Lovers at Seaside by Addison Cole (26)

PARKER LAY IN bed staring up at the ceiling, listening to what she lovingly deemed as her boys’ morning ritual—the familiar tapping of Christmas’s nails on the hardwood floor and Grayson’s sleepy, and always delightful, voice as he reminded Christmas to stay out of trouble and told their big dog he loved him before letting him outside each morning. Grayson spoiled their boy rotten. And she loved him even more for it. It had been eight weeks since she’d returned to California, six weeks since they’d received the DNA test results and learned that Miriam had indeed been Parker’s mother, and one week since she’d come back home to Wellfleet. In the span of a few weeks, she’d lost a man she loved and gained more than she’d ever imagined possible—a grandmother whom she was enjoying getting to know, a boyfriend who loved and adored her, and a sense of peace and belonging.

As if his ears were burning, Grayson sauntered into the bedroom wearing only a pair of black briefs and a sleepy, sexy-as-sin smile. “Hey, baby. Miss me?”

He leaned down to kiss her, and her heart turned over in her chest. She hadn’t fully comprehended how deeply a person could love another human being. But she was learning, because every single day she fell even more in love with Grayson.

Christmas leaped onto the bed and licked her face.

Parker fanned his breath away. “Did you give him peanut butter again?”

“Just one cookie,” Grayson said with wide, anything-but-innocent eyes. “You can’t blame me. He gave me those eyes again.”

She laughed as he sat down beside her on the bed. “Those are the only eyes he has.”

He leaned in for another kiss. “I’m a sucker for them, the same way I’m a sucker for you.”

“Lucky us.” She giggled, and he kissed her again. “Did you decide what you want to do today?” She’d wanted to go to Martha’s Vineyard, but Grayson needed to meet with a client later in the afternoon. They’d been batting around other ideas, but he seemed a bit distracted.

“You mean besides you?” He lifted her onto his lap and took her in a long, languid kiss, drugging her with his affection. He deepened the kiss, drawing hungry moans from both of them.

“Do you think we’re turning into sex maniacs?” she teased.

“I’m not sure.” He nipped her neck. “But I think we should investigate the possibility.” He waggled his brows and Christmas barked, then whimpered.

“He wants another cookie. You’ve spoiled him.”

Grayson laughed. “Actually, I think he had a burr beneath his collar. Can you check? I tried, but I had a hard time dodging his tongue long enough to get a good look.”

She rolled off his lap and began feeling Christmas’s neck. “Come here, you big peanut-butter-loving mutt—” She felt something odd under his chin. “What the heck?” She lifted Christmas’s face and spotted a little silver pouch dangling from his collar. She whipped her head around, her eyes filling with tears as she met Grayson’s loving gaze. Shivers raced down her spine, and she knew—before he had a chance to say a word, before he had a chance to blink, she threw her arms around Grayson’s neck and kissed him square on the lips.

Christmas barked, and she laughed and kissed Grayson again. Her heart didn’t just turn over. It tumbled inside her chest.

“What is all this for? Did you find the burr?”

She swatted him, laughing as their mouths came together again and Christmas pushed in between them.

“All this for a little silver pouch?” Grayson teased. “What would you give me for a peanut-butter cookie?” He wiped tears of joy from her eyes and, thankfully—because she was shaking too badly to move and clinging to him so tightly not even air could fit between them—he removed the pouch from Christmas’s collar.

“I really wanted to get down on one knee and do this right,” he said with the biggest, most loving smile she’d ever seen. He rose with Parker in his arms, dropped to one knee, and set her on the other. Christmas jumped off the bed and stood beside them, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

“Parker Polly Collins, my sweet, amazing girl.” His voice was thick with emotion. He swallowed hard, his eyes suspiciously glassy, while a river of joy flowed from Parker’s. She didn’t even try to wipe her tears away. She didn’t want to miss one second of seeing the love on Grayson’s face.

“I had a whole speech memorized, but, baby, you’re looking at me like that, and I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

“Don’t pass out,” she said quickly. “Not until you ask me!”

“Don’t worry. I brought backup.” He opened the silver pouch and handed her a slip of paper.

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she read it. “Parker Polly Collins, my sweet amazing girl, if you’re reading this, I must be out cold. I’m sorry.” She looked up and smiled.

