Page 19 of Accidental Dad’s Best Friend (Unintentionally Yours #7)

Izzy

S un slices through the venetian blinds in my room casting slivers all across the bed, warming me deep inside.

Then I realize it’s not the only reason I am warm.

Ethan was here. Ethan is here. I roll over and see him sitting on the edge of the bed, checking his phone.

He is already dressed in the clothes he had on the night before and there are two cups of coffee he must have taken the liberty of making sitting on the nightstand.

“That smells lovely,” I say and he turns to look at me.

A mischievous smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah? Let me see.” He leans down and nuzzles his face into my neck, kissing it.

“I meant the coffee,” I giggle.

“I know.” I can feel the smile against my skin and for a moment I think I could get used to this. All of this. But the smile fades a little. Because I know I can’t. It’s complicated. So very complicated.

I sit up and reach for my phone. I have a text from Rosilyn.

Ethan hands me my coffee and I respond to the text before setting my phone down and taking the mug. Caramel creamer swirls in the cup and I breathe. There’s a reason I will never be a size two. Also, I don’t care.

“How’s the kid?” He asks, nodding at my phone.

“They’re good. Making pancakes and watching Super Why it sounds like.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“Count yourself lucky,” I wink at him and he smiles.

There’s a moment of static between us as I take a sip and relish it.

I can feel him watching me though, studying me.

Part of me wonders if he is going to try to jump me again.

That same part hopes he will. The other part of me is sore from last night. A good sore…

“I have an idea,” he says and I turn to look at him.

“Yeah? And what’s that?”

“There’s a festival today. In Golden. It’s a little drive. But from what I hear, it’ll be a good time. Food vendors, live music, crafts and things like that. Rides. I bet Jaxon would enjoy it.”

For a moment I am just hung up on hearing Ethan say the name Jaxon. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. I never thought I’d hear it. I can’t decide how I feel about it. It tugs on both heartstrings of longing and sore nerves.

“Izzy?” His voice brings me back to the moment. “What do you think? We could go together, the three of us.”

“I mean, it sounds amazing but…don’t you worry?”

Ethan’s eyes meet mine, steady and sure. “Nope. It’s away from the city. And do you really think your dad or anyone he fraternizes with is going to go to a small town festival?”

“No,” I say flatly. Because my dad would have to be drugged and dragged to go to something like that.

“Great. Then let’s go.” Ethan shoves up to his feet. “I have some work things to take care of. But after that, I’ll swing by and grab you. If that’s okay.”

I chew my lip for a moment. Half of me is nervous. The other half of me wants out of the house. So I agree.

“Sure. Sounds good.”

“Good.” Ethan bends down and kisses me again, then disappears.

Even after I heard the closing of the door, the sound of his car engine and then the silence to follow, there’s a hum in the air.

Ethan Savage has a way of making me forget about what I should do or shouldn’t do.

For the first time, all I can think about is doing what I want. And damn if it doesn’t feel liberating.

“Good morning!” I hear the front door open as I am combing through my wet hair. I took a quick shower and slipped into a white and blue floral sundress, just in time for Rosilyn and the boys to come walking inside.

“Good morning,” I call back, smiling as I enter the living room.

Jax is bright eyed and bushy tailed which tells me I made the right call in letting him stay the night at their house.

The protective mom in me wasn’t sure at first. But seeing that he is happy and fine warms my heart and I am able to tuck the memories of last night with Ethan into a secret safe place in the back of my mind.

“Look mommy! We made slime!” He holds up his hand and a lime green goo slips between his fingers.

“Oh wow. You did.” I grimace, looking up at Rosilyn.

“I’m sorry,” she laughs. “I know most moms hate the stuff but I find it a cheap and amusing way to keep kids happy.”

“And it smells like coconut!” Jax lifts it towards my nose.

“It does,” I answer with a little surprise.

“It’s all natural. Not that toxic storebought stuff,” Rosilyn explains.

