“Oooh. You should definitely wear that one. It makes you look really tan.”

I tilted my head as I assessed my outfit in the mirror. It was a simple black dress, casual yet a bit sexy. I caught Kate’s eye in the reflection. “You think?”

“Definitely.” During the girls’ absence, I had forgotten how much mileage that word got in this house. Oh well, it was better than “like.”

As if to prove my point, Eileen chimed in. “Definitely.”

It was a couple days after my impromptu visit to Sam’s, and we were going out on a dinner date. I was dropping the girls at the Archer’s house on my way to meet Sam. I wasn’t ready for him to pick me up in front of the girls just yet. All I’d said was that I was meeting a friend for dinner. However, their level of interest in my outfit made me suspect they knew exactly what tonight was. God save me from intuitive children.

“Okay. It looks like we’ve got a winner.” I turned back to my closet to fish out some heels, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.

When I’d left Sam’s house the other day, nothing had been truly resolved except for our decision to go on a date. We were starting slowly and trying to forget how good it felt to go quickly. But it was the right decision for me at this point.

“Did you know Megan’s mom has a boyfriend?” Eileen asked out of the blue. Okay, clearly not out of the blue. The jig was up. Subtlety was beyond Eileen’s grasp.

I kept my head buried in the shoe rack. “No, I didn’t know that.” Lindsey had been divorced for about four years if memory served, and I knew this wasn’t the first boyfriend she’d had.

“Yeah. His name is Vince and he’s a nurse.”

“Nurses are great.” Yes, that’s all I could come up with. I rolled my eyes at myself.

“And Sydney’s dad just got married.” This made me straighten and turn around.

“Really?” I didn’t even think Sydney’s parents’ divorce was final.

“Uh huh. Megan told us. He married another guy.”

Well, shit. That was news.

Both girls were sitting on the end of my bed, their feet dangling a foot above the ground and swinging back and forth.

“Girls?”

Their eyes came to me. I was always amazed that, although they were identical, they were so very different. All I needed was a glimpse at either pair of eyes and I could identify my child in a millisecond. At the moment, Kate’s reflected thoughtfulness and Eileen’s shone with mischief.

“Is there something you’re trying to tell me?”

They looked at each other and spoke in their silent twin language before returning their gazes to me.

“We want you to know we’re totally fine with you dating that police officer,” Eileen spoke for both of them.

My jaw dropped. I had no words.

I mean, it was evident they’d figured out my dinner with a friend was more like a date, but how in the world did they know it was with Sam? Surely, Jill wouldn’t have said anything. Would she? No. And they’d only been talking to Megan since they got home—how would she or her mom know about Sam?

Kate’s voice cut through my frantic thoughts. “You were both so obvious the other day. I mean, I know you like to think you can pull stuff over on us, but you’re not that good, Mom.”

I walked over to the bed and plonked my butt down beside them. “I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s okay.” Eileen patted my knee. Exactly who the adult was in this situation, I was beginning to question.

“When Dad started dating Kristen, we weren’t so sure.” I remembered that very well—more than they realized, I’m sure. I’d been so worried he was moving too fast and setting the girls up for heartbreak. “But being at his house is so much better now than it was before he was with Kristen.”

“So, I guess we just want you to know we’re totally cool with you getting a boyfriend.”

“Um, thanks.” Who were these mature creatures and where were my little girls who needed Mommy all to themselves?

Kate lay down on the bed and rolled over onto her stomach, propping her chin up with a hand. “So, where’s he taking you to dinner?” Her eyes developed little stars.

“Oh God.” Eileen covered her face. “She’s totally imagining that Leo guy taking her out on a date.”

Kate’s eyes cut to her sister. “It’s Leonard.”

“Okay,” I broke in before they started fighting. “We’re just going to The Vine. And it’s just a date.” I looked at them both earnestly. “Listen, I appreciate you being okay with me dating, but you have to know that I’m not jumping into anything here. I don’t have a boyfriend, and I’m not going to let anyone into our home and our life without careful consideration. You two are the most important people in my life, and that’s not going to change.”

“We know,” they chimed in unison, perfectly executing a verbal eye roll.

God, did I sound like a parenting PSA or what? I had to catch up with my girls because they were outpacing me in the personal growth department.

“All right. Scoot now. Let me finish getting ready—go grab whatever you want to bring to Aubrey’s house and get your shoes on.”

They grumbled, but rolled off the bed and headed to the hallway. To think I’d been worried about my date—I should have been more focused on surviving girl talk with my ten-year-olds. The thought of them as teenagers was terrifying.

* * *

“Well, this isn’t nearly as awkward as I thought it would be.” Yes, that’s what I said when the hostess left us at our table. The Vine was a casual wine bar and tapas place midway between my neighborhood and downtown. When I’d parked my car and walked in, Sam was already waiting for me, looking all kinds of delicious in charcoal pants and a v-neck t-shirt the color of storm clouds. He kissed me on the cheek in greeting, and his hand never left my back until I sat in my chair.

Sam chuckled and winked at me. The things that wink did to me—it was his secret weapon, I was sure. I felt the wink in the center of my chest and had to work hard to maintain normal breathing from the one-two punch right after his hand on my back.

Before we could say more, our waitress approached to take our drink order. We decided to share a bottle she recommended and then we were left to resume our reacquaintance.

“You’re a knockout in that dress, I gotta say.” He raised one eyebrow and let his gaze roam over me.

Of course, I blushed and tucked my hair behind my ear, even though it didn’t require any adjusting. “Thank you. Kate and Eileen helped me pick it out.”

His brow furrowed at that. “I thought they didn’t know you were going on a date.”

