Page 50 of Afternoon Delight
“I only called you because I knew you needed a laugh. This stays between us.” I tapped his chest—mostly because I wanted another excuse to touch that wall of muscle.
“And Rod. I would text him the photo, but I want to see his face when I show him.”
I knew he was joking, but I gave him my most menacing glower.
His mouth was a thing of beauty, digging in at the corners, completely unimpressed by my ferocity. In fact, there was heat and affection and speculation.
I really, really wanted to kiss that mouth.
A flicker from the window made him jolt and look out. He leaned to see who it was, but it was only someone hurrying past both our shops on the sidewalk.
Zak gave the back of his neck a squeeze as he turned back to me. His gaze caught mine before slipping toward his own shop. He ran his tongue over his teeth, looking rueful.
I folded my arms and bit my lips.
“He’s a good kid, by the way,” he said. “Funny. Scathingly funny. I love it.”
“Thanks.” We were pretending the almost-kiss hadn’t happened, then? “Shelby is, too.” A swell of pride warmed me. “I used to think it was just that they grew up knowing how to make me laugh, but no, they’re both genuinely hilarious.”
“It’s cool that you have that.” He was splitting his attention between his own shop and our conversation, but there was something else in his expression, a far away look.
“It is,” I said, as a pang of dejection hit me. He wanted his own kids. I could see it.
“When I talk to him...” He closed one eye in a wince, clearly debating whether to continue.
“What?” I prompted.
He gave me a look that was somber and unguarded. “Sometimes when I talk to certain kids and do the math, I realize they’re the age my own kid might have been. It makes me wonder what my life would have looked like if that had happened.”
Oh. “Meaning there’s a teenager out there with your DNA or...?”
“No.” He scratched into his beard, his attention swiveling to the door of his shop. “No, my girlfriend had an abortion my second year of college. Mom had just died. I was already struggling with my course load, drinking my face off to deal with the grief. Paula got pregnant and I told her I’d support her if she wanted to have it, but I was shitting myself. She decided the timing wasn’t right, and I went with her to the clinic. I was relieved.” He lifted a shoulder as he made that admission. “But sometimes I get the what-ifs.”
“Of course,” I murmured.
“Zara doesn’t know about that, so...” He ran an invisible zipper across his lips, locked it, and threw the key over his shoulder.
“This is a safe space. Anything that happens in this room stays in this room.” I was sincere, but I sent a pointed look toward the swing.
“This place should be called Little Vegas. Hey, did you ever try that clit stimulator?”
“I kind of can’t stay off it.” I grimaced with self-reproach.
“Good to hear.” His grin was as smug as if he had personally left me in a puddle of my own come. He kind of had.
“Yours?” I prompted.
“More realistic than I expected, especially with lots of warm lube. There are settings to suck the tip or go down the shaft and into the base. It’s a total pain in the ass to clean, but I use it in the shower.” He gave me a slow blink. “Then I use it again before bed. I may need an intervention.”
“Should we hold that here with your dad and sister or...?”
“Invite your mom. Sounds like you need one, too.” He reached for the door. “I should get back. I ran out on Dad. But listen, I’ll take care of the window washing. You keep two feet on the ground.”
“I’m telling you, I did it for you. I was fully in control the entire time.”
“Are you a lineman for the county?”
“Bye, Zak.”
