Page 684 of The Tempted

I turn my attention to the sprinklers, ready to introduce my son to the love of bikinis but the bigger kids run that part of the playground.

“All right, Eric, time for you to learn how to woo the women,” I say, eyeing the empty swings before looking down at my son who’s rockin’ a pair of sunglasses just like mine. “Don’t look at me like that, I know they’re empty but give it a few minutes and they’ll be lining up to swing with us,” I promise. “Just follow my lead and I’ll have you ten play dates by the time your mom’s finished getting her nails done.”

He leans forward grabbing a fistful of Gerber Puffs and throws them at me.

All right, he’s not a believer—but he will be.

I push the carriage to where the swings are and unlatch Fort Knox. I swear you need to be a brain surgeon to take a kid out of a carriage. Forget about opening this fucking thing—I had to watch a YouTube video just to unfold it. Thank God, Kitten is meeting us here, otherwise I would strap this fucking thing to the roof of my truck.

I place Eric in the swing, tighten the seat belt, see now, this one isn’t so bad, one click and my boy is set. Watching as he curiously looks around the playground I push him. After a few pushes a smile makes its way across his face.

That shit never gets old.

Watching your child’s eyes widen in wonder, smile in joy as he decides he likes the new experience—it’s fucking incredible. Something I almost didn’t get the chance to experience.

“You like that, don’t you?” I grin as he giggles. That sound is contagious, causing me to laugh as I watch him cheer with every high the swing takes and clap his hands with the lows.

A mother walks up next to us and places her daughter in the swing next to ours.

“Showtime,” I whisper into Eric’s ear. “Now, the trick isn’t getting the girl…it’s keeping her once you’ve got her. You need to keep it fresh, excite her when she least expects it and always make her know how much she means to you. I’m not saying you have to marry the first girl you nab, but if she’s the one you love, always make sure you tell her. Never let her wonder—that reminds me,” I say, pulling back the swing for a second to whip out my cell phone. I swipe my thumb across the screen and compose a new text message.

Me: Roar.

I grin watching as the little gray cloud appears and two seconds later my phone chimes.

Kitten: Meow. XOXO

It chimes again when I’m about to put my phone away.

Kitten: I just finished drying my nails. Where are you guys?

Me: By the swings.

Kitten: Did Eric get any dates?

Me: Still working on it.

Kitten: LOL. See you in a few.

I pocket my phone and lean close to Eric.

“Mommy’s on her way,” I say, giving him another push and watch him eye the girl on the swing next to him. “That’s my boy! Get her Tiger!”

The girl squeals and Eric doesn’t take his eyes off her. Her mom pushes her higher, and she turns to Eric and sticks her tongue out at him.

“Oh, the little vixen is playing hard to get,” I hiss, pushing Eric a drop higher.

“How old is he?” the mother asked.

“He’ll be one next month,” I reply, biting back the cringe as I ask her how old her daughter is, preparing myself for the math equation. “How old is she?”

“Seventeen months and three days,” she replies proudly.

See, math equation. Why couldn’t she say the kid was one?

“Nice,” I reply, leaning into Eric’s ear. “She’s a cougar.”

“There are my boys!”

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