Page 67 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

“And your hair is curly.”

She nodded again.

“And you look super sexy.” He flicked at the collar of her striped dress that was basically a knee-length dress shirt, belted at her waist and, for some unknown reason, crazy hot. Maybe because it reminded him a little of a school uniform. Between her miles-long legs and the buttons hinting at her cleavage, he’d rather be anywhere than at his parents’ house about to do an Easter egg hunt.

“It’s almost like you’re trying to seduce me, Delaney Hargrove.”

Her perfect teeth nibbled on her bottom lip. “Is it working?”

He crushed his mouth to hers, sucking at that lip. Then he teasingly snapped at it. “Not at all.”

She batted at him, letting out a big burst of laughter, which she immediately tried to cover with her hand. As if that would help.

He linked his fingers with hers and walked her into the kitchen, where his mom stood, lips pursed, and he knew she was about to say something totally inappropriate.

“Mom, this is Laney. Laney, my mom, Rita.”

“Laney!” His mother clasped Laney’s hand then dragged her in for a hug. “Nice to see you again.”

“Mom,” he warned quietly, but she only wrapped her arm around Laney’s shoulders, escorting her down the short flight of steps to the basement of their bi-level home. “Everyone, this is Laney. Ethan’s been in love with her since high school.”

“Jesus Christ, Mom,” he muttered, smacking his forehead as he turned in a tight circle while Laney’s laugh reverberated around him.

“I’m kidding,” Rita told Laney, only slightly more serious. “But he used to come home all the time saying, ‘Laney said this…’ or ‘Laney told me to…’ or ‘I’ve got tutoring with Laney…’” She smiled as if she weren’t stabbing her son right in the back.

Laney glanced over her shoulder, face bright and eyes full of amusement, and Ethan toggled his hand back and forth. “That’s only half true.”

She snickered then faced his father, who ran his palm over the middle of his head, where it was balding—Tom Marrero could pass for Jason Alexander, only a little taller—then he hugged Laney too. “I’m told you’re doing a great job with the fundraiser.”

“I’m trying,” Laney said and bent down to Trace, who ran at her for a hug. “Nice to see you again. Whatcha been up to lately? Any good dance parties?”

“Oh yeah! We can do one later. Do you want to have a dance party with me?” Trace held up his fist to his chin in question. “But what are you doing here?”

“I came to hang out with you.”

“You’re gonna look for Easter eggs with us?”

Laney glanced back at Ethan for reassurance before answering. “Yeah. That’s exactly why I’m here.”

“Woo-hoo! I so excited.” He wiggled around in a circle, and Laney stood back up, reaching for Leah.

“Nice to meet you in person.”

Leah laughed and patted her back. “You too.”

Then Justin reached out his hand to Laney. “I’m Ethan’s brother. I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

“No, but I’ve heard so much about you.”

“If Ethan told you, then none of it’s true,” Justin said, draping his arm around Leah’s shoulders.

“All good things. I promise.”

With everyone sufficiently charmed, Rita gestured back upstairs. “Should we have dessert before we do the hunt?”

“Yeah!” Trace bellowed and froze with one arm in the air for a moment, like a slo-mo cartoon, then hightailed it to the kitchen. “Cookies!”

Rita and Tom followed Leah and Justin up, while Ethan hung back for a few seconds.

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