Page 13 of Scooter's Endgame
“Oh yeah.” The little fist pump is too cute and has me fighting back tears as I silently curse the man who fathered this special human but lacks the capacity to be a dad.
“But before that, we’ve gotta grab a bite to eat. We don’t want to be too weak to carry those toys, am I right?” Beckett adds.
“Right,” Luke choruses from the back on cue.
Beckett simply grins at me. As my boy takes up his regaling of his day, I lapse back in to silence and let them carry the conversation.
“How do we feel about Damon’s Burger Shack?” Beckett whispers out of the side of his mouth.
“We like it,” I reply, laughing at his antics.
“Good to know.” He puts his blinkers on, waiting for a gap in the traffic to make his turn. He pulls into the parking lot of a mall, and after a brief search, finds a spot. “Right then, let’s go see about that food, shall we?”
He leads us over to the restaurant and holds the door open for Luke and me to precede him. A hostess seats us, and as we’re waiting for a server, Luke asks if he can go play. “Sure, that’s fine, just tell me what you want to eat first,” I reply.
He tells me his choice, but before he can dash off, Beckett gives me his order too while sliding out of the booth. “I’ll be back in a bit. Just going to make sure he’s okay over there.” He points over to the play area.
I’ve heard the saying and always thought it was such hogwash. Today I learned that “my heart melted” is a thing. Because, staring over at this man – a casual friend up until recently – my son’s hand firmly clasped in his, I can feel my sentimental heart melt in my chest.
All I can do is nod since there’s no way I’d be able to get words past the lump that’s formed in my throat. Added to the melt-worthiness of the moment is the strange sensation of actually having someone show not just my son but me, too, thought and consideration. I’ve never had that in my life, and I’m not sure what to do with it. So yeah, all I can do is nod and smile.
Watching the muscled, tattooed man and the small boy by his side, walk away from me I melt just a little more inside. I’m not sure if something shows on my face, but as our server comes to stand beside the booth, she nods in their direction and says, “That sure is a beautiful picture. It’s always heartwarming to see a dad so involved in his kids’ lives.”
For the briefest moment, I consider correcting her, then decide not to. I hug the image to me, storing it in the vault where my limited happy memories live. “Yeah, it sure is. He’s an amazing man.”
“You’re a lucky girl, sweetie.” She smiles at me. “So, what can I get for you?”
I place an order for the three of us and, as luck would have it, Beckett arrives back at the table at the same time as the waitress as she brings the drinks over. He gives her one of his smiles, and I can see her react to it – pretty much the same way I do, except mine is internalized.
She has no problem letting him see he’s made her weak-kneed. “Sweetie, you can’t go around smiling at ladies like that, especially when you’re lucky enough to have a beauty like this one on your arm.” Our waitress tilts her head in my direction, and I can feel my cheeks heat. “That smile should be registered as a lethal weapon.” His belly laugh can be heard around the entire restaurant. She grins in return. “I’ll be back with the food in a minute.”
True to her word, it isn’t long before she’s back with the food. “Enjoy folks. Shout if you need anything else. Otherwise, I’ll be by in a little while to check on you.”
“Thanks.” Beckett flashes her that lady-killer smile again. This time she simply laughs, shaking her head as she walks away.
“You’re shameless.”
“You have no idea.” He winks, then waggles his eyebrows at me.
Unable to help myself, I laugh at his antics. Looking around, I spot Luke close to the door of the enclosed play area. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to call Luke to come eat.”
Before I can move, he places a hand on my arm. Sensation akin to what I imagine an electric shock would feel like, races up my arm. Awareness, hot and sweet, floods my system on a level I’ve not experienced with anyone else. Ever. Not even Jeff.
In fact, by the time we split his touch had become repulsive. Our sex life was almost nonexistent. Not something I would initiate anymore, and for Jeff it seemed more like scratching an itch than anything of emotional significance.
Blissfully unaware of his effect on me, Beckett says, “Leave the little guy to have fun. If we need to, we can always heat it later for him.”
I swallow, then lick my suddenly dry lips and notice Beckett’s eyes follow the motion. His gaze collides with mine, his pupils dilated, the blue of his irises a deeper, richer blue. Holy smokes. Is it possible the man is as affected as I am?
7
SCOOTER
The feel of Kathleen’s soft, satiny skin beneath my callused hand rocks me back in my seat, figuratively. I’m guessing she feels something too when the tip of her tongue darts out to wet her lips.
Mesmerized, I watch as it traces the shape of her mouth and feel the fit of my camo pants go snug. I would be mortified if I were forced to stand right this second. That’s the effect she has on me. Has always had on me. Her presence in a room is enough to make me hyperaware of her – the scent of her perfume, the shape of her plump bottom lip, the color of her hair, the fit of her clothing.
Just every single little thing about her.
