Page 27 of Forged

They headed to the outdoor coffee shop, and as Bax bought their coffee and hot chocolate, Nick did his best to get the kids settled and to find the sippy cups in the nappy bag he’d brought with him. The kids were ready for a rest and behaved fairly well when Bax returned with the treats.

“You really don’t have to do all this if it’s too much,” he said once Bax was seated across the table from him, as he poured hot chocolate into the sippy cups and tried to keep them out of his babies’ reach until they were cool. “This isn’t exactly the best way to date.”

“Who said this was a date?” Bax asked, leaning back in his chair and grinning at Nick over his coffee cup.

“Oh, er, I didn’t mean that,” Nick rushed to cover his slip. “It’s definitely not a date with kids. Not that I would say no to going out on a date with you.”

He couldn’t believe he’d just said that either.

“I mean, I don’t know what this is, but I know you’re not used to hanging around with small children,” he rushed on. “If you’re disappointed, I would understand.”

Bax was still grinning. In fact, he looked like he was having the time of his life just watching Nick fall apart with embarrassment. “I’m not disappointed,” he said. “Definitely not disappointed.” He winked, then sipped his coffee.

It was a blessing that the kids were there and that the hot chocolate was cool enough for them at that point. Nick needed the distraction to cool the heat in his face and the arousal that zipped around his body. He was now willing to call those feelings he hadn’t been willing or able to name arousal, but he still didn’t know what to do with them.

He barely had a chance to drink his coffee before the kids were done and ready to move on again. Toddlers had a differentpace than adults, and as Bax stood and offered to carry Macy for a while and to hold Jordan’s hand as he walked so Nick could finish his coffee, Nick could only hope that Bax could keep up.

He hoped Bax would want to keep up. As they walked on, looking at displays of lights and stopping to listen to a singer, he could imagine how perfect everything might be if Bax was there to help for more than just an afternoon. He could hardly remember what it was like to co-parent. Macy had only been a month old and Jordan less than two years old when Raina had died.

It wasn’t just about having help with the kids, though. It was about having someone to share his life with. Someone he clicked with and could explore new things with. Everything with Bax was new, and for the first time in a long, long time, Nick felt ready to try something new.

“Listen, about that date,” he said after another forty-five minutes of walking around, when he’d finally worked up his courage.

“Yes?” Bax asked, turning to him with a growing smile.

Nick opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he spotted his mum and Joann heading toward them. Not only that, Kate Danbury was chatting away with them.

His mum stopped when she spotted them, then changed direction.

“Good heavens, Nick,” she said. “Is this what you meant when you said you had plans this weekend?” She glanced to Bax as though he were the plans.

“Hello again, Mrs. Turner,” Bax said, looking like he might burst into laughter.

“Hi, Mum,” Nick said, fighting not to feel like he’d been caught doing something wrong. “Fancy running into you here.”

“Do I know you?” Joann asked, narrowing her eyes slightly at Bax.

“This is Baxter Hawthorne, Raina’s cousin,” Nick introduced him, then turned to Bax. “This is my sister, Joann.”

“Nice to meet you,” Bax said. He could only nod to Joann, since he had a wiggly Macy in his arms.

“And this is Kate,” Nick’s mum said, suddenly smiling at Nick. “We were just talking about you.”

“It’s been ages, Nick,” Kate said, stepping forward to give Nick a hug that he hadn’t asked for. “I was so sorry to hear about Raina. If you ever want anyone to talk to, you know I’m here for you.” She flicked her long, blonde hair back and made eyes at him.

Nick could have died on the spot, he was so embarrassed. He was pretty sure he knew what all the talk about him had been about.

He glanced at Bax apologetically, ready to take Macy if he needed to. He found Bax grinning at him like the day’s entertainment had just begun.

NINE

Bax probably should have been offended.It was plain as day what Mrs. Turner was doing. Whether she’d trotted out Kate whoever she was deliberately or whether it was a complete accident that Kate just happened to be spending time with Nick’s mum and sister in the same place and same time as Nick, Mrs. Turner’s intent was obvious. The woman had given him a death glare as soon as she’d spotted him where Bax figured she thought her Kate bait should have been.

“Thanks,” Nick said uneasily in response to Kate’s obvious flirting.

Nick was saved from having to face the awkward situation directly when Jordan made a break to chase after a small dog someone had let off its leash.

“Excuse me one second,” he called over his shoulder as he raced to catch up with Jordan.

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