He covered the note. “Don’t read the rest. I think I can cover it. Parker, I spent months falling in love with you from thousands of miles away, and the minute I saw you, in your sexy sweatpants, with tequila breath and your killer guard dog, I knew I was a goner.”

A half laugh, half sob burst from her lips. “Ohmygosh, Grayson,” she whispered.

“Every day I learn more about you and fall in love with you all over again.”

“Grayson,” she said through her tears. “I’m not going to be able to speak by the time you’re done. Will you marry me?”

“Oh, baby,” he muttered with a smile. “I wanted to make this perfect for you.”

“Don’t you see? You already have. You gave me the family I never knew existed, and now you’ve given me something even better. A chance for our own family.”

He gazed deeply into her eyes, and her throat clogged with emotions. “Baby, will you marry me? Crazy cross-country schedules and all?”

“Yes!”

He pressed his lips to hers, half kissing, half laughing, and said, “I love you so much.”

“Good, then shut up and kiss me. I’ve never kissed a fiancé before, and I want to see if he’s as good as my boyfriend was.”

“Don’t you want to see your ring…?”

There went her thoughtful man again, trying to make her life wonderful.

“Later,” she said as their mouths came together and he carried her to the bed.

GRAYSON STOOD IN his yard, listening to the sounds of love surrounding him. Summer and Hannah giggled at the water’s edge. The other Seaside babies played on blankets on the shore, while their parents chatted happily around them. On the other side of the dock, Mira watched her son chase Christmas, Pepper, and Joey, who were too busy running after birds to notice. Occasional barks floated in the breezy summer afternoon.

Sawyer, Sky, and Grayson’s brothers and father were talking on the grass a few feet from him, their deep voices similar and comforting. Matt’s arm was draped lazily over their father’s shoulder. It was wonderful seeing everyone together. Grayson’s and Parker’s schedules were a little chaotic. They had two homes now, their cottage on the pond and Parker’s home in Malibu, as well as a gazebo for each; Grayson intended to keep his promise of giving Parker everything. He’d built the gazebos with the same theme as the railing he’d installed in the house on the bay: thick, stable roots with lots of branches and a few birds thrown in for Christmas. It didn’t matter how chaotic their schedules were or how many homes they had. As long as they were together, wherever they were became home.

Hunter broke away from the group, watching Jana cross the grass toward the gazebo as he came to Grayson’s side. “You finally figured out how to get Matt to visit.”

“It was a nice side effect to the engagement party,” Grayson admitted, though he would have rescheduled if Matt couldn’t be there.

“He’s had his eye on Mira all afternoon.” Hunter nodded toward Matt, who was watching Mira and her son like a hawk.

“Good. Maybe he’ll have a reason to stay.” Grayson shifted his gaze back to Parker. She’d been sitting in the gazebo for the past hour, talking with Luce, Sarah Stein, and Jamie’s grandmother, Vera, who had come back for the engagement party. After the DNA results had come back, he and Parker had visited Sarah and gently broken the news about Miriam and about Parker. Sarah had cried tears of sadness over losing her daughter and tears of joy for the granddaughter she now had a chance to get to know.

Parker leaned in and hugged Sarah. She talked with Jana for a few minutes, both of them stealing glances in Grayson’s and Hunter’s direction. Then they stepped out of the gazebo and headed over to them. Parker’s eyes connected with Grayson’s, sending an electrical charge through the air. He knew he’d never get used to the effect she had on him.

“It’s a shame Reggie wasn’t able to find out any more details about her mother,” Hunter said. They’d hired private investigator Reggie Steele, who had come highly recommended by Kurt’s friend, Treat Braden. There was no record of Miriam Stein after she left home and no record of Sherry Collins until she took a job at a music store while she was pregnant with Parker. She’d worked there until the day she was killed. Apparently her boss was a good guy and had allowed her to bring Parker—Polly—to work with her. Reggie assumed Miriam had secured several false identities in the years in between when she’d left her family and when she’d become Sherry Collins. He’d been unable to make any connection between Miriam or Sherry and Bert, although it appeared that Bert had left the letters as a guiding light for Parker. Reggie discovered that Bert had made a few of the same inquiries he had, which indicated that Bert had at least suspected there might be a connection. He’d spoken with Sherry’s boss a couple years earlier and had mentioned that Parker reminded him of his niece. They could only assume Bert hadn’t told Parker of his suspicions so as not to upset her without having proof to back up his thoughts, and perhaps he was still hoping to figure it out. His attorney said Bert had notified him of the safe-deposit box several years prior to his death.

