“Yep. Mom decided I was mature enough to start learning to drive,” Kevin explains. “Only around the parking lot in our complex though.”
“And what do I have to say all the time?” Before Kevin can answer, Kara moans, “Ten and two. That’s where you put your hands, honey.”
If Kara is up to razzing our son, then she’s definitely up for some teasing of her own. Flipping a switch so Kevin can’t hear us, I ask, “But Kara, this isn’t a traditional wheel. Where should I keep mine?”
Forcing her to pry open her eyes, she uses them to shoot daggers at me. “You know where they’re supposed to be, John Jennings.” My smirk turns into a full-blown smile when she tacks on softly, “And where they shouldn’t be.”
Casually, I remind her, “And aren’t you very glad I know exactly what to do with my hands, Kara?” Darting a quick glance over my shoulder to make certain Kevin’s occupied, I tease, “Otherwise we might not have a chaperone on this little adventure.”
But Kara Malone is many things, and lightning quick is one of them. “Jennings, if it wasn’t for that ‘chaperone,’ what reason would I have for being in this plane?” Satisfied by her response, she crosses her arms and looks out the windows.
Fury with myself for pushing her too fast keeps me silent as we soar higher into the lightening sky. But I know I have to address her comment. “A number of them,” I manage to get out in between clenched teeth.
A snort is her only response. It makes my lips twitch. “God, Kara, how can a man look at you and not be utterly beguiled?”
“Beguiled is an interesting choice of word,” she muses. “One I never listed when I tried to think of what you thought of me.”
Thinking we might be getting somewhere, I ask, “What words did you list?”
“Namely, that I was contrary and boring.” Shocked, I whip my head around to find hers pressed hard back against the seat while I struggle with the need to put the plane on autopilot to show her how wrong she is about her own self-assessment. “In the end, what matters is respect, Jennings. We have to build the foundation of co-parenting for Kevin based on that.”
Focusing on turning the plane, I contemplate her words for long moments. Nothing but the faint hum of the propellers and the static through our headsets can be heard.
Finally, just as she inhales to speak, I hiss, “Other than the last thing you said, the rest was utter and complete crap. Even the Kara I knew back in the day valued herself more than to spout such nonsense from her mouth. So tell me, what asshole did you date after me who made you feel less than the confident, brilliant woman I know you are?”
Her “Excuse me?” comes through the headset faintly, and I know it has nothing to do with the gear.
“You heard me.”
“I did, I just can’t believe you said it.”
“Why?” I’m genuinely confused.
Her head rolls my way. On her face, I find fatigue and tolerance. “You look like you’re about to give me a teacher-to-student lecture.” I smile.
Her lips don’t even twitch. “Maybe because I am?”
“About?”
“About restraint,” she says seriously. “Jennings, I’m not going to lie to you and say I’m not flattered by the fact you’re attracted to me after all these years.”
But before I can interrupt her, she continues on. “But I’ve been thinking about it most of the night. What I won’t have is Kevin confused by his parents’ relationship. He has the rest of the summer with both of us to understand mistakes were made on both sides and we’re working to make them right for him. For him, Jennings. I’m not looking for an affair.”
I’m breathing hard when Kara finishes. “Is that what you think this is?” I demand.
“What else could it be? I’m just me—a single mother who’s on the brink of losing the one thing she gave up everything for.”
“You’re not going to lose Kevin to me,” I say roughly.
“I know. But time isn’t as kind as you are being,” she reminds me gently. “Soon he’ll be leaving home and—”
And before she can say another word, Kevin’s frantically tapping me on the shoulder. Flipping the controls so I can hear him, I say, “What is it, son?” relishing the emotion of using that word.
That’s when it hits me. I’m feeling all of these emotions for the