched base with Mom again today.

“Excellent,” Stephanie says.

“You’re filling up your social calendar quite well,” Tru says to her mom, teasing but proud. “Coffee with the girls tomorrow morning.” She grins at Clara and Lane before smiling up at me. “And she’s meeting Sadie, Elle, and Calista Sunday night.”

“My girl’s keeping me busy, and I love it,” Stephanie says.

“I’m glad. And I’m looking forward to dinner. I’m sorry to cut this short, but my phone is going off like crazy…” I hold it up and chuckle. “The guys are waiting for me in the back, and patience is not their strength.”

Everyone laughs.

“You better get to your Single Dad Players…Playbook Meeting? What’s it called again?” Tru teases.

Now I’m flushing. I wave my hand. “The name’s not important. It’s just some dads on the team talking about their kids. I guess we can’t call it single anything anymore since Weston’s on his way to getting married.”

“I’ve heard the conversation leans more toward women than kids,” Lane says with a wink.

“Lane Shaw, are you giving away our secrets?” I tease.

She fans her face. “It felt like we were in safe company,” she says, laughing. “But when you guys turn that charm on, I don’t know how any of you stay single.”

I feel Tru watching me, scalding over my body with heat. I can’t help myself, I look at her and her eyes are roaming over my body. Her tongue stretches out to lick her lips and just like that, my jeans are way too tight. Time to get out of here before I embarrass myself in front of Tru and the moms.

“I see what you mean, Lane!” Stephanie says. “If they’re all as charming as Henley, the women in Silver Hills are in trouble!”

They all look at me with appreciation.

“You better get to your Single Dad meeting before you get the big head,” Tru says, trying not to laugh.

She’s not wrong. The guys are blowing my phone up, and my erection is about to hit twelve o’clock.

“Well, this has been nice,” I say, grinning. “Thank you, ladies.” I nod at Tru. “Let me know what time you want me for dinner.”

Her mouth drops with my words and I walk away, smirking, and okay, with the big head…two of them, to be exact.

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