his coat over my shoulders before opening the backseat to do the honors with the carseat.
All the while, Samantha watched us with knowing eyes. I hoped not too knowing. I didn’t want her scarred for life.
“How’d you learn to do that?” I clutched the lapels of his coat as I watched him secure Sami into place surprisingly efficiently.
“YouTube,” he admitted as he ducked his head back out. “And many, many tries. She probably wished she could curse at me in Spanish just like you did today.” He grabbed my hip and pulled me against him. I may or may not have rubbed against him accidentally on purpose. “Did I mention that was fucking hot?”
“You’re just horny. If I called you a chulo, you’d tear a hole in your pants.”
“Depends. What does it mean?”
I smirked as I juggled my purse and the bag of leftovers to open his door. He’d have to bring me back for my car later, thereby making it super obvious to my entire family I’d gone home with him. But who hadn’t figured it out yet anyway?
“A pimp, among other things,” I said, climbing in and closing my door before he could.
He shook his head at me, rounding the hood to the driver’s side while I giggled.
As soon as he got behind the wheel, he dipped his head back against the seat. “I barely had a minute to talk to my dad. I tried to explain without lying or enhancing, but he’s a different sort of guy.”
“What do you mean?” I set my belongings on the floor. “Your dad is nice.”
“He is. So much more than I am. He didn’t understand how I got into this situation.”
“I’d say it’s pretty understandable. Happens all the time.”
His lips quirked. “Yeah, but not with guys like him. I don’t think he has any concept of a weekend fling.”
“Sure you’re not wearing rose-colored glasses in his direction? He may be your dad, but he is a dude.”
“Not all men think of sex first.”
“Hmm.”
“Really. Guys come in all varieties, just as women do.”
“Hmm,” I repeated.
“Moose,” he said simply. “He was in love with Vee from the beginning. I guarantee sex wasn’t his primary objective.”
“I never said it was always the primary, but c’mon, man. You gotta give me top three.”
“Not with my dad. My mom was the only woman he ever loved.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “He tried to date a few times after she left, but it never stuck. Eventually, he opened up his flower shop, and I think that was a way for him to still feel connected to her.”
I was quiet for a moment, picturing Mr. Brooks tending to his flowers as I’d seen him do so many times. Not only did he have his store, his garden at home was one of the best around.
To think he might’ve cultivated that love because of one he’d lost tugged at my chest.
“He asked me if I was okay. If he could do anything for me.” I tugged my skirt into place before putting on my seatbelt. “He told me he was going to send me a bouquet with Amaryllis. He didn’t say why. I know they’re a Christmas flower—what?” I asked when Jared’s gaze cut to mine.
His shoulders drooped as if he’d been carrying a heavy weight for far too long. “That was the flower he always gave my mom. Pink and showy. They’re more for the holidays, but that Greek word means to sparkle, and he said she glowed brighter than any bloom. He put them all over the house. It’s one of the things I remember most about that last Christmas with her.”
I reached across the front seat and covered his hand with my own on his thigh.
“Sorry. I’m not exactly setting a mood here, huh?” He released a dry laugh. “Can you tell that I’m out of practice?”
At once, his past tried to intrude. I tried to push it away, but he knew.
“Someday, I hope you won’t think of her as much. I promise that you think of her way more than I do.”
I glanced into the backseat. Samantha’s little head slumped to the side as she dozed. We were lucky she seemed not to mind talking around her while she slept.
Hopefully, I wouldn’t disturb her peace with this revelation.
“I have a date with Caleb for the tree lighting,” I blurted.
With the craziness of the day, I hadn’t even given it a thought. Guess that proved exactly how much it mattered to me. No