a lot going on.”
“You’re right. I haven’t asked you out even once. I’m a terrible boyfriend. I’m sorry.” He reached for her hand. “Wynn, I’d very much like to take you out. How about The Boardroom?”
She was still processing the use of the word “boyfriend.” Was that what they were? Boyfriend and girlfriend? They were in a relationship—it hadn’t been planned, but it was where they’d ended up. But boyfriend and girlfriend?
“Are you making me wait to punish me?” he asked, his voice teasing.
“What? No. Sorry. I was somewhere else. I would very much like to go out with you, and The Boardroom sounds fun.”
“It’ll make things public,” he said. “You all right with that?”
He had a point—if they went together, all their friends would know. Of course her friends kind of knew already. “I am.”
“Good. Me, too.”
He leaned in and kissed her. The feel of his mouth against hers was instantly arousing. She rested her hands on his shoulders and parted her lips. His tongue had just touched hers when she heard Hunter’s door open. She and Garrick immediately drew back.
“Mom,” Hunter said, walking into the living room. “I was texting with Jackson and he asked me to spend the night.” He held up a hand. “I know it’s not allowed on school nights, but it’s not really a school night because we have a late start tomorrow. I don’t have my first class until ten thirty. What do you think?”
Wynn did her best not to look at Garrick. She had a feeling she knew what his vote would be—an opinion she shared. But was it the right thing to do?
She thought of how hard Hunter had worked to show her he understood what he’d done wrong. Honestly, if she wasn’t seeing Garrick, she would have no problem saying yes.
“You can,” she told him. “But try to be asleep before midnight.”
Hunter grinned. “That’s what his mom said, too. I’ll go get my stuff.”
He ran out of the room. Wynn glanced at Garrick, who was studying her.
“Joylyn sure seemed tired,” he said carefully.
“She did.”
“She’s probably in bed already.”
“I’m sure that’s true.”
“Would you like some company after Hunter leaves?”
Their gazes locked. “I would like that very much.”
His slow sexy smile made her stomach lurch and her thighs tremble.
“Good. I’ll walk out with Hunter,” he said. “And be back in a few minutes.”
“You don’t have to leave.”
He glanced toward the hallway, then spoke with a lowered voice. “I do unless you have condoms.”
“Oh. I, ah, don’t, actually.”
Hunter appeared in the living room, a backpack over his shoulder.
“I have my school stuff, Mom. Jackson’s mom will take us tomorrow when it’s time.”
She got up and hugged him. “Be good.”
“I will.”
“I should be going, too,” Garrick said, standing.
He and Hunter headed out together. Wynn watched her son go down three houses, then cross the street and enter Jackson’s house. When the door closed behind him, she turned around, wondering what she should do to get ready. Brush her teeth, but then what? Should she put on something sexy? Did she own anything sexy?
She went into the master bath and brushed her teeth, then turned on the lamps on the nightstands and folded down the comforter. Not sure what else to do, she returned to the living room just as Garrick knocked on the front door.
She let him in.
“You’re not holding anything,” she said.
He pulled several condoms out of his front pocket. “I didn’t think you wanted the world to know what I’d brought over.”
She smiled. “An excellent point. Hunter’s at Jackson’s house.”
“I saw.”
She hesitated, not sure what to do now. Did they talk some more? Just get to it? And if it was the latter, did she initiate things?
Thankfully Garrick didn’t seem to have the same concerns. He raised his hand to touch her cheek. “You are so beautiful.”
He kissed her lightly, then took her hand and started toward the bedroom.
Once inside, Wynn made sure the door was locked before turning to Garrick. In that brief second before he reached for her, she wondered if things were going to turn awkward or if he would start to have second thoughts about wanting to make love with her.
But before she could ask or really get her worry going, he was pulling her hard against him.
“I have been dreaming about this,” he said right before he kissed her. At the same time, he dropped his hands to her butt and squeezed the curves. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his,