Page 53 of Island Protector

“I’ve never stayed overnight.”

He looked at her, perplexed. “Sharon must’ve offered to watch Bryce.”

“She did.” Why was she pointing out all her weaknesses and failings? Was this just her inexperience with the whole dating thing?

“You’re not a burden to anyone, Molly,” Miles continued. Although his voice was soft in deference to her dozing son, his sincerity came through loud and clear. His thumb stroked her palm and a gentle heat pulsed through her system. “Why don’t we sort out the romantic part together? Isn’t that what dating is all about?”

“You’re asking a woman with zero dating experience. My first serious romance was with a loser wannabe con man. Though, I got the best little boy out of the deal.” She shifted to him. “What does romance mean to you?”

He scrubbed at his jaw. “Admittedly, I don’t have a great track record or a ton of dating experience.”

“Oh, come on.” She wouldn’t let him defer. “I see the way women look at you in town.”

“But do you ever hear about me dating anyone?”

“Well no. I just assumed…” She shook her head. “I assumed you were like Nina, keeping your romances out of town and away from the island grapevine.”

“A pretty smart move on her part,” he said. He held both of her hands and that simple touch warmed her all over. “You should know I was raised in this area. All over the Lowcountry.”

She waited, holding back her questions.

He closed his eyes briefly. “I was a foster kid. I couldn’t wait to age-out, get to college, see some other part of the country. So I went away to college and never planned to return. But then… Some things didn’t go my way. Professionally,” he emphasized. “At that point, Brookwell was a safe, easy place to hit the restart button.”

“And you didn’t date anyone in college or while you were doing professional things elsewhere?” she challenged.

“I did. But I wasn’t much good at it.” A shadow of pain moved through his gaze and she shivered in sympathy. “I didn’t have great examples growing up. I wasn’t good at trusting anyone. Took me ages to trust myself.”

“Sometimes where we come from really gets in our heads,” she murmured. “My parents were impossible perfectionists.” It was the safest example she could offer. “I’ve tried hard to do better for Bryce.”

He chuckled. “You are doing better for Bryce.”

Accepting his praise wasn’t easy. “You always sound so confident when you say things like that.”

“Molly.” He squeezed her hands. “You’re sitting on a boat for your son. I’m not sure a more supportive mother exists.”

Restless, not entirely comfortable, she suggested they get Bryce home to bed.

Miles agreed. “We can do that.” He looked up at the stars. “One question first. Will you let me romance you?”

“I’m not sure what that entails, but I’ll do my best.” She silently vowed to romance him right back.

“First and foremost, tell me if I’m doing something that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Like making me get on a sailboat for dinner?”

“Yes. But you’ve had fun.”

“I have. Thank you.” She cupped his jaw, ridiculously excited that she got to feel the rough stubble of his whiskers against her palms. It felt so intimate. So close. She never expected to have such privileged access to Miles, of all people. “This family dinner date was wildly romantic in my book.” She brought his mouth to hers for one more lingering kiss. When her pulse was pounding, her control ready to snap, she pulled back. “Next time, we can do something on land.”

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Thirteen

Miles might have startedthe evening thinking in broad strokes about romancing Molly, but helping her get Bryce to bed gave him a clear view of what family life could be.

He had no idea the kid could argue and negotiate every detail from pajamas to bedtime stories. It was simultaneously adorable and intimidating.

When Bryce was finally tucked in for the night, Molly closed the bedroom door and shooed Miles down the hallway to the family room.

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