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Cora led Mia on a tour of the house, and then Mia asked Cora to go pick out her favorite stuffed animals for a tea party. As Cora ran off, Mia said, “Are you excited for the date?”

I glanced to the boys, glad they hadn’t heard, and back to Mia. “It’s anetworking event.” I still hadn’t talked to the kids about me dating someday. Although my feelings for Gage made me think I might be ready sooner rather than later.

The kids didn’t know that their dad cheated on me, so in their eyes, this divorce was confusing. Me dating another man? I worried it would just upset them more.

“Right.” Mia winked.

Cora came out of the bedroom, carrying a teddy bear so big she had to lean back to balance its weight.

Mia giggled, taking the bear from her. “You go have fun, Far, and we’ll see you when you get home. No curfews.”

“I’ll be home by ten at the latest,” I said.

“Midnight,” Mia replied.

I laughed. “You’re the best bad influence ever. You can order food—I’ll Venmo you for whatever it is. And make sure the boys both get showers in tonight.”

“Aye, aye,” Mia said, saluting me and making Cora giggle.

“Bye, boys, love you,” I said.

Their eyes stayed glued on the screen.

“LOVE YOU!” I said louder.

Levi nodded, but Andrew glanced my way and said, “Love you.”

“Never grow up,” I replied, giving Cora a big hug and planting an even bigger kiss on her cheek that left a plum lip mark. “Love you, sweet pea.”

“Love you, Mommy.”

Waving goodbye, I made my way outside. The stark memory of walking out the door and seeing Gage in his Tesla flashed through my mind. He’d looked so sexy in his T-shirt and jeans, peeking at me through the rolled down window.

What I wouldn’t give to be spending this evening with him instead of Pascale. But Mia was right—business connections were important. And I still hadn’t brought up the future to Gage yet. I knew I should have, but part of me worried talking about anything but the present would blow up this bubble we had. I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

I got in my car, typing in the address to the wine bar and driving across town with music playing on the radio. Only twenty-four hours, I reminded myself.

Twenty-four hours until I had a whole week to spend in the arms of Gage Griffen. I’d miss my kids like crazy, but a week with Gage? I tried not to let my heart get carried away, reminding myself that Gage was not mine, no matter how many imaginative liberties I wanted to take with the fact that I was the first woman to see his place.

Since I couldn’t parallel park to save my life, it took me a while to find a parking spot, and I was already ten minutes late when I rushed into the dimly lit bar. Smooth jazz came from a small stage up front, and I quickly spotted Pascale.

He looked all dark and broody at the back table with his brown hair falling over his face and his tattooed hands wrapped around a glass tumbler. When he caught sight of me walking in, his lips spread into a sultry smile.

“Sorry I’m late,” I said, approaching him. “I couldn’t find a place to park.”

“No worries,” he replied, sitting as I did.

“Do we order at the bar?” I asked.

“A server will be by.”

Silence hung between us.Awkward. So I said, “How was your day?”

“Better now.”

An uneasy feeling swept through me. I really didn’t want Pascale getting the wrong idea. “I’m excited to talk more business with you,” I said, trying to set the tone. “How did you get into photography?”

That opened the floodgates. He was halfway through telling me a story about his first camera when a server came by. All the wine I drank was out of a box, so I pointed at the cheapest glass on the menu, hoping it would taste okay, and continued asking Pascale about himself.