Page 48 of Playing with Temptation

“I would, thank you.” A sense of warmth and gratitude filled his chest. “He’s been dying to show off his new swimming skills.”

“Perfect.” She opened her portfolio.

“Hey, if you don’t have any plans this weekend, you’re welcome to stay, too. We could make it kind of a family thing.”

“I don’t know.” Head tilted, she assessed him, then exhaled. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to spend the night, but I wouldn’t mind coming over after the skating rink. I’ll even cook. After all, I owe you dinner.”

“Sounds nice.” It wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but at least it wasn’t a flat refusal. “But I’ve got one more request.”

“Okay.” She regarded him warily.

“This temporary moratorium on discussing business…let’s maintain it until Monday morning.” He turned toward her. “I’d like to relax, enjoy our time with Kai and forget about the rest of the world. Just for the weekend.”

“I know this has been a lot to deal with.” Her smile radiated warmth and understanding. “So barring any crisis, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

It was a small victory, but one he savored. The first step to winning Kendra back.

CHAPTER 16

“Look at me, Dad!” Kai called out gleefully, zipping past Nate and Kendra as he circled the roller-skating rink ahead of his Aunt Maya and cousins Sofie and Ella.

“You’re doing great, son!” Nate cheered Kai on, wishing he could join him. The smell of rental skates, stale popcorn, burnt hotdogs and frozen pizza made him nostalgic for the old days.

“Watch where you’re going, honey!” Kendra called after him, leaning over the carpeted half wall that separated them from the rink.

“Relax, Dray. He’ll be fine.” Nate massaged the tension in her shoulders. “Remember how much fun we had out there as kids?”

“It was the place to be on Saturday nights. Every teen in town was here. Oh, and remember the all-night skates?”

“We were dead on our feet by the end of the night.” Nate grinned.

The DJ played “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll” by Vaughan Mason & Crew and they both cheered, dancing with their hands in the air.

“This song is older than we are.” Kendra laughed.

“And it’s still the reigning champ of roller-skating songs.” Maybe he couldn’t put on skates and get out on the wooden floor, but he could dance to his heart’s content with his feet on solid ground.

“Every time I hear this song, it’s like I’m fifteen all over again.” She moved her hips and rocked her head.

“You’re showing out now, girl. I need to step up my game.” He threw in some popping and locking and added a spin for good measure. “Get it, Dray!”

“Oh, it’s on.” She pursed her lips, going old school.

“You did not just go TLC on me with the Bart Simpson. Okay, I got one for you.”

“Old-school running man!” She laughed. “All right now. How about this?”

They challenged each other with every old-school dance move they could remember: the Humpty dance, the Roger Rabbit, the Cabbage Patch.

“Okay, time to bring it home.” He launched into the Kid ’n Play and she joined him until the song finally ended and they collapsed on one of the carpeted benches, both laughing.

“That was so much fun.” She panted, catching her breath. “But now I need a rubdown, a soft pretzel and a nap, in that order.”

“I can help with all three.” He wriggled his eyebrows and laughed.

Watching Kendra grind her hips to the music sped up his pulse far more than the physical exertion had. He surveyed the space. The walls had been repainted in a cobalt blue and new carpeting covered the floor and walls, but the place was essentially the same.

“We had so many great times in this building, but what I remember most is the first time I kissed you right over there.” He pointed to a dim corner of the rink. “Remember that?”

“How could I forget my first kiss?” Her gaze was soft as her eyes met his.

Nate smiled and leaned in closer, whispering in her ear. “Hopefully, I’m a much better kisser now than I was back then.”

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