Page 10 of Single Dad's Second Chance

Good grief.I laughed, for real this time, because this was how we were. If we weren’t finishing each other’s sentences, we were accidentally talking over each other.

“I just got here. I had a couple of things to do with Jason.” His smile rose more at the mention of his adorable son. They were like two peas in a pod, both with charming smiles and quick wit. That boy would certainly grow up to be a hell of a heartbreaker.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, always quick to worry where that boy was concerned. He’d wormed a quick route to my heart within the first week of meeting him, and he’d never lose that spot.

“Oh, yeah. Just fine.” He tilted his head to the side a bit. “And hey, it’s arcade night. He’s really excited.”

“Me too.” With every second that passed and things flowed so normally between us, my hopes grew higher that my big secret was still safe. That he would remain clueless and not realize I was the woman dancing on that stage last night, that I was the performer he couldn’t tear his gaze from.

Just like that, I was taken back to the memory. The flashback wasn’t welcome now, but being under his direct focus, I couldn’t help but recall how exciting and thrilling—yet terrifying—it was to have him admiring my moves and getting sucked into watching me like I was the rarest treasure in the world. I felt more alive when I danced. I was looser, freer, and able to just let go of stress when I moved to music.

Unlike now, when I stood here so stiff and tense that he could mention seeing me last night.

“I love our arcade night.”

“Maybe tonight will be the night I finally beat you at skee ball.”

I scoffed. “Keep dreaming.”

He leaned closer, narrowing his eyes playfully. “You still don’t think I can top your record score?”

I was trapped by desire, lured to slant toward him too. Whether it was bickering or mildly arguing, we both gave as good as we got. “It took you a year to beat it last time.”

“Then I’d say I’m due to top your score again. Any day now.”

I lapsed, looking at his lips, but I caught myself from staring at them. With us standing so close like this, almost flush, anyone could walk by and get the wrong impression. That I was flirting. That he was coming on to me. That we were?—

“There you are!” Eddie’s loud, booming voice cut through the magical moment of feeling like it was just me and Henry, alone in the world with each other.

Henry sucked in a quick breath and stepped back. I did the same, immediately smiling at the older man who’d given me a break and given me a job after I was released from serving time. I’d never forgive myself for even having a record. Short though it was, itwastime served, and the reminder of it would always ruin my mood.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hey, Mr. Dunn.”

“Morning, Mia, and for the last time. Just call me Eddie.” My former boss winked at me before facing his son.

When I didn’t leave, too stuck on wishing Henry and I could talk more, Eddie frowned. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Oh! No. Nothing, um…” I put my hand on the back of my neck. “I was?—”

“No, but I do need to talk to Mia,” Henry said as he gestured for both of us to follow him to the CEO suite.

Crap!This seemed ominous, but then again, he wasn’t acting like anything was different between us.

I was going to drive myself insane wondering and worrying if my secret was out.

“Those forms you dropped off yesterday. I think you gave me the wrong ones,” Henry added, glancing at me over his shoulder as I walked to his left.

“Oh!” I exhaled a huge breath of relief. “Yes. The ones that HR emailed and said—” I shook my head, smiling that it was a simple little thing. Waving at him, I dismissed the concern. “I know what you’re talking about.”

“I’ve got them organized in the right piles on my desk.” Now he twisted to look at his dad on his right. “But what brings you by, Dad? You were just here yesterday, after all.”

“Getting sick of me hanging around?” Eddie joked.

“No. Never. But Mia and I need to go over those other documents that the records sent over and such.”

“Right. I know.” Eddie nodded. “You two are always so busy. But I’ve got something exciting to tell you.”

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