Sky insisted it was the universe stepping in once again, and Grayson thought it was probably a little bit of both. It had been as heartrending as it was a blessing for both Parker and Sarah to have the level of closure they were able to find.

“Miriam was obviously smart,” Grayson said. “But that’s not surprising. Look at her daughter.” He couldn’t take his eyes off of Parker as she crossed the grass in her cute jeans shorts and the colorful bohemian top she’d bought in Provincetown with the girls yesterday. When they were on the Cape, she no longer fretted when she left the house. She’d always have to be careful in more media-centric areas, but she finally seemed comfortable in her own skin, as evident in everything about her, from her more relaxed aura, to her gorgeous smile, bright eyes, and loving nature.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said as she came to his side. “Everything okay with the ladies?”

“Couldn’t be better. Sarah and Vera have so much in common. They’re talking about the old days.” Parker’s eyes filled with mischief. “Jana and I were just thinking…”

“Oh no. This can’t be good.” Hunter pulled Jana against him.

“You’re right,” Jana said, poking his abs. “It’s not good; it’s great.”

“What would you guys think about a double wedding?” The hope in Parker’s eyes tweaked every part of Grayson’s heart.

Grayson looked at Hunter, who rolled his eyes, but Grayson knew his brother well. That eye roll was to keep up his macho image. Hunter would do anything for Jana. The same way Grayson would for Parker. Before either of them could say a word, Sky ran across the grass and barreled into the group.

“Oh my gosh, you guys! I have the best idea!” Sky grabbed Jana’s and Parker’s arms. “A triple wedding!”

The girls screamed and hugged each other.

“Yes!” Parker said.

“Definitely!” Jana added.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Hunter waved his hands, silencing them. “Parker and Grayson don’t even know where they’re living from one week to the next. He’s going to Texas, she’s going to be filming in some undetermined location, and then he’s in Georgia. How can you guys plan a wedding?”

“We’re engaged! Of course we’re going to plan a wedding.” Parker waved her engagement ring, which Grayson had made. He’d poured his love into the intricate rose-gold setting, creating tiny birds and flowers surrounding a two-karat pear-shaped diamond.

“If my girl wants a triple wedding, we’ll make it happen,” Grayson said as Parker came to his side. He draped his arm over her shoulder, soaking in her radiant smile. “Right, baby?”

“Definitely. So we do a little more traveling than most couples. This is our life now, Hunter. This moment here, and our time in Texas and California, and wherever else life leads us. There’s nothing we can’t figure out, so let’s not overthink it.”

Parker gazed up at Grayson and added, “Besides, how can you doubt your brother’s ability to do anything? He said he’d give me everything, and he’s already given me more than I ever dreamed of.”

WHISPERS AT SEASIDE…

Having a mad crush on her boss’s son, Matt Lacroux—an intriguing mix of proper gentleman and flirtatious bad boy—is probably not the smartest idea for single mother Mira Savage. Especially when the company, and her job, is already on shaky ground. But as a Princeton professor, Matt’s life is hours away from Mira’s home on Cape Cod, keeping him safely in the fantasy-only zone. And as a single mother to six-year-old Hagen, with a floundering company to save, fantasies are all she has time for. But Mira doesn’t count on Matt coming home on sabbatical with plans for more than just fulfilling his publishing contract and reconnecting with his family. While Mira’s saving his father’s company, will Matt succeed at claiming her heart?

Chapter One

MATT LACROUX NEEDED a shower, a vacation, and to figure out what he was doing with his life—in that order. And sex. Sex would be good. It had been a long time since he’d had a warm, willing woman in his bed instead of a research project to work on, papers to grade, or notes to coordinate on the book he was writing. In fact, now that he was thinking about it, he might move sex up to the top of his list—if he didn’t have someone else’s blood on his hands.

