He drank his coffee. “Let’s just say I’ve learned a lot in the last few days.”

“I’d say.” She put her hands on the counter behind her and tipped her head toward her shoulder. “So will you let me spend more time with Kaley? I’m only in town for a couple days, but once you get back to North Carolina, maybe we could set up some kind of once-a-month date.”

That sounded a hell of a lot like visitation to him. “Let’s say we do that and you get tired of being a mother again. Then what? You disappear and I pick up the pieces? I’m not interested in Kaley getting hurt again.”

“You’re right. That’s fair. We could start slow. One visit at a time, right? No future plans until the current one is met.”

She was saying the right things, but she’d always been good at manipulating situations to suit her needs. He stared at her. “I’ll have to talk to Kaley.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’m good with that.”

Like she had a choice. “I have your number. I’ll call you tonight.”

She smiled and pushed off the counter to walk toward him. “Could I get a cup of that coffee?”

He nodded and moved down the counter a little. “Cups in the cabinet above.”

She opened it and took one out. The movement sent a whiff of her perfume toward him. It was the same sweet fragrance she’d always worn. Sometimes he caught it on other women, and it brought her to mind. Not in a happy way, either.

She finished pouring her coffee, then took a big sip. “Mmm, that’s the stuff.”

It was okay coffee at best, but she was clearly trying to get on his good side.

She rested her cup on the counter, but kept her fingers on the handle. “I really appreciate this, Cole. I know you don’t have to do any of this.”

He grunted. “I’m doing it for Kaley.” Which was why, if she screwed this up even once, he’d do his best to end all contact between the two of them.

“Understood.” She looked up at him, her big blue eyes round and liquid. “I’ve screwed up a lot in my life,” she rasped, her voice choked with emotion. “But Kaley is the one good thing I’ve done. I don’t want to lose her completely.”

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

“I understand.” Cole closed his eyes and took a breath. He could handle crying females. Some of his students occasionally attempted tears in an effort to get a better grade, but this was Lila, and while he didn’t love her anymore, he also didn’t wish her ill will. Not while Kaley still wanted her around.

Lila’s arms wrapped around him, and her lips pressed against his. “Oh, Cole,” she whispered. “We could be a family again.”

He jerked back, eyes open. “What the hell are you doing?” He pushed her away, still struggling to grasp that she’d kissed him.

“I thought—you invited me in and—”

“To talk about Kaley.” He shook his head, fuming. “I should have known you were up to something.”

“I’m not, I swear. I honestly thought…” She gulped back a sob. “I’m sorry.” Then she swore softly. “I misread things. That is all.”

“Get out now. Before I change my mind about letting you see Kaley.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Now.”

She nodded and left. Cole stood in the kitchen until he heard the front door open and close. Then he dug his phone out of his back pocket and sent Pandora a text.

Last night was great. Can’t stop thinking about you. If you’re not too busy tonight, join us for pizza?

Less than a minute went by before she responded.

Loved last night. Can’t stop thinking about you either. Can make it for pizza at 7. Good?

Good, he texted back. Then he tucked the phone away as he walked to the front of the house. He looked beyond the fence. Lila’s car was gone.

He’d give Pandora the run down on what happened this evening. Telling your current flame that your ex had kissed you on the mouth was the kind of thing that deserved the courtesy of a face to face. He’d better be able to judge Pandora’s reaction then too.

This would be the first test of their new relationship. He hoped she trusted him enough to believe him when he told her nothing else happened. And maybe she’d be a little jealous. He could handle that. Might even be a turn-on. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had been jealous on his behalf.

Pandora still had a smile on her face from Cole’s invite, which was probably the only reason she hadn’t hung up on the house appraiser yet. “You promised me that appraisal this morning. A chance of weather is not a reason not to do the appraisal. Ninety percent of the thing is inside!”

“I’ll get it done tomorrow. I promise,” the woman wheezed. She was a lifelong smoker and had the rasp to prove it.

Pandora pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please. I can’t close this house until it’s done. If you prevent that from happening and these buyers lose this mortgage rate, I will not be using your services again.”

“Understood.”

“I hope so. Appraisal. On my desk. First thing tomorrow.” Pandora hung up. She loved her job, but there were days when she wanted to strangle people. Maybe now that her magic was working, she could do it without touching them. Like using The Force. She laughed. It was a fun fantasy, but Darth Vader she was not.

She went back to her computer and the listings she was updating. The bell above her door jangled. She turned to greet her new potential clients.