Page 41 of Mike's Assistant

Before I could process my decision fully, Mike's face broke into the biggest grin, and in seconds, his lips met mine. Relief, joy, and promise all melded into that kiss, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of what could be.

The moment, filled with promise, was interrupted by a gentle voice from the entrance of the family room. “Sorry to intrude, but the boys are getting pretty hungry. Sounds like a mini stampede out there.”

Mike sighed, pulling away slightly but keeping a hand on my knee. “I’ll get something started in the kitchen—”

Vanessa interrupted, waving a dismissive hand. “How about you two go out? I can handle feeding the boys for tonight. A little pizza and movie night never hurt anyone.”

Before I could voice my hesitation, two excited blurs burst into the room. Sam, his eyes shining with anticipation, exclaimed, “Yeah! Pizza! And guess what? This place has a moving theater!”

Mike chuckled and whispered, “Hayden has a theater room.”

Following his brother’s exuberance, Abel added, “Yeah! Nessa said we gonna watch Lion King. Can we, Jake?”

“The Lion King, huh? I wonder who chose that movie,” I said, staring at Vanessa.

“Hey. It’s a good movie. Nala’s the best,” she replied earnestly, causing me to grin.

“Please, Jake. Please,” Sam and Abel begged.

I looked from one eager face to the next, then to Vanessa’s amused expression, and finally to Mike's hopeful eyes. It was hard to argue against such enthusiasm.

I still hesitated and protested, though. The instinct to protect the boys always at the forefront, “Vanessa, I can’t just leave them. They need—”

She stepped forward, placing a hand on her hip in mock authority. “Jake, when was the last time you went out alone for dinner without constantly looking over your shoulder for those two?”

The weight of the question made my heart sink. “Before my parents…” I admitted, my voice soft.

With a reassuring touch on my arm, Vanessa pressed on. “Then it’s settled. Let yourself have this. Trust me; the boys will be just fine. A change in routine can be a good thing.”

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way, I nodded. "Alright, just this once."

Mike's face was a mix of gratitude and excitement. "Thank you," he whispered to Vanessa, who just winked and started herding the boys back out of the room, their voices bubbling with excitement for their upcoming movie night.

A Melody of the Heart

Jake

The moment Mike and I stepped into The Pavilion, I was in awe. The place looked totally different from the other morning. Gone were the bright lights and early morning chatter. The lights were softened by strings of twinkle lights woven in the nets above. But the inside held nothing on the outside. It was alive with music, tiki torches, and tons of customers enjoying their meals.

Mike nudged me with a light elbow. “Linda does a great dinner, and she always has a great band playing.”

I nodded. “It’s amazing. It’s completely transformed.”

“Come on, let’s get a place outside,” Mike said, placing his hand on the small of my back and guiding me through the building.

The smell of the food caused my stomach to growl. I had to stop drooling as we passed some delicious-looking dishes. It all looked so amazing. I wanted to try everything.

“This place feels like two different worlds,” I said as we settled at a table to the side of the stage.

A band softly played music, and I grinned, knowing the song. Instead of sitting opposite me, Mike took the seat beside me and grabbed my hand. I noticed Mike liked to hold my hand. It was nice. My old boyfriends never liked public displays, but then, neither did I. I wasn’t out and proud back in West Virginia.

“Everything okay?” Mike asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nodded and squeezed his hand. It turned out I liked hand holding, especially holding Mike’s hand. “Everything’s perfect.”

A waiter, clad in a casual white shirt and navy-blue shorts, approached our table. His blond hair, tussled by the ocean breeze, partially obscured one eye, giving him a playful appearance. A silver tray was balanced effortlessly in one hand.

“Good evening, gentlemen. It's great to see you again, Mike.” His voice held a hint of cheerfulness.

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