Page 60 of Beautiful Mess

Conway: Can you just answer the question, Grace?

I snort, imagining the unamused look on his face.

Me: Well, I’ll have you know, you’re asking the right person. Bubble baths are my favorite way to relax, especially if there’s wine. But to answer your question… for me, personally, my favorites are cozy vanilla season and shea butter and almond oil, both by the Dr. Teal’s brand. Smells SO GOOD, and it makes a ton of bubbles. Pair it with a candle and some wine, and you’ve got yourself a nice self-care evening.

And because I can’t help myself, and apparently turn into a horny teenager around Conway, I send another one.

Me: I definitely request proof of you in this bath, though. Like… naughty proof. Think of it as a thank you for sharing my superior bath secrets with you. ;)

It’s our turn at the register, and as I’m about to stick my phone back in my purse, Conway responds. Well, actually, he thumbs up reacts to my text, and I can’t help but roll my eyes.Boring.He better do it, though. Seeing a big man like Conway soaking in a tub full of bubbles under candlelight would be sexy as hell.

Who am I kidding? Everything that man does is sexy as hell. He could do something normal, like shaving his face or folding laundry, and I’d probably start panting. It’s kind of absurd how attracted to him I am.

After I pay for the groceries, the kids and I load them into my trunk. It’sThe Bachelornight, which means wine and girl gossip time, and I’m dying to fill them in on everything Conway related. Including how his son, also known as my freaking ex-boyfriend, is back in town. I’ve told Charley about that, but I haven’t had time to fill in Gemma and Georgia yet. I’m still thoroughly cringing over sitting in Conway’s living room with both of them while I wore lingerie under a trench coat.

“Grace, hey!”

Closing the trunk, I turn my head in the direction of where the voice came from, clamping down on my molars when I see who it is. “Oh, hey, Cole.”

Speak of the freaking devil.

Shifting his gaze from my kids back to me, he smiles. He kind of looks like his dad when he smiles, and I more than kind of don’t like that. “Are these your kids?” he asks.

“No, found them in the frozen foods aisle,” I say with a shrug.

Blakely snorts beside me, whacking my hip. “She’s lying.”

Shifting my gaze to my daughter, I gawk at her with a faux-offended expression. “Wow, throwing me under the bus in front of strangers. We are supposed to have each other’s backs, girlfriend.”

Flashing me a toothy grin, Blakely rolls her eyes. My little twin.

Glancing back over at Cole, I nod and breathe out a laugh. “This is Blakely.” I pat the top of her head before doing the same to my son. “And this is Beau. Guys, this is Cole. He’s Conway’s son.”

Blakely’s face scrunches up as she examines him. “You look kinda old to be Conway’s son.”

Behind me, Beau snorts.

“Blakely Ann,” I hiss as Cole chuckles. “That is not very nice. And Cole’s not old. He’s the same age as me, thank you very much.”

Looking up at me with an amused expression, she says, “What? I just meant because Willow is my age. How is it possible that Conway has a kid your ageandmy age?”

Cole huffs out a laugh. “That’s because my dad has a problem wrapping?—”

My eyes widen when it becomes apparent where this is headed. “Don’t you even think of finishing that sentence, Cole Levine,” I snap, pointing a finger toward him. Holding up his hands, he laughs some more, Beau and Blakely joining in. I turn toward my kids, nodding to the car. “Why don’t y’all get in. I’ll be in, in a second.”

“Sorry about that,” Cole murmurs, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans as the kids close the back doors. “I’m not around little kids much, so I forget to censor myself.”

“It’s fine.” I wave him off. “How long are you in town for?”

“Fuck if I know.” He shrugs.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” My brow wrinkles. “Don’t you have a wife and a job in Charleston?”

“Wife, not anymore. Job, yes, but I took a leave of absence.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Cole.” The nosy part of me wants to pry and find out what happened, but I manage to keep the question to myself.

“Eh, it’s all good. Listen, I’ve been meaning to reach out since you came over to my dad’s place.”

---