Page 24 of Blind Date with a #FIREFIGHTER
“Agreed. We keep it light around him.” I cup her hips in my hands and snuggle her against my body. Her eyes turn to saucers when she feels my hard on pressed into her belly. “I want us to go over schedules today. See when we’ll both be off. Then I’m going to ask Brad and Maria to do a sleepover so you and I can do an adult night. They need the practice. They just found out she’s pregnant.”
“We need to give Aaron time to get use to the daycare hours first. At least a couple weeks. Let’s plan some dinners and together time with him first. He can’t feel like he’s losing you. We still can learn things about each other.”
“Like what?”
“Like do you cheat at Candy Land?”
My heart swells a little more. How did I get so lucky. I’m going to have to make a huge donation to the Book Nook and Brew charity.
The next three weeks fly by with occasional dinners, game nights and late-night calls. Finally, it’s date night. We both have two days off and Brad and Marie are taking Aaron for pizza and the newest kids movie he’s been so excited about. Then cartoons and popcorn. Their plan is to entice him to stay an extra night. We dropped him off with his kids’ tent, sleeping bag and Ears.
We go back to the restaurant where we first met. We both liked the food and the ambiance. This time we have a booth that’s more secluded and romantic, looking out over the city lights and night sky.
Thea says it’s our do over. We talk about Aaron’s antics at the daycare and how he and Nicci are almost inseparable, and Thea’s next plans for the daycare. The dishes are cleared, my arm is wrapped around her shoulder, and we’re both finishing off the last of our after dinner Bicerin.
“There’s a fire marshal position that’s opening up in a few months. I’m thinking of applying.”
“Really? I thought you loved being a firefighter.”
“I do but burn out for us is real. So are the health risks. I’ve learned a lot the last ten years and I think I’d like the challenge of the new position. And more time with my family.”
Her hand trembles slightly as she raises her cup to finish her coffee. I signal the waiter for the bill. As we’re leaving, I notice my ex in a booth with a known drug dealer and pimp. She’s looking a little worse for wear.
I realize a few things all at once. You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change. She gave me the most precious gift in my son. A year ago, I would have been livid at the example she was setting. But my son has already moved on to someone deserving of his love. So, have I.
I don’t hate her anymore. I hope she gets the help she needs. I’ll leave her alone as long as she stays away from Aaron.
In the truck, I take Thea’s hand and clasp it on my thigh. We make the drive home in contented silence. The closer we get the more I sense the tension in her. I grab her bag from the backseat, and we walk in together.
“Why don’t you go out on the patio, it’s beautiful tonight. I’ve got a bottle of champagne chilled.”
“Oh, pulling out all the stops.”
Cupping the back of her neck with my palm, I take her lips with mine. She still tastes of coffee and chocolate. “Only the best for my girl. I’ll be right back.”
Putting her bag in my room, I change out of my dress clothes and into a pair of lounge pants. I start to put on a shirt and decide that I wouldn’t on a normal night and she knows it, having spent a lot of time with Aaron and I lately. I love that she wore a simple light-weight, baby blue summer dress herself.
I did splurge this week on a new comforter and sheets for the master bed.
Grabbing the strawberries, chilled glasses, and bubbly, I join her. Popping a strawberry in her mouth then one in mine I pour our drinks, dropping another berry in each of our glasses. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, I lean back and sigh contentedly with her cuddled against me. “Now this is perfect.”
“Humm, I have to agree,” she whispers.
CHAPTER 14
Thea
What the hell am I doing here? This brave, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, sexy as sin man wants me in his life?
I am not Cinderella. No one fits the glass slipper to my too short-wide foot.Go with the flow, sister,my inner want-to-be loved voice responds.He’s a grown ass man, let him make his own decisions. Take what you can get and store up the memories.
“Get out of your head, Thea, and come back to me. This is our night. Our life. I’m not letting either of our pasts interfere.
“In fact…” He tosses back the end of his drink and chews the strawberry. Putting his flute safely under the patio sofa he turns to me and takes my glass. “Let’s get this out of the way. I fell in lust when I was twenty-one. Married the wrong woman who lied about being pregnant and having a miscarriage. Who later did get pregnant with my son. A woman who consistently cheated on me my whole marriage and was neglectful and abusive to my child when I was not around. Doesn’t speak well for my intelligence or perception.
“I am now happily divorced with a wonderful son, and a damn fine woman I’ve come to love. I think it goes to show, that I am capable of learning from my mistakes.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Your turn. Rip off the band aid.”
