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“They sure have a good connection,” Huxley says quietly as I pocket the note.
“…so it’s really cold and windy there. There is no way anyone can land a rocket on that planet,” Lacy says to Harvey, and his eyes widen in wonder as he takes it all in.
“Fuck, I didn’t know that,” Huxley says, and I resist the urge to punch him in the arm.
“Do you know anything?” I tease him.
“Oh, I know my brother is in deep, deep, deep…” he singsongs, and I remain silent. I have no comeback because it’s true.
“What are you still even doing here? I thought you flew down to help Dad with some paperwork or something?” I ask, because now that Lacy is here, I prefer Huxley not to be.
“Looks like they are finished. I’ll take Harvey up to Mom and Dad’s, give you guys some space.” My brother says the most intelligent and helpful thing he has said all afternoon, as I see Lacy and Harvey start to pack up, and I give him a nod.
“Okay, so we’re all done. Harvey, why don’t you tell your dad what you learned today?” Lacy asks him, smiling.
Harvey grins at her like she hung the moon herself.
“The moon is shaped like a lemon. Venus spins backward, annnndddd…” he says as he thinks. “And Uranus is the coldest planet in the entire solar system.” He nods at me, and my eyebrows hit my hairline.
“You learned all that in an hour? I’m impressed.” I ruffle his hair and his cheeks pinken at the compliment. Lacy beams at him in pride, and I swear I feel my heart swell.
“Did you do astronomy at college, Lacy?” Huxley asks her, and she shakes her head.
“No. It’s just a hobby.”
“You went to an Ivy League, right? Willowstone?” Huxley asks. I knew she got a scholarship to a top college, but I had no idea she was in California, so close to me or at Willowstone. It’s one of the best universities in the country, probably the world. I even have a few connections there.
“Ahh, yeah…” Her smile is forced and her eyes cloud over a little. A movement so subtle, no one else notices. But I do. “I’m glad to be home now, though, with Mom.”
Huxley nods in understanding before looking at Harvey.
“Come on, bud. Let’s go raid Grandma’s kitchen. She said she was making your favorite cookies today,” he says to Harvey.
“Yes! Thanks, Lacy. Can you come over again tomorrow?”Harvey asks Lacy, and she looks a little like a deer stuck in the headlights for a second.
“I can’t tomorrow, but why don’t we meet up for Sundae Saturday this week?” she suggests, glancing between my son and me, the two of us grinning at her stupidly. I have a feeling that he and I would meet her anywhere.
“Yes! I forgot about Sundae Saturday.” Harvey fist-pumps the air before running out the door, my brother following him, looking confused, having no idea what any of it means.
“Harvey is really great. You must be so proud of him. He is so smart for his age,” Lacy says as I step up to her. Now that we are alone, I slip my hand around her waist and walk her back until her ass hits the kitchen counter. Her eyes widen, breath catching as I close in on her, sealing her to me.
“He is and I am. Thank you. I had no idea about the planets,” I say sheepishly as I brush the tip of my nose against hers. I hear her cell chime, and I watch as she digs it out from her bag on the counter. Her face turns a shade of white as she sees whatever’s on the screen, body turning rigid.
“Lacy? Everything alright?” I ask, wondering if something is wrong with her mom. Her head turns quickly in my direction, and she looks startled, like she forgot I was standing right in front of her.
“Oh…” She exhales, shaking her head like she is waking up from a bad dream.” Sorry. No, fine. Everything’s fine. It was just… um… just a work thing.” Shaking her head again, she puts her cell back in her bag, then facesme fully. Color returns to her face, and her grin is wide as she meets my eyes.
“Are you sure?” I ask her. For whatever reason, I can tell she is not being honest with me.
“Totally fine. So, we are still not even, Doctor Hamilton. Securing Jennifer was a big deal. More than just an hour of my time.” She’s back to teasing, and my body relaxes with hers. Lifting her head, she almost brushes her lips against mine, bringing them close, just not close enough. Thoughts of her call now move to the back of my mind. I can’t help it. I’m not sure if it’s just us being together, the date under the stars, or seeing her with my son, or all three, but Lacy has been slowly relaxing more and more around me, her confidence building, and I can see a sparkle in her eye that wasn’t there before.
“I can think of other ways we can even the score,” I whisper playfully as I duck in, taking her lips with mine. Her hands loop around my neck, and I pull her close. Kissing this woman is a new addiction I never want to stop.
Our lips move, my hands roam, and she makes these cute little moans that have my jeans tightening every second she is in my arms.
“They might be back in a minute,” she says between kisses. Our pace quickens, neither of us wanting to stop.
“They will be a little while. We have time,” I tell her as my hands run down her sides and back up again. Cupping her breasts as her head falls back, my lips meet her neck.