He tugged off his torn shirt, tossed it in the hamper, and turned on the shower. He’d been back on Cape Cod for less than three hours and had already broken up a fight between drunken college kids over by the Bookstore Restaurant, where he’d eaten dinner and thought he would write for a while. Maybe he should have done what so many other professors did when they took a sabbatical and gone to a nice resort somewhere, or holed up in a mountain cabin. He could have stayed at his cottage on Nantucket, but he missed his family, and his father wasn’t getting any younger. Plus, his siblings’ joint wedding was only two months away. It was taking place on their mother’s birthday, to honor her memory. It was time to reconnect.

His mind drifted to the other person he’d like to reconnect with, Mira Savage, his father’s employee and the woman who had been occupying Matt’s thoughts since he met her last summer at his younger brother Grayson’s engagement party. They’d spent the entire day together with her adorable son, Hagen. He’d seen her half a dozen times since, during brief visits home. They’d taken Hagen to the park together and a few other places, although they’d never gone on an official date. They’d exchanged occasional texts over the weeks in between, but that was as far as it had gone. It being Matt’s attraction to a woman who lived too many hours away to get involved with. Mira wasn’t the type of woman whose life he could complicate with intermittent encounters. She was a selfless woman who put her son and others first. The type of woman who blushed when he got too close. The type of woman a man took the time to get to know—almost a year, that’s pretty darn long—to show her she could trust him, a woman who should be taken care of and protected but not smothered. And she was the only woman he’d like to undress slowly, loving every inch of her incredible body until she was trembling with desire. Keeping himself in check had been like dancing on hot coals, but he’d never stopped thinking about the sexy single mother and her inquisitive son.

He stripped off his slacks and stepped into the shower, turning the faucet to cold now that he was hot and bothered over Mira. He closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath. One thing at a time.

The water shifted from his head to his back, and Matt looked up at the faucet, which promptly fell, clipping his cheekbone.

“Ouch! What the—” He grabbed his cheek and pulled away from the water spraying in all directions from the broken spigot. Perfect. Just perfect. He washed the fresh blood from his fingers and quickly rinsed off.

He stepped from the shower and dried off, eyeing the offending fixture. The lousy thing had a crack around the housing and rust on the inside. He’d rented his friends’ cottage in the Seaside community for the summer. The place was in great shape, but things like showerheads were easy to miss when renovating. It was after nine o’clock, and Amy and Tony had a little girl. Matt wasn’t about to bother them about a bathroom fixture. He pulled on clean clothes and called his father, who owned Lacroux Hardware Store.

“Hey, Pop. Is the electronic code to your shop still Mom’s birthday?” His father had been talking about retiring lately. The hardware store was meant to be the family legacy, passed down to one of his five children, only none of them wanted to take it over. But right this very moment, Matt had never been so glad that his father was in the hardware business. The Cape wasn’t big on chain stores. The closest Home Depot or Target was a good forty minutes away.

“Yes. What’s wrong?”

“I need a showerhead for Tony’s place.”

“Want me to run one up to you?”

Neil Lacroux would do anything for his children—even though they were all grown up. Matt knew he’d been lonely since their mother passed away unexpectedly from an aneurysm a few years ago, which was another reason he’d chosen to come back home during his sabbatical. He made a mental note to stop by the store and visit with him.

“I’ve got it, Pop. Sorry to bother you.”

The drive to Orleans took only a few minutes. Even though Matt had grown up on the Cape, it always took him a day or two to adjust to being out of the city. Slacks and button-downs were replaced with shorts and tank tops, people moved at a more relaxed pace, and no matter how far from the beach he was, sand was ever-present. Sand in the grass, sand on the floors, sand on the seat of his car—and he hadn’t even been to the beach yet.

He punched in the code to the security keypad, and the minute he was inside the dark store, he heard it. Tap, tap, tap. He froze, every neuron on high alert, and listened. Tap, tap, tap, tap, pause, tap, tap, tap. It was coming from his father’s office. His arms instinctively flexed, preparing for a fight. He moved swiftly and silently to the office door and listened to the incessant tapping. Dad’s calculator?

He pushed the door open, and his body flooded with awareness at the sight of Mira sitting at the desk, her fingers flying over the calculator. Maybe this was his lucky night after all.

Her hand flew to her chest. “Matt…?” His name came out all breathy. “You scared me. I had no idea you were in town.”

