Page 50 of Home Field Advantage
“Oh. That’s adorable how much you care for your neighbor. Listen, I’m free if you don’t want to be alone when you do it. I’m great company. Besides, I think our daughters are new best friends at school.”
“I’ll be in touch.” He smiles before turning to face me again.
The two of us stand there, staring at one another as if we have a million things to say. Words unspoken as Ally and Sage say their goodbyes, and Mindy writes her number on scrap paper to hand him before leaving to the checkout. Nan moves to stand between us, bouncing her gaze back and forth from me to Dallas out of curiosity.
“Well, well, well.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Now that she’s here, Dallas, it looks like your Friday and Saturday plans are canceled.”
“I used a permanent marker on the calendar hanging in my kitchen, Nan,” he answers her, still looking at me. “So I’m going to keep those plans in hopes I get to see my neighbor again.”
My lips part as I take in everything he’s saying. How in the world is he still this flirty, bold man after I told him I needed to remain professional?
I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.
“Well, I’ll give you two a minute or twelve to talk,” Nan says, tossing her arm around Sage’s shoulders. “I’m going to show Sage the best ice cream flavor on the planet.”
“COTTON CANDY!”
Dallas gives Nan a knowing look before she covers hermouth with her hands, chuckling, and guides Sage toward the frozen section, leaving Dallas and me alone.
“What the hell was that, Dallas?”
His grin grows. It’s wicked and hot and so sexy.
Christ, what’s wrong with me?
“If a rumor started in town that I was dating one of my students’ parents, it could hurt my career,” I continue. “Not that this is. You know. We’re not dating and all. But…” I ramble, letting my words fall off my tongue when he steps closer to me.
His hand reaches the side of my face before he brushes a loose strand of hair from my eyes and behind my ear. His touch is featherlight and lasts only a few seconds, but I feel it throughout my entire body.
“It’s a good thing I don’t date anymore then.” He winks.
Aside from Dallas being Sage’s dad, the main thing preventing me from letting things progress beyond a surface-level friendship is that I’m afraid I’ll start seeing someone in town, and they’ll run at the first sight of who I am deep down. And because it’s a small town, people will talk. Before I know it, everyone is talking about the girl who organizes her spices from A-Z, has to have her plates and glasses arranged a certain way in the cabinets, and gets easily overwhelmed when furniture isn’t aligned correctly. These are just a few things that make me, me, but I always worry it will drive someone away.
But I can’t push someone away who’s already only here temporarily, can I? Before I get to give it any more thoughts, a voice cuts through.
“We’re back,” Sage announces, cutting through my racing thoughts. “They have gallons and gallons of ice cream flavors here. This is definitely my favorite store.”
“Gallons,” Nan adds sarcastically.
“Oh, Miss Barlow. Did Daddy tell you how he burned the pizza last night and said a bad word?”
“What did he say?” Nan encourages.
“He said?—”
“Nope. Okay. Moving on,” Dallas says, covering her mouth with his hand, and they start laughing.
Letting my eyes bounce between the two of them, I can’t help but feel the smile on my face grow.
“I have that puzzle for you, Sage.” Her eyes light up. “Maybe I can drop it off sometime this week if you’re going to be home.”
She looks up at Dallas. “Am I, Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“You should probably exchange numbers so you know everyone is decent,” Nan interrupts.
“Nan!”
