brother and I learned to make do.”
He hesitated to ask but couldn’t help it. “And your mother?”
Her face tightened, and red-gray pulsed in her energy field. “I can’t say I actually knew her. She stayed long enough for potty training and then took off when I was three.”
“Oh, shit. That bites,” he grumbled. “Did you do the divorced kid shuffle?”