Because I made a point of wanting to surprise you, although not exactly like this.

“Sorry about that, sunshine. I just got in a little while ago. I came to get a showerhead.” He walked into the small office, taking in the ledger on the desk, illuminated by his father’s ancient single-bulb lamp, and the family photos thumbtacked to the wall. He noticed a new photograph front and center, a picture of Hagen holding a fishing rod with a little sunfish dangling from the line. He knew how much Mira and Hagen meant to his father, but seeing Hagen’s photo among their family’s brought the full impact home. He shifted his gaze to Mira, and as the shock of his arrival wore off, a beautiful smile spread across her face. There it was, the brightness that had hooked him all those months ago. The sweet look of innocence and rebellious I-can-take-on-the-world confidence in her gorgeous eyes. She had no idea what she did to him.

“Sunshine,” she whispered, and shook her head.

“You can’t deny the way you light up everything around you.” He’d given her the nickname last summer because she had such a positive outlook on life.

“You should see me before I have coffee in the mornings.”

I’d like that more than you know.

“A showerhead? Let me show you where they are.” She pushed to her feet, nearly bumping into his chest in the close quarters. Her chestnut hair tumbled sexily over her shoulders as she stood before him, one hand perched over his chest, the other reaching up to touch his cheek. “What happened?”

Their attraction had been immediate and intense last summer and had only grown stronger with each subsequent visit—at least he knew it had for him. For months he’d buried any hope of exploring their connection beneath classes and research papers. Now, as she gazed into his eyes, all those heated memories came rushing back.

“I was assaulted by the old one.”

“Ouch.” She grimaced, and the spray of freckles on the bridge of her nose rose with the effort.

He hadn’t been able to get that cute mannerism out of his head when he’d gone back to Princeton, and man, did he like seeing it again.

“You might need a stitch.” Her fingers lingered on his skin, warm and soft.

He covered her hand with his, pressing it to his cheek. “It’s nothing, really.”

She nibbled nervously on the corner of her mouth. “I’ll just…” She pointed out of the office, and her hand slid from beneath his. She brushed against his arm as she walked away, stirring more of that same dark attraction.

There was no shortage of women vying for Matt’s attention. From coeds to faculty, he could have his pick back in Princeton, and the choices were just as plentiful here at the Cape. But the only woman he saw when he closed his eyes at night was heading down aisle seven of his father’s hardware store.

“Where’s Hagen?” He told himself not to stare at her hips swaying seductively in a pair of skimpy cutoffs, but it was a tough reprimand to heed, considering she had gorgeous long legs.

In an effort to dissuade his dirty thoughts, he asked, “Why are you working so late? I thought you worked daytime hours.” He’d have to mention something to his father. Orleans was a safe town, but he didn’t like the idea of Mira working alone at night.

“Hagen is at a slumber party,” she said, as if that explained everything. She planted her hands on her hips as he looked over the showerhead selections. “If I sit around at the cottage I’ll just drive myself crazy worrying about whether he’s okay, or if he’ll get any sleep. It’s better that I’m distracted with work.”

“Is this your first night apart?” He grabbed a shower fixture, taking in her thoughtful expression.

“At almost seven? Goodness, no. I mean, we don’t spend many nights apart, but he’s not babied by any means. He’d never stand for that. You’ve met him. He’d probably read a book on how to escape from under Mommy’s thumb and devise a plan.” She sighed and stared absently over his shoulder, like she was reliving a memory. “It’s funny how things change. When he was a baby I couldn’t bear to part with him.” She shrugged. “But life can be crazy, and I think to be a good mother—especially a good single mother—you have to occasionally give yourself a break to rejuvenate. Hagen loves spending the night with my brothers and my friend Serena. I don’t usually worry when he’s with family, but when he’s with friends I worry. It’s silly, I know.”

“That’s not silly. It’s the mark of a loving mother.” He should know. His mother had been just as protective of him and his siblings.

She laughed and headed back toward the office. “You make it sound normal that I’ve got my nose stuck in a ledger all night because my son’s at a friend’s house.”

He laid two twenties on the desk for the showerhead.

She gave him a deadpan look. “Seriously? You know your father won’t accept your money.”

