Page 79 of Bargain with the Bachelor
Tamping down the ridiculously inappropriate surge of jealousy, I forced a smile. “I’ll think about it. I’m not sure if Cinda had plans for us tonight.”
Cool relief settled over me as the car pulled up to the curb in front of Cinda’s small cottage.
My friend was out in the front yard, supervising her son AJ as he rode his tricycle in the short driveway. It had seen better days.
Tufts of grass grew up through the numerous cracks, though that didn’t seem to deter the toddler, who pedaled vigorously, wearing a puffy coat and a large helmet that made him resemble a tiny astronaut.
Spotting us, Cinda smiled and jogged over to the car.
Clearly the mother and son had been outdoors for a while because her cheeks and nose were pink, which did nothing to dull her blonde beauty.
She made a hand motion encouraging me to roll down my window. When I did, Cinda leaned into it, beaming.
“Hey Hunter. It’s been a long time. How are you?”
Acting completely unaffected by our sizzling kiss only twenty minutes ago, Hunter smiled back. “Great. Couldn’t be better. It’s great to see you. I guess that’s your little man?”
“It is. That’s AJ. Come on. I’ll introduced you.”
Hunter shot a questioning glance at me, obviously seeking permission.
Reluctantly, I gave him a tight smile. “Sure. That’s a great idea.”
Both of us got out of the car and walked up the drive. AJ stopped his trike and looked up. “Kristhal!” he shouted in his babyish lisp.
I dropped to my knees. “Hi buddy. How are you today? You’re getting pretty good on that thing.”
He nodded vigorously. “I am. And Mommy says I can ride it on the bike path in the spring.”
“Wow. That sounds great.”
Cinda spoke up. “AJ, I want you to meet someone. This is an old friend of Mommy’s and Kristal’s. We went to school together. This is Mr. Bestia.”
Hunter squatted to put himself on AJ’s level and stuck out his hand. “You can call me Hunter. I really like your bike. I noticed the flames on the wheels. Do they make it faster?”
AJ pumped Hunter’s hand up and down in a floppy handshake and nodded his pudgy, dimpled chin, showing a full set of tiny white teeth.
“Uh huh. I’m a astronaut.” He made a roaring rocket engine noise and jumped toward the sky.
“Wow. I’ve always wanted to meet an astronaut,” Hunter said, clearly charmed by the boy.
Cinda laughed. “He’s obsessed with anything that flies. Always has been. Sometimes we go to the airport just to watch the planes take off and land.”
“I was like that as a kid,” Hunter confessed. “Although, I think it had more to do with wanting to get away than a love of aviation.” Turning his attention back to AJ, he asked. “Do you have any toy spaceships?”
AJ’s wide brown eyes grew even wider. “Yes, and planes, and helicopters, and rockets too. Want to see them?”
He grabbed Hunter’s large hand and started tugging him toward the house. “Mommy, can I show Mr. Hunter my toys and my room?”
“It’s up to Mr. Hunter,” Cinda said. “But he’s certainly welcome.”
Hunter looked for all the world like he actually wanted to accept the child’s offer, but he glanced up at me with an expression of uncertainty.
“I wouldn’t want to horn in on your plans for the day,” he said.
The last thing I wanted after that disconcerting on-camera kiss was to spend several hours sitting and chatting with Hunter a few feet away. I’d been so flustered by the powerful sensations it had awakened I’d literally had to run from the mansion.
Before I could respond, Cinda did. “Nonsense. In fact, I made enough chili and cornbread to feed an army, so we’re going to need some help. AJ eats like a horse, but Kristal here barely makes a dent.”
