Page 70 of That One Heartbreak

More than good. She was perfect. And yeah, coming on her stomach wasn’t how he’d planned their first time. But somehow it had felt better. More real.

He wasn’t sure he could feel closer to her if he’d been inside her.

“Where’s your car?” she asked him, her finger drawing a lazy circle on his chest.

“Left it at home.”

“You walked over?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I mostly ran. I didn’t want to leave my truck outside your house two nights in a row.”

“Why not?” She lifted her head to look at him.

“People noticed last night. My mom called me over to ask about it.”

“Seriously?” Her voice lifted.

“It’s okay,” he said, kissing her head again. “I put her off the scent.”

“You did? That easily?”

He cupped her face, tilting it so their mouths met. “Yeah. She asked. I told her there was nothing going on. It was fine.”

“I wish my mom was that easy to put off.”

“Does she suspect there’s something going on between us?” He didn’t feel bad about that. Not really.

Kate shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not yet. But she did seem interested that a guy was here for dinner.”

“A guy who made you come.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but there was no disguising the smile on her face. “Shut up.”

“Just saying. She wouldn’t be wrong.”

“She only wants me to find somebody because she thinks the house is falling apart.”

His brows pulled together. “What’s falling apart? Want me to take a look at it?”

“No. That’s not why you’re here. And anyway, don’t you think her suspicions might become founded if you start fixing the plumbing in the kitchen in your underwear and nothing else?”

“I wasn’t suggesting I do it now,” he told her. “But I’m a construction worker. I know my way around a house. And plumbing.”

She lifted her head to kiss his rough jaw. “Thank you, but no.”

“One of these days you’re gonna let me help you.”

“You already help me. Way too much.”

She had no idea what too much was. Truth was, he wanted to do everything for her. Keep her and the kids safe.

There was a creak on the floorboard outside the room and he froze. Then a door opened and the sound of heavy feet padded along.

“James,” Kate whispered. “He drank way too much soda last night. I’m guessing it just caught up with him.”

“Will he come in here?”

She shook her head. “No. He’s probably only half awake. He’ll head straight back to sleep.”

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