“Then use it to buy coffee for the store and don’t tell him.” He left the money on the desk. “I spend most nights grading papers and working on research, so I’m not really sure what normal is anymore. But if this is your one night of freedom, let’s go enjoy it.”

She squinted up at him. “Like a pity date?”

He laughed and grabbed her purse from the back of her chair. “Hardly. Like two friends hitting the town to figure out what normal people do on Friday nights.” Taking her hand, he said, “Let’s go, sunshine. You can brighten up what was sure to be a very grim evening.”

SUNSHINE. HOW MANY times had she dreamed of him whispering that in her ear since last summer? A shameful amount, that’s how many. That was not something she was proud of, but with her busy life, fantasies were all she had time for. Well, that and the fact that the guys who usually asked her out were not the type of men she could see herself getting serious with. Having a son changed everything. She needed a man who was reliable and patient, but selfishly, she also wanted a man who would treat her like a woman. A man who would understand that she hadn’t had sex in years and not be turned off to reacquainting her to the darker pleasures of life.

She tried to keep up with the six-foot-plus hunka-hunka academic hotness dragging her out the back door. Matt was an intriguing mix of proper gentleman and flirtatious bad boy. She’d seen him at barbecues when he was in town visiting his family, and they’d gotten together a few times and taken Hagen to the park and the movies. They’d texted sporadically, and Mira had often hoped those friendly, sometimes slightly flirtatious texts might lead to something more, but they never had. It was just as well, because his world was a lifetime away from hers—in both miles and lifestyle.

“Where are we going?” She laughed as he tugged her along.

The door locked behind them, and he released her hand to check it. She’d heard rumors about Matt spending evenings prowling around saving little old ladies or something crazy like that. Her friend, and Matt’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Parker, called him the secret savior, and Mira knew firsthand about his propensity for being careful and protective. They’d first met at Grayson and Parker’s engagement party, and sparks had flown from the moment their eyes connected. And the way Matt had treated Hagen, as if he were his to protect, had made him that much more appealing. When Hagen had played by the water, Matt had watched over her son like a hawk. The two of them had clicked as quickly as Mira and Matt had. And their amazing connection hadn’t ended there. During another visit, when they’d gone to the park and Hagen wanted to take a walk in the woods, Matt had watched his every step. The two had spent the entire time discussing bugs and snakes. The whole conversation had made her skin crawl, but Hagen had been in little-boy heaven. He’d finally met a man who treated him like he wasn’t just a child talking nonsense, but an important person who knew what he was talking about. And he did. Even before he could read, he’d preferred being read to from National Geographic and the dictionary over fairy tales. “But, Mom,” he’d insist. “You said we look up words we don’t know. So teach me the words we don’t know.” Spoken like a boy of twelve, not four.

Matt pointed across the dark parking lot. “The Chocolate Sparrow. Perfect,” he said with a too-sexy grin. “Didn’t you tell me it was one of your favorite places?”

“That place is like the devil’s playground. I’d like to melt all their chocolate and bathe in it.”

Matt’s eyes went darker than a little black dress, and her temperature rose fifty degrees. He clenched his jaw, then took her hand and led her toward the Chocolate Sparrow, walking so fast she stumbled trying to keep up. He held the door open and she inhaled the heavenly scent of calories waiting to land on her hips. As the door closed behind them, a whoosh of air carried the spicy, male scent of Matt. Delicious.

They wound through the crowd to the line in front of the baked goods. Cakes, brownies, cookies, pastries…The possibilities were endless. Mira leaned around Matt, eyeing the fudge in the glass displays across the room. He stepped to the side, allowing her a perfect view, and released her hand. No amount of chocolate was worth not having that big, strong hand touching her. That was as close to a man’s touch as she’d come since her last dental appointment. She swallowed that sad thought, and seconds later, Matt’s hand pressed against her lower back and he leaned down until his face was beside her ear. If she turned, she could taste his very tempting lips.

“A tubful of fudge to melt later, perhaps?” he whispered.

When she met his gaze, it was swimming with heat. Molten lava. Temptations of the naughtiest kind. Holy cow.

Before she could form a response, he said, “We’ll get some of that, too.”

How would she ever eat chocolate again without seeing that look? Where did it come from? Oh my, she must look as lustful as she felt.

