Page 46 of Perfect Playbook

Nino draws his lips into a thin line, digging deep for a good factoid. “Oh! France used to send their prisoners there.”

Tom scribbles on his hand. “To say I’m impressed with your knowledge is an understatement, Antonio.” He glances around the room. “To circle back to Cayenne the cat, will he be coming here today? We’ve gotten a number of scratching posts and some beds for him…”

Nino laughs. “Cats don’t need their own beds! Cayenne sleeps wherever he wants. Usually on someone’s face.”

Tom darts his eyes to me. “Yeah?”

It’s a shameful truth Logan might soon find out. Our cat is the love of our life, but I wouldn’t say he’s anyone else’s. It will be harder for Logan to win over Cayenne than Nino.

I sit on the edge of Nino’s bed. “I thought we’d bring Cayenne in a week or so. He’s not really fond of new people.”

Tom considers what I’ve said, gaze on the ceiling. “I’ve been warned. Well, I need to return the van before the rental place closes. I’ll leave you two to settle in, and Logan should be home for six. He has weekly meals delivered, so food will arrive at four-thirty, but I put some nibbles in the fridge, minus cheese.” He winks at Nino.

Nino says, “Thank you. Cheese is evil.”

“But do they like it in French Guiana?” He points at Nino.

My son simply scrunches his nose as if he really hopes they don’t.

His condemnation amuses Tom. “Noted, Antonio. I’ll do my best to keep cheese out of the house. Shay, please call if you need anything at all. Twenty-four seven.”

Tom leaves, and when his footsteps fade to nothing, Nino starts jumping on the bed. “Woo-hoo! This room is awesome.”

Before I can tell him to stop bouncing on the mattress, he plops down on his butt.

I scoop him onto my lap and kiss his dark hair. “This bedroom is pretty cool.”

“It’s perfect.” His voice has that wonderful touch of whimsy that only happens at Christmas and birthdays.

Logan thought of everything for my little boy. I should be thinking about what a good job he’s done being a friend to Antonio. I should appreciate what a good friend he’s being tomewith all these gestures. But instead, I stare over Nino’s head across the hall at the door to our bedroom.

Ourbedroom.

Do we really need to sleep together? It does seem as though Tom could drop in day or night when things are needed. And Logan is right, whoever the cleaner is, it’s someone from this town. And this town talks. But I could just sleep on the couch and sneak back in the morning. After that kiss it’s going to be very, very hard to fall asleep at night.

But then there’s Antonio… he’s probably more meddlesome than Joy Hunter and Monica Dane combined, and those ladies know everyone’s business. No, Nino would know if I slept on the couch and could drop something into conversation that doesn’t belong there.

Anyway, what on earth am I so worried about? I can resist a good-looking man.

Nino dives into his tent and opens one of the books.

But a man who does all this for my son has a whole other kind of appeal.

Just then, my phone beeps with a text. I pull it out of my back pocket.

Logan

I hope Antonio was happy with his room. I’ll finish off yours tonight.

I have to work hard to stop my mind racing and reading into this text with my now activated libido.Oh God, save me from myself.

Chapter Sixteen

I’m gearedup and on the ice before Ashton. I had to be.

Of course he knows about me and Shay. I called him just like everyone else. He’s married to my sister, for God’s sake. I can’t avoid the guy, I’ve known him as long as I’ve known myself. But the fact that I talked to him almost every single day in the week that followed my breakup with Shay means he knows how much this woman means to me.

I expect a grilling; he’ll expect details.

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