Page 16 of Secret Love (The Single Dad Playbook #2)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DETERMINATION AND PERSUASION

TRU

Dinner with Henley and the girls is an experience. It's a spirited affair, to say the least. There's nonstop chatter, which is one thing my dad never tolerated at the table. If anyone was talking, it was the adults, and usually him. But Henley gives the girls free reign over whatever topic they want to discuss. They're respectful too. They don't speak over each other, but they keep things going as they joke and laugh about school and dance and Earl, which turns into pleading with Henley for a kitten.

I love sitting back and watching them interact with each other. I’m in awe of the way Henley treats them, and it’s adorable how well his daughters get along. Every now and then Cassidy will roll her eyes at what one of the others says, but she makes up for it by saying something sweet to them afterward to let them know she’s being playful.

Henley keeps trying to draw me into the conversation, and I'm talking, but I’d rather watch them. They’re just so dang entertaining. But they refuse to let me off the hook.

“Do you have a boyfriend, Miss Seymour?” Gracie asks.

“Gracie, don't ask her that,” Cassidy says. “Sorry, Miss Seymour. Gracie is so nosy.”

“It's okay.” I laugh. “No, I do not have a boyfriend.” I keep my eyes trained on Gracie's when I say it, even though I feel Henley's eyes on me. I can see his grin out of the corner of my eye.

“But you're so pretty,” she says.

“Thank you.” I smile at her and she smiles back.

“Mommy's got a boyfriend. I don't like him very much, but he is nice. I mean, I do like him…just not like Dad.”

Henley looks at her with concern. “Why are you saying that? I know for a fact that you like Alex very much. He’s a great guy.”

“He's okay, but he's not like you,” she says.

“Well, he's not trying to be like me. He's trying to be himself, and you shouldn’t compare him to me, peanut,” he tells her.

“You like him,” Audrey says to Gracie. “You just try to act like you don’t when you're around Dad.”

“I do not,” Gracie says, sticking out her lip. She reaches out and puts her hand on Henley's arm. “You're way better, Daddy.”

Henley frowns. “Gracie, I want you to like whoever your mom dates if he's a good guy and treats all of you well. Is there a reason you’re saying all of this? Anything I should know about Alex?” He looks around at all three girls.

Audrey and Cassidy shake their heads.

“We like him,” Cassidy says, shrugging.

“But don't you think you'll be with Mom again one day?” Gracie asks.

Henley lets out a long, rugged breath. “Okay. How about we talk about this later? I didn't know you were thinking this way.”

We’re all staring at him and he gives me an apologetic smile.

“This has been so good,” I say. “Thank you so much for dinner. I should probably be getting home.”

“Do you have to go so soon?” Henley asks.

“Yeah, I need to.” I can’t get out of here fast enough after that little conversation. “I’ll help clean up though.”

“That's not necessary. We're going to clean up and then I'll take the girls home,” Henley says.

I pick up my plate and take it to the sink and the girls follow. When they go back to take the rest of the things off the table, Henley leans in.

“Stick around and we can have a glass of wine after I get back from dropping off the girls?”

“I should really get going,” I tell him.

“I’m really sorry about that in there.” He nods toward the dining area, his voice low.

“Don’t be. It just lets me know there's more to all of this that I haven't even thought about. It’s a good reminder to pump the brakes,” I whisper.

He curses under his breath. “I didn't see that coming. I didn't know any of them were thinking that way. I don't think Cassidy and Audrey are, but maybe we need to talk about it.”

The girls walk back into the kitchen and we continue putting things away. I wash a few pans, even though Henley insists that I shouldn't worry about cleaning up, and the girls load the dishwasher.

“My mom taught me to have good manners when I go to someone's house, no matter what.” I grin at Audrey who’s standing closest, and she giggles.

“Sounds like my mom,” she says.

When we're done, I gather my things and thank them again, and I head home with Earl in tow. I missed a call from Mom when I was driving, so I call her back after I’ve gotten Earl settled. We’ve texted pretty much every day, but have been playing phone tag since Henley and I kissed.

“Hey,” she says when she answers. “How’s your week going?”

“It's going really well. How’s yours?”

“Boring, compared to yours.” She laughs. “How's it going with Henley Freaking Ward?”

“Well, a lot has happened since we talked…”

“So help me, if you’ve had sex with the man and didn’t let me know,” she says.

“Mom! No, we didn’t have sex,” I say, laughing. “But, I don’t know. I don’t think it can go anywhere. I just got back from his house after having dinner with him and his three daughters, and I can’t?—”

“Why? Because he’s older? I’ve studied him in every picture I could find since you told me you met him, and he is so hot.”

“My mom is not supposed to say things like this.” I laugh and she does too. “It’s not as much about the age difference as it is that he’s the father of my student.”

“Forbidden romance with your student’s dad, I love it,” she says with a dreamy voice.

“You've been reading too many romance novels,” I tell her.

“Guilty,” she sings. “And proud of it. Romance novels get a bad rap and it’s really unfair. They're the best way to learn how to live an awesome life.” She laughs.

“Look, you’ll get no argument from me there, but I still don't know what to do. We danced the other night. The man can move, Mom. I mean, really move.”

“Well, for you to say that, dancing queen, he must really be something. And it doesn’t surprise me one bit. Maybe that's the benefit of dating an older man.”

“We're not dating,” I argue. “But we did kiss.”

She squeals and I pull the phone away from my ear.

“You’re just now telling me this? How was it?”

“It was perfect. Everything about him is perfect. Beyond our misunderstanding in the beginning, he’s been a dream. His friends are great too.”

“So what's the problem?” she asks. “I don’t think him being your student’s dad is enough of a reason.”

“It is though. I'm helping his daughter with some extra tutoring. It’s going to take time, and if things are complicated between me and him, it’ll make that whole situation so awkward. Plus, I think his kids want him to be with their mom, his ex-wife. And that just sounds like a heartache waiting to happen. Not to mention, I'm just getting settled here. Running into someone after a fling has gone south in this small town—that's the last thing I need to worry about.”

We talk for at least half an hour with her trying to convince me to go out with Henley. When I get off, I take a long bath and crawl into bed early. My phone dings and I check it, surprised to see a text from Henley.

Henley

I really enjoyed having you here today.

Thank you for dinner. Your girls are wonderful.

Henley

Thank you. They think you're pretty great too. And so do I. I want to continue the conversation about getting to know each other better.

I don't know if that's a good idea. There are just so many red flags.

Henley

Name one thing you don't like about me.

I laugh and it sounds loud in my bedroom.

There's nothing I’ve seen yet that I don't like.

My cheeks burn with my admission.

Henley

Grinning emoji Then I see nothing wrong with this.

You don’t have any reservations?

Henley

I do have concerns about the girls…Cassidy in particular. But honestly, Tru? When I’m around you, all concerns seem to go out the window.

Have you always been so determined?

Henley

Only when it comes to making sure my girls are happy. And football. But the more I get to know you, the more I want to know…

What do you want to know?

Henley

Everything. How about I come up with a list of things and we’ll go over them the next time we’re together?

You’re very persuasive, Mr. Football Player.

Henley

I can be very single-minded when I want something.

I place the phone on the nightstand, hands trembling as I stare at the ceiling. That was hot as hell.

I’m not sure I have the willpower to withstand Henley Ward’s charm.