They stepped up to the counter, and Matt waved at the display of desserts. “What would you refrain from eating if you were with Hagen?”

“How did you know…?”

“You said he can only take so much sugar before he turns into a factoid chatterbox and you can’t keep up. More specifically, I think you said the equivalent to one kiddie-size ice-cream cone was his limit.”

You remembered?

“Said with the love of a mother, of course,” he added with a warm smile.

She banged her forehead on his hard chest, which she’d done a few times before. They were friends; it wasn’t so weird of a thing to do. But now it felt intimate. She forced herself to take a step back. “You remembered that, too?”

He tapped the side of his head. “Hear it, read it, see it. Once is all it takes. Like that brilliant boy of yours. Now pick out all your mouthwatering treats before the hungry crowd behind us riots.”

She stared into the display, but her mind was still on that brilliant boy of yours. People outside of her family called Hagen a lot of things—nerdy, quiet, different (the one that bothered her the most)—but brilliant was never tossed his way, except by her, which didn’t really count. Her brothers called him smart, and bless their hearts, they talked about manning him up when he was older. Of course, as much as she appreciated their efforts, they couldn’t know that the suggestion also stung. She loved her boy just as he was. She liked that he enjoyed learning more than he liked kicking a ball.

Matt’s hand pressed more firmly against her, bringing her mind back to the moment.

“How about we choose together?”

“Yes, please.” Anything to get my mind to behave.

He pointed to a piece of decadent chocolate cake, chocolate-covered strawberries drizzled in white chocolate, and raspberry cheesecake. “What do you think?”

“Um…” Her mouth watered as she tried to decide. “Which do you want?”

“Which? I was thinking we’d get all three and share.”

“All three?” She imagined smearing all that richness on her hips, where it was all going to end up anyway. That led to her thinking about Matt spreading it on her hips and his big hands moving along—

Gulp.

Time to shut her brain up.

“And a piece of milk-chocolate fudge,” he added casually, sending her brain right back to the gutter.

“Or should I order a bucketful?” he said into her ear. Then a little louder, he asked, “Is water okay?”

“Yes. With ice. Extra ice, please.” Chocolate and Matt together kicked off an avalanche that caused her brain to tumble south. Although his very impressive south was outlined nicely by his jeans.

She tore her eyes away. She was an educated, responsible mother, and it was time to act like one. This was the trouble with being around him. Other guys were easy to ignore, or at least resist, but Matt was different. She knew his family and friends. She’d seen him with her son. He was the epitome of a good friend, and a reliable, smart Princeton professor—which was probably where her naughty coed fantasy came from, considering she’d never had that particular fantasy while she was in college.

Pushing that thought away took many hard swallows and thoughts of butterflies and puppies, and…Hagen. Once again clear-headed, she focused on having a night of clean fun.

The tables were all taken, so they headed outside to the patio.

“What do you think, sunshine? Would these taste better on the beach? Or do you have someplace else in mind?”

Her mommy brain kicked in. “Cell phones don’t work on the beaches, and I want to be available in case Hagen needs me.”

“I forgot about the cell reception issues around here. Sorry about that.” With a hand on her back, he guided her toward the parking lot. “Provincetown? Cell reception is fine on those beaches.”

“P-town? You don’t have to drive that far. We can—”

“That far? On your one free night? No such thing as too far, unless I’m boring you already?”

“No, definitely not. I’m just not used to having free rein over my time. P-town sounds great.”

They headed across the parking lot toward his car. Between Mira’s job at the hardware store and the bookkeeping she did on the side, she made a solid living, but her Subaru paled in comparison to the luxurious Mercedes she was climbing into. She’d been in it before, but it was just another friendly reminder to her crazy hormones not to get too excited. She’d spent years dealing with daycare and menial part-time jobs that allowed a modicum of flexibility for her to miss work when Hagen was sick. Her life had finally become stable, thanks to Matt’s father. Neil Lacroux was a wonderful, caring boss, and he understood the often-changing schedule of a single mother. The hardware store was already on shaky ground, trying to compete with bigger companies who could offer deeper discounts. She didn’t need to further jeopardize her job by acting on her crush on her boss’s son.

She stole a glance at Matt, and her stomach tumbled. Apparently her hormones hadn’t gotten the memo.

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