Page 29 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“Dinner,” she said.

“Yes.”

“Dinner out. With you.”

“Yes,” I said.

“Is that… something you want?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t.”

“Then… sure. That sounds fun.”

“Great. I’ll swing by in about an hour and get the kids from school so you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll try to beat my mother back to the house so you don’t ha

ve to meet her alone.”

“I thought you said she didn’t bite.”

“She doesn’t bite, but she can be a little intense,” I said.

“More intense than three children who are related to you?”

“Good point. See you in an hour?”

“See you then.”

The rest of the day was a whirlwind and Clara was still napping when my mother arrived. I pulled up with the boys as Natasha let my mother into the house, and I raced to get them all out the door. My mother wanted to stick around and keep talking to Natasha, but I wasn’t having it. This was the first free weekend in almost a year I was getting and I was determined to enjoy it the only way I wanted.

With Natasha at my side.

I waved my mother and the kids off before I ushered Natasha to the car. She kept insisting on going back to her apartment to change, and I kept insisting she looked fine. I drove us across town to a fabulous seafood place that had the best wine on the coast, and I made sure to get us a seat outside in the warmth of the sun as it set over the ocean.

“This is a gorgeous view,” Natasha said.

“It is,” I said. “I can’t get enough of it.”

I watched Natasha pan her gaze over to me before her cheeks flushed with a red tint.

“Carter, can I talk with you about something?”

“You may,” I said.

“The night we… spent together. You know, about a week ago?”

“How could I forget?”

“I don’t know if it should happen again.”

I felt my stomach drop to my knees as the words flew from her mouth.

“Did I do something to upset you?” I asked.

“No, no. It’s nothing like that. It was… a wonderful night. But you’re my boss, and I’m your employee. And if we were working alongside one another in a brick-and-mortar company… or even your own company… it wouldn’t be allowed.”

She had a point, and I hated that she did.

“I think remaining platonic is the best thing,” she said. “Plus, if we have another slipup like me falling asleep again, we risk the children stumbling in on us. That wouldn’t be good for them. It would confuse them, and they’ve been through enough after losing their mother.”

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