I pursed my lips. “Turns out they’re a lot more perceptive than I gave them credit for.” He looked concerned at that, so I was quick to reassure him. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“So, you told them?”

I laughed. “No, they actually told me. They even knew it was you.” I shook my head.

“How is that possible?”

“Apparently we’re ‘so obvious.’” I quoted my girls, mimicking their sass.

“Wow.” Sam appeared truly surprised. The furrow resurfaced, and he put both hands on the tabletop as if bracing himself. “And they’re okay with that?”

I smiled. “Actually, I’d say they are more than okay.”

Sam looked a bit dumbstruck. The waitress reappeared with our wine, causing a pause in our conversation. When she proceeded to uncork the bottle and pour a taste, Sam gestured for me to sample it. I never actually knew what I was supposed to be checking for, so I just took a sip and when the taste registered on the upper end of the yum scale, I nodded. By the time the waitress filled both our glasses, Sam’s shock had subsided. “Much obliged,” he said to her as she placed the bottle in a cooler, making me grin from ear to ear.

She walked away, and Sam gave me a double take when he caught a glimpse of my smile. “What?”

“Nothing.” I was still grinning like an idiot.

He eyed me for a moment and then opened his menu. “I’ll eat anything, so we can order whatever you want.”

I followed suit and opened my menu, quickly choosing several portions to share.

Once our order was placed, Sam lifted his glass and then paused, turning serious. “To first dates?” It was a question this time around.

I lifted mine and clinked it to his. “To first dates.”

* * *

“So, how was it?” Jill possessed some magical sixth sense because her phone call came the moment I pulled out of my parking space near The Vine. The urge to look around for her was strong—I wouldn’t put it past her to be hiding in the bushes.

“Hey, aren’t you at work?” I turned onto Jefferson Street, hearing background noise through my car’s speakers.

I heard an impatient huff. “My break is only fifteen minutes, so spill it!”

“Okay. Sorry, your majesty.”

“If only. So, it went well, I take it?”

I sighed. “Better than that. It was like we’d never been apart.” But even more than that, it had just felt right—exciting yet comfortable, if that was possible.

Sam and I had spent two hours talking and snacking on the tapas and wine while exchanging flirty comments and looks. I was pretty sure I downright ogled him when he got up to use the restroom. His ass was a sight to behold in those dress pants. There may have been some drool involved.

When he returned, my thighs clenched together at the memory of our nights together when we’d been wearing far fewer clothes. It was all I could do not to whimper when his tongue swept over his lower lip to catch a drop of wine. I remembered exactly what that tongue was capable of and wasn’t sure if I’d make it through the evening without climbing over the table and sitting on his face. Good lord. My girl parts were staging a coup.

I tried and failed to blame my hot-and-bothered state on the wine. Two glasses did not cause me to act this dopey and warm.

Sam paid the check and I didn’t even try to offer to split it. That would have earned me a scolding look my sex-obsessed brain would have interpreted in a most inappropriate manner. I was like a hormone-riddled teenager.

Again, he led me with a hand to the small of my back, the point of contact acting as the epicenter to an earthquake of sensations tearing through my body. Apparently, my lady bits missed Sam even more than my heart and mind.

In a move that was entirely out of character, I turned abruptly and pulled Sam toward me as soon as we exited the restaurant. My lips found his, and I was kissing the daylights out of him for anyone to witness. I didn’t care. I had to feel him against me.

He groaned and stepped back, pulling me into a small alcove where he proceeded to take over the kiss. His lips were hot and smooth as they slid over mine, our tongues entwined in a desperate search for something I didn’t even understand. I let out a moan and twisted his shirt in my hands, trying to pull him under my skin. His hands did their own work, gliding down my sides and cupping my ass. God, the feel of his hardness against my stomach made me want to throw caution to the wind and just go find a private place to screw our brains out. Fuck slow—fast was sounding like a brilliant plan.

Possessing control over more brain cells than I, Sam finally pulled back, breathing fast and hard. Pure lust blazed from his dark eyes, telling me I wasn’t alone in my desires. I tried moving back in, but Sam shifted his head and simply embraced me instead of meeting my lips again. “Jenna.” His voice was practically a growl.

I nestled into his chest and let my hands smooth over his back. He caressed my back in turn, and we stayed there for several minutes, basking in each other’s warmth and breathing the same air.

“Don’t think for a second that I don’t want to take you back to my place and have you every which way from Sunday.” I smiled against his shirt and he continued. “But I promised to take things slow.” He pulled back and looked at me again. “Even if you play dirty.”

I grinned and hoped I didn’t look half as kiss-drunk as I felt.

“Let me walk you to your car.”

A few minutes later, I was pulling out, Sam standing with his hands in his pockets, watching me go. And Jill apparently reading my mind as her call came through.

“Nice,” Jill said. “I’m so happy for you.”

I reminded myself to be cautious. “Let’s not count our chickens, sis.”

“I prefer to be optimistic.”

I hoped to God she was right. I was allowing myself to see something I hadn’t been willing to imagine before. A future that made room for more than just me and my girls. But it was still early days, I reminded myself.

“When are you going out again?”

“We didn’t really get around to talking about that.”

“Well, I’m sure you had better things to do.”

When I didn’t respond right away, she cackled at me. “Ha! I knew it!”

I had to laugh too—my hormones and serotonin levels wouldn’t allow anything else. Then I told Jill about the girls and their reaction to me dating. Predictably, she was unsurprised and happy for me. We hung up a few minutes later when she had to get back to work. My smile was unbreakable, and I just hoped my heart would be the same.