Page 41 of Nothing to This

“I’ve seen both your dicks,” she said, picking up her wine and breathing out slowly.

Narrowing one eye, JD tried to figure that out.“Meaning…”

“I already know which of you is the better lover.”

“How many nights have you spent with him versus the one shot I got to make an impression?”

“Oh, you made an impression, Mr.Dawes.My figure has never been the same since I spent that one night with you.”

“I don’t remember you being in better shape back then,” he said.“Your body’s still worth a second look.”

“Oh thanks, that’s so romantic of you, JD.”She touched her upper chest and pretended to swoon.“I’m lightheaded.”

“That’s the roofie I slipped into your wine,” he said and extended his arm to expose his watch from beneath his cuff.“I should get you in the car before you pass out.”

Smirking, she held her glass closer to her chest.“Explaining that to your son would be interesting,” she said.“You also seem to have forgotten that I’m a single parent of twins and you’re living in my apartment.Most nights I’m so tired you could probably slip into my bed and have your way with me, and I wouldn’t have the energy to object.”

His eyes stopped smiling as they became more intense, compelling her to lower her glass.“Energy or inclination?”

That had to be rhetorical.Did he expect an answer…?She wasn’t sure she’d have an honest one for him.They sat there, just looking at each other, losing track of time.The moment was broken when the server came back with two boxes, presumably containing their desserts.

JD sat up to say something about the restaurant logo on the boxes being unacceptable, setting the server on edge again.The boy thought he’d done well, but her date wasn’t doing much to encourage him.

Her date.That description made her think twice.It wasn’t a romantic date.They were parents, friends, and colleagues.Complications in each other’s lives.Still, it was in their children’s best interest that they get along.There was nothing sexual about their association.

Sexual.There was another word that stuck in her mind.

Nowthere was nothing sexual about their association.But there had been… once.Their link began with sex.When they’d first laid eyes on each other, sex had been in the forefront of their minds.Did attraction like that just evaporate?

They were older, far more mature, and far more capable of keeping their impulses in check.

“Babe?”

Stolen from her daze, she read JD’s concern, which suggested he’d tried to get her attention more than once.

“Sorry,” she said.The server and boxes were gone.“The kids not getting their dessert?”

“They’re not getting it in boxes that provide Sky with evidence we ate Flounder.”

Neither had eaten that specific fish, but his point was valid.“You can tell her during your father of the bride speech at her wedding.”

“Don’t forget about the tower,” he said, pouring the remainder of the wine into her glass.“No man is getting near my baby girl.”

“She might not be your baby by then,” she said.“Who knows how many more kids you’ll have.”

“Think I’ll care less about Sky if I have other girls after her?”

She shrugged.“You haven’t talked about your intimate life,” she said.“Do you have a serious girlfriend?”

“If I did, you’d have met her in the last two weeks.We live together, Ry.”

“You haven’t met Baxter.”

“I know he exists.”

“Should we come up with rules?”she asked.“The kids are older now; it’s harder to hide things from them.If you’re going to be in town, I guess you’ll want to be dating.”

“I’d say the most important rule is that as long as the four of us are under the same roof, the apartment belongs to the kids.We shouldn’t have any… intimate time there.”