It had been three days since Wyatt left my house and I was still thinking about his final words to me.
When I make my move, there won’t be any question.
They echoed over and over, the throbbing ache leaving me edgy and elated. I spent most of my week in a daze and a bit distracted. Mixing up orders at Mel’s was bad enough, but forgetting that Luke was coming home today was worse. Instead of giving my son a home cooked meal, I ordered a pizza. Inching me ever closer to that coveted “Mom of the Year” award.
When I make my move, there won’t be any question.
As I stood gazing out the window at the sun setting over the mountains splashing flecks of pink and orange across the lake and wondered what he was up to.
“Mom, did you hear me?”
“What’s that?” My eyes lifted to see Luke standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Tomorrow is schedule pick-up and the first practice.”
“Yes, Luke, I know.” I finished the task of wiping down the island and then started the dishwasher.
“Why does it smell like wet dog in here?”
My brows crinkled. There’s no way three days later with a sweep and mop that this house had any traces of Loki’s presence. “It’s probably you—the dog smell is from your weekend hanging around Grandma and Grandpa’s dog.”
He sniffed his shirt. “Oh, maybe you’re right.”
“Toss all your dirty laundry in the mudroom. I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thanks, Mom, I’m going to bed.”
My eyes popped wide. “Really?”
He laughed. “Yeah okay, I might watch a movie on Netflix in bed.”
“One that I’ve pre-approved.”
He slapped his hand to the counter and then snapped his fingers. “Yes, you’ve blocked me from all the kissing stuff and the gory stuff.”
I smirked watching him jog up the stairs. Damn right. At least I was excelling in keeping my kid from watching porn or copious amounts of bloodshed. He’d have nightmares for sure.
I pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge pouring a healthy serving. Picking up my glass, I headed for the back deck.
Sweet lake air filled my lungs as I stepped outside. Last days of summer. Pretty soon I’d be packing away the chairs at the fire pit. I wondered what this place looked like in the fall and winter.
Settling back into the chaise, I found myself pulling up Wyatt’s number. What am I doing? I swiped the Spotify app on my phone and pulled up my favorite country mix playlist. Sipping my glass of wine, I relaxed and enjoyed the view splayed before me as Midland’s “Burn Out” drifted quietly through the night air. I allowed myself a tiny moment to think about Wyatt. What it might be like to kiss him. How would his body feel pressed against mine?
When the glass was empty and I’d carefully pushed the thoughts of Wyatt out of my mind, I shuffled inside surrendering to heavy sleep.
The line moved quickly, for which I was grateful. My eyes peered around the mass of students and staff hoping for a glimpse of Wyatt.
“Hi, I’m Rita, one of the secretaries. You’re new, right?”
“Hi, yeah we just moved here a few months ago. I’m here to pick up Luke Richman’s schedule. I’m his mom, Hannah.”
“Nice to meet you, Hannah,” she said. “I need you to confirm Luke’s date of birth and the last four digits of his social. You already provided his immunization records when you turned in the paperwork for football earlier this summer.” Her pen tapped against the form taped to the table.
She flipped through papers, humming while she made quick work of getting his schedule.
Luke appeared at my side with Brandt. “Hi, Mom, can I spend the afternoon at Brandt’s.”
“Is it okay with Brandt’s mom?”
“It’s totally okay, Miss Richman, my mom insisted,” Brandt answered.
I smiled and looked at Luke. “Okay, do you have your football gear for practice?”
“I can swing by the house and grab my gear.”
“Hannah, Luke is all set,” Rita said, handing me some paperwork, which Luke quickly ripped from my hands.
“Yes, I got Coach for History,” Luke pumped his fist in the air. “And right after lunch, I have gym class. Best schedule ever.”
My gaze swung to Rita. “Thank you, looks like we’re off to a good start.”
She smiled. “I guess so. See you later.”
As I deposited the dirty dishes into the tub, my phone vibrated in my apron. I washed my hands in the employee sink and then toweled them dry.
Luke: Practice ends at eight tonight don’t forget.
I typed a quick response letting him know that I wouldn’t forget. And now, I was starting to realize the benefits of Luke having his license.
“Hannah, you have a table,” Sharon called through the cook’s window.
“Okay, I’ll be right out. Thanks.”
My eyes drifted to the clock; it was almost three in the afternoon. And nearly time for the shift change. Who honestly thinks that it’s a good time for a late lunch or early dinner? They’ll probably order a pie and some coffee. Just relax.
My hands pushed open the doors and there sitting at table thirty was Wyatt. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I turned around and slicked my lips with lip-gloss and adjusted my ponytail. Breathe.
“Hello, what can I get you today?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Ahh, so we’re back to formalities, Hannah? I’d think you and I would be on much more casual terms after the night we spent together.”
I felt the blush creep in my cheeks. “Would you keep your voice down?” I asked in a hushed whisper. His white shirt amplified his tan and his hazel eyes took on more green than amber.
He gave me a wolfish grin. “Was it not as memorable for you?” The tone of his voice was reminiscent of our first few interactions.
My gaze swung around the dining room hoping that none of the other patrons could hear this conversation. Fine. If he wanted to play this game, I’d accept the challenge.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, Mister Hamilton. I’ve been spending most of my time alone. So alone.” I heard myself purr.
Oh my God. I must have sounded ridiculous.
“Is that so? No one keeping you warm at night?” His thumb brushed against the top of my knee sending a shiver racing up my back. Okay, maybe not so ridiculous.
I averted my eyes, licking my lips. “Not recently,” I admitted, as if that wasn’t already obvious.
“How long has it been, Hannah?” Wyatt prompted, his hand grazing the back of my knee now.
I stilled my heart galloping in my chest. The dining room had thinned to a few patrons, since I’d greeted Wyatt, but still there were eyes everywhere. While no one was looking at the two of us directly, it felt like we could be exposed at any moment sending tongues wagging all over town.
Coach Hamilton bangs student’s mom. The headline practically wrote itself.
“You’re going to be my son’s history teacher this year not just his coach—double whammy.”
“And you’re the mother of one of my students, but you’re sexy and smart—a double whammy and it feels so damn good,” he whispered, playing with me, his hooded eyes drawing me in.
I might not have unlocked all the mystery that surrounded Wyatt Hamilton, but I knew that look. He dominated my attention when he was around and it made me feel good. To have someone, not just anyone, but this man, notice me.
“Are you done playing around, Wyatt?”
“Are we really going to pretend that there isn’t something here, this strong pull between us?” Wyatt stood, and his body pressed to mine. “For the record, I’m not playing around.”
His mouth was an inch from mine and I wanted to push him away at the same time pull him closer. My eyes glanced around the room, no one was paying attention to us that I could see, but still.
“Please,” I pleaded, shaking my head.
“I know what I want,” he whispered. “And I’m pretty sure that you want the same thing too.”
I wanted him.
I needed this.
I didn’t want to be lonely anymore.
“I’ll be back for the pie another time. You have a good afternoon, Hannah.”
The way my name rolled off his tongue made me want him more. Conflict churned deep in my gut—a part of me felt as if I was wrong to want another man—the guilt was suffocating. The woman in me wanted to be touched. God, I wanted Wyatt to touch me.
To hold me.
To kiss me.
My thoughts scattered. I stood there clutching my notepad and pen in my hand watching him as he walked out the door.
“Okay, okay, so you’re telling me that Wyatt had his hand up your skirt in the middle of a restaurant?” Ryleigh’s voice shook with amusement.
“Not all the way up, but close and I might have flirted with him.”
“Might have or did?”
“I told him that I’d been spending a lot of nights alone. So alone and I purred, Ryleigh, I actually purred like a hell beast in heat.”
“Wow, well done. As your little sister, this is a proud moment for me.” I heard the sound of her tapping on her laptop.
“Oh God, it was probably so awful,” I groaned, flopping back onto my bed. “I’m someone’s mother for the love of all that’s holy.”
“Oh, come on, it couldn’t have been that awful. Besides, just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you can’t have hot fucking sex with the hot ass football coach,” Ryleigh pointed out. “How did you leave things?”
“He said he knew what he wanted and he was pretty sure that I wanted the same thing too.”
Muffled chatter drifted in the background. “No, Anna is going in the pink Ralph Lauren and Catherina is wearing the white Louis Vuitton. Sorry, about that, sis. So the guy pretty much declared that he wants you, is what I am hearing.”
A wide smile spread across my face. “Yeah.”
“What are you waiting for? Hike up your skirt and tell that man that you want him too.”
I sighed. “Ry, can you be serious for one minute?”
“Aw damn,” she sighed. “Everybody out and let me finish this call with my sister.”
In the background, there was shuffling and indistinct chatter as the sound of heels clacked over her hardwoods. “Do you want advice or straight talk?”
“Surprise me.”
“Listen, I get it, Carter was your one and only, stop shaming yourself with guilt. It is okay to let go, let go of the time frame and just feel the moment. You always say if something feels right you should just do it.”
The honesty in my sister’s voice struck my heart. “I do say that.”
“When do you see him next?”
“At the school kick-off carnival.”
“Fabulous. Go forth, my sister, and embrace the cock. Also, I’m going to need a detailed report on the sex.”
“You think I should?”
“Sweetie, it is not up to me, but I know that it’s driving you crazy thinking about wrong versus right. And I am certainly not going to tell you anything cliché like—oh, Carter would want this for you. You decide what you want and go for it, or just wait.”