Page 18 of Second Chance for the Single Mom

“So, Haley Mercer,” Jordan casually said. “How’ve you been since high school?”

I erupted in laughter, collapsing sideways on the bed. “I’ve been good. But right now, I’mgreat.”

“You seem great,” Shay observed, fingers caressing my calf and ankle.

“Jesus,” I breathed. “Have you guys done that before?”

“Nope,” Jordan said cheerfully.

Lucas ducked into the bathroom, then returned with a small washcloth. He lightly cleaned off the rope of come that was on my cheek.

“I don’t remember you being a gentleman,” I teased.

“I’m much older and wiser, now,” he replied with a grin.

“I don’t know aboutwiser,” Jordan said. “Cleaning up your mess is the kind of thing you’re supposed to learn as a kid.”

“Easier said than done,” I muttered. “I’m still trying to get my son, Bran, to understand that he needs topick uphis toys when he’s done playing.”

Jordan cocked his head. “I didn’t know you had a kid.”

“It’s the reason I’ve had such a long dry spell,” I muttered. “The reason Ireallyneeded this tonight.”

On the bed next to me, I felt Lucas stiffen. “How old is he?”

“He’s four,” I lied.

I watched Lucas do the mental math, then relax. “Haley the mother. Wow.”

“I’m a pretty good one, if I do say so myself,” I said with pride.

“No father in the mix?” Shay asked, propping his head up on an elbow.

I shook my head. “Just me. Honestly, it’s better this way. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Lucas gave me an appraising look, then rose from the bed. He looked magnificent in his nudity, the ink from his tattoo sleeve shining in the dim light. “There’s a second bathroom down the hall if anyone needs to clean up. Clean towels underneath the sink, too.”

I reached out and gave his ass a loud smack. He glared at me playfully while heading into the bathroom.

“I’ll be honest,” Jordan said, laying sideways on the bed next to me. “I never thought this would happen when we sat next to each other in high school.”

“No kidding,” I agreed. “I kind of hated you back then.”

Jordan gasped. “Haley, no!”

“You were annoying!” I argued. “You were constantly interrupting the teacher and disrupting class.”

“That’s what made people like me!”

“The people who were slackers.” I poked him in his bare chest—it was solid and hot to the touch, like a brick wall that had been in the sun all day. “For those of us who wanted to get good grades, you were a distraction.”

“As an adult who is capable of looking at the past with objective eyes… you’re probably right,” Jordan said. He ran a hand through his blond hair and smirked at me, just like he would have back then. “But you don’t hate me now, right?”

I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his. “I only have a small sample size to work with. But no. I don’t hate you.”

He cupped my cheek. “Good. I have a compulsive need to be liked by everyone.”

“Oh, I know,” I said. “That’s part of what made you insufferable back then!”

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