“Well I can’t hate that,” I say. “Do you want some coffee?”

“Oh no, I’ve been up since six with these two. I’ve already had a pot!” She laughs loudly and her eyes glance around the room. Almost as if she’s looking for something. “So you had an okay night? Restful?”

“I…did.” I stutter and I’m not sure why it comes out like that.

Maybe because you spent half of it with Ethan’s dick inside you…

“Thank you,” I add.

“Anytime. We are just around the corner. Always here.” She smiles and I smile back. My phone buzzes and I look down. Ethan. A jolt of something hot shoots through my veins like a shot of tequila.

“Mommy can we watch the new Sonic movie?” Jax tugs on my dress.

“Actually, bud, we are going to a festival with Ethan.” The words slide out of my mouth so easily I don’t realize until afterwards that maybe I shouldn’t have.

My eyes dart up to meet Rosilyn’s and she is looking at me curiously. “Your boss?” She mouths.

I force a smile and shake my head. “Yeah. Work thing. Sort of.”

“Hmm.” She smiles but there’s something behind it. “Well, Luca. That’s our cue to go. You two have fun!”

“Bye Rosilyn. And thank you.” I wave as they leave and then turn to Jax, telling him to go put clothes on.

As I stand in the kitchen filling a backpack with sunscreen, water bottles, first aid and all the things moms bring basically everywhere, I suddenly stop.

I know Rosilyn knows the man from the coffee shop is my boss.

I did tell her that. But I don’t remember telling her his name is Ethan.

Jax comes out, ready to go, just as Ethan walks in.

“Hey champ. You ready to go on some questionable rides and eat too much cotton candy?”

“Yeah!” Jax lets out.

Ethan looks over at me and his expression drops a little. “Are you alright?”

I shake off the previous moment and force a smile. “Yeah. I’m good.”

The festival is everything you’d expect from a small town festival and it’s refreshing.

While Golden is part of the metro Denver area, it still has a cute main street and a cozy feel that almost reminds me of western Colorado.

I was born and raised a city girl and I never saw myself liking small towns.

I definitely didn’t ever see myself living in one.

But after finding peace and safety in Grand Junction, just me and Cassie and Jax making life work, I came to find it comforting.

And with the busy little streets, the rides in the distance, the friendly faces of the vendors and the smell of popcorn and spun sugar and fried bread in the air, I can’t help but be happy.

“I want to go on rides first!” Jax is hopping up and down. “And get my face painted. And, look, Mommy! Balloon animals! I want a balloon animal.”

“Hold on, bud,” I say while trying to keep him in one spot. “One thing at a time.”

“We can do it all,” Ethan says and I look at him. “If it’s okay with your mom.”

Jax looks up at me with pleading eyes and Ethan smiles. Who am I to say no to that? To any of it? I smile and nod and Jax jumps again with a yippee! Before taking off in the direction of the balloon animals.

“You’re going to spoil him,” I say as Ethan and I follow.

“Is he used to being spoiled?” He asks and I feel a pang in my chest.

“No. He isn't.”

“And if I had to assume, you aren’t used to it either.”

“Nope. And I’m not used to it either.”

“Well. Let’s change that. Even if it’s just for a day,” he smiles down at me. Then he leans in a little and lowers his voice. “No one has to know.”

His hand brushes mine, on purpose, for a single moment and it sends a spark through my arm like the wick on a firework.

And so we do it all. Starting with a balloon animal hat that Jax insists we all try on.

To my surprise, Ethan plays along, donning it with a grumpy face that makes Jax laugh.

Then Jax does the same, mimicking Ethan’s expression and making me laugh.

After that, I wear the hat and make a silly face and before I know what’s happening, Ethan snaps a picture.

My mouth pops open and he just shrugs, shoving his phone in the pocket of his jeans.

Then, before I can say anything, he grabs my hand and we follow Jax to the food vendors.

“What is this?” Ethan asks as I hand him a plate.

“Are you telling me you’ve never had a Navajo taco?” I ask in disbelief.

Ethan arches an eyebrow at the steaming pile of food in front of him. “This…is a taco?”

Jax and I both giggle. “So this is fry bread. Like a funnel cake without the sugar. And they just load it with taco meat and cheese and onions and lettuce and beans and salsa and–”

“Sold.” Ethan says before cutting off a slice and popping it into his mouth. I hold my breath while he makes an Mmm sound.

“Yeah?” I ask, digging into the one I bought to share with Jax.

“Oh yeah. Hell yeah.” He nods, taking another bite and I have to laugh.

“I kind of like this version of you.” I say, feeling the heat in my cheeks as I say the words.

“Oh yeah? And what version is that?” He nods up at me.

“The jean wearing, band t-shirt clad, food truck food eating Ethan. By the way, do you actually listen to the bands on your shirts or–”

Ethan looks to make sure Jax isn’t paying attention before subtly giving me the middle finger and making me laugh.

“For your information, Missy, Aerosmith is my favorite band.”

I crinkle my nose at that. “That’s so Dad Rock of you.” I joke. Then I look up at him to see if the banter is going too far. But the way he bites his lip and drags it between his teeth tells me it’s not.

“I have a lot of versions you don’t know about,” he adds in a low voice. The words send a shiver down my spine and straight between my thighs. I cross my legs and keep eating. All the while, Ethan has a smug grin on his face.

We go on rides and get cotton candy and Ethan even wins Jax a giant Panda bear. After the sun has fallen, he carries a sugar-crashed, sleeping Jax into the house and I carry the bear. “I can’t believe you bought him this thing.” I grumble.

“I didn’t buy it. I won it.”

He whispers, shifting Jax’s weight in his arms to punch the door code in.

“You had to play five rounds to get it. It cost you fifty dollars. You paid for it.”

“And it was worth every penny.” He winks at me and we go inside. I set the bear down and take Jax and pad down the hall. I change him into some clean pajamas and shrug off that he will have to skip brushing his teeth for one night, then kiss him on the head and make my way out.

“He is beat,” I smile.

“Good. Kids need days like this.”

Tears sting my eyes and I blink them back. They do. And I haven’t been able to give him many. Today felt different. It felt carefree and fun and…right. I blink again and clear my throat, following Ethan to the door.

“Thank you,” I say, standing on the step above him. He has his hands in his pockets. The night is warm and so are his eyes. His hair is tousled from the ride Jax talked him into going on. His face is bristled with a shadow of a beard that I am sure he’ll shave off in the morning.

I kind of hope he doesn’t…

I like him gruff. No tie. No slacks. His jaw relaxed into an easy smile. The scent of sugar and sweat and man on his skin.

“Of course.” He nods at me. Then he pulls me gently into him and gives me a soft kiss. “Goodbye, sweetheart.”

“Bye,” I say, the word all breath and I watch as he casually makes his way to his car.

After Ethan leaves, all of my nerves are buzzing.

I walk around the house, checking windows, checking doors, even closets, before rechecking the locks.

As I brush my teeth and my hair, I hear a thump.

Most nights I would assume it was just Jax, rolling into the wall next to his bed or dropping a toy on the floor, something he isn’t supposed to be playing with when he’s falling asleep that falls out of the bed as soon as he dozes off.

But tonight, I am more paranoid. My window is still cracked.

Last night’s scare is still fresh in my mind.

I check on Jax who is very soundly asleep and decide to crawl into his twin bed with him.

Pulling him against me, listening to the rhythm of his tiny breaths, I hold him close.

I almost want to call Ethan to come back.

But that’s silly. Instead, I let my mind drift back to all the memories of the day.

The moments fly around like lightning bugs and I try to jar them, to keep them and stare at them and decide how I feel about them.

I’m not sure, entirely. But I do know they’re pretty to look at.