Page 53 of Ridin' True

“So, um…” I cleared my throat nervously. “How do you normally, you know, do this? I mean, with your kids?”

“Never have.”

“What?” I muttered, my gaze snapping in his direction.

“Haven’t dated anyone since Nicole and I split.”

I frowned. “You—you broke up, like, six years ago.”

He grinned. “Yeah, darlin’. I know. I was there.”

I shifted my attention back to the crepe, aware it would burn if I didn’t flip it, but still reeling with this new bit of information.

Surely a man who looked like him hadn’t been celibate for the last six years. There was just no way. But if he hadn’t dated anyone since Nicole, that meant even if he’d found a woman he liked to screw, she hadn’t been significant enough for him to navigate the nuances of combining their relationship with the one he had with his children.

WasIthat significant?

I grabbed a plate from the cabinet beside me then slid the finished crepe on the plate and set it aside. I was getting ready to pour another bit of batter when I stopped, turned and blurted, “Is that what we’re doing? Dating?”

He raised his eyebrows and replied, “I sure as hell hope so.”

It was exactly what I wanted to hear, but it still somehow took me by surprise.

My breath caught as my insides jumped with glee.

“So, we’ll—we’ll figure it out. With the kids, we’ll figure it out,” I stammered.

“Yeah, gorgeous. We’ll figure it out.”

“Right. Okay.”

I nodded and then turned back toward the stove, yanking my bottom lip between my teeth in an attempt to hold back a grin. Then I heard his quiet chuckle, and there was no containing it. Still, I kept it to myself as I poured the batter into the pan.

After I finished five crepes, it was time to start multitasking. While I continued cooking the rest of the batter, I pieced together five ham and cheese filled crepe nests, complete with an egg in the middle. I stuck them in the oven to melt the cheese and cook the egg while I finished the last of the batter and rinsed the empty bowl. All the while, Jed watched me work, and I relished in the reality that Tess was right—we weretotallya thing.

I wasn’t sure if getting involved with Jedandstriving for the role of the Wild Stallions’ general counsel was the greatest idea, but it was too late. I wanted both. It might have made me greedy, but I’d sacrificed plenty in my life. For once, I wanted to treat myself.

Thinking about the employee agreement written for himself by the current Stallions attorney, I considered that maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing Jed would be occupied for the week. That left plenty of time for me to do my day jobandprove myself to Bull.

When our crepes were ready, I plated three for Jed and two for me, sprinkling a bit of freshly chopped chives on top. We sat together at my four-seater table, and he stared at his plate for a moment without picking up his fork.

“Is something wrong?”

“Lex, this is some real gourmet shit.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I replied, quite flattered by the comment. “I’m only a home cook. It’s—well, it’s kind of the only hobby I have, if cooking can be a hobby.”

“I’m gonna tell you right now, I can man a grill, and that’s about as far as my talents go. Ask my kids, they’ll tell you,” he said, finally picking up his fork.

I laughed then watched as he took his first bite.

He chewed twice then paused and mumbled, “Shit.” He looked over at me, finished his bite, and added, “Darlin’, you weren’t lyin’. You can cook.”

I grinned. “Told you. Great sexandbreakfast.”

“Lookin’ forward to more of both,” he replied as he cut his next bite.

It was nearly noon by the time we finished eating and my kitchen was back in order. Jed got dressed, and even though we both had places to be, I was disappointed goodbye had come so soon. Disappointed enough that I found an excuse to stall him for a couple more minutes.