Page 41 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

“I already ate.”

She sat on the chair to collect her thoughts and turned her attention to the television.

“What’s on your neck?”

She whipped her head to Dean. “Hmm?”

“Your neck is red. Are you breaking out in hives or something?”

“It’s probably from my scarf.” She covered her neck and prattled on. “I was shopping, and you know how it is when you’re in a store, trying stuff on. You get warm and the wool rubs.” She stood up, retrieving her very comfortable, non-rubbing scarf, and pointed to her new shoes as evidence that she had shopped and had not kissed Ethan for ten minutes against her car.

Dean shrugged and went back to watching TV, so she scurried back upstairs with her new boots to Google how to get rid of a hickey.

13

Laney had fallen back into her groove as if she’d never left the dance floor, taking meetings and checking off her daily to-do list with ease. She’d already gotten multiple sponsors for the RAHD—she still hadn’t been able to convince Ethan that the nonprofit needed a new name—event and was racking up views, shares, and likes on all the social media platforms she’d set up.

Seraphina Bianco had thrown all her weight behind the project and even offered to introduce Laney to friends who might be interested, which was why she’d agreed to go to this “Mom’s Night Out” party. Although she was neither a mom nor needed a night out, she did like a good party. And if Gem was any indication, moms were a good time when they got to stretch their legs.

After stepping into her new booties, Laney checked herself out in the mirror one last time and headed downstairs. It was poker night again, and she waved to all the guys—Dean, Nadir, Hank, Seth, and Ethan—scattered on chairs as the doorbell rang. Since she was closest, she answered the door, and the pizza delivery guy, probably in college, smiled at her. “Hey, what’s up?”

Ethan appeared behind Laney, thrusting bills into the kid’s hand and grabbing the boxes from him. “Not you, my man. See ya later.” When he closed the door and whirled around to her, she shook her head in laughter. “What?”

“I told you not to be cute,” she whispered, but he only shrugged.

“Can’t help it.”

He may have been cute, but there was no reason for him to be jealous. A couple of make-out sessions didn’t change anything. Especially when they were working together.

Laney was invested in making sure this fundraiser went off without a hitch. She wouldn’t jeopardize the success of it because she didn’t know how to draw lines in the sand.

What was that Dean liked to say? You don’t shit where you eat.

Gross but effective in its purpose.

Hank and Dean took the boxes from Ethan as Nadir offered Laney a plate.

“No, thanks. I’m going out, trying to drum up more interest in the fundraiser.”

“Thirsty Thursday?” Hank asked around a mouth full of pepperoni pizza.

“No, I graduated college a few years ago, but thanks for reminding me you didn’t.” She patted his head, and he nuzzled into her touch like a cat.

Dean leaned his chair on its back two legs, considering her. “What time are you going to be home?”

“I don’t know. It’s a school night, so not late.”

Hank moved away from her, shimmying his shoulder in a quasi-imitation of Laney in a high voice. “It’s a school night.”

Then she felt long fingers wrap around her leg a moment before Ethan’s question. “You’re going to Seraphina’s house?”

With his hand below the table, no one else could see how he stroked the inside of her knee, and she pressed her thighs together, trapping his hand so it couldn’t travel any higher. Though that wasn’t the best idea because having his hand there made her insides melt and all her muscles tighten.

“Mm-hmm. She called it a mom’s night out party.”

Seth snorted, obviously unimpressed, while Nadir nodded.

“You’re not a mom,” Dean pointed out, and Laney put her hand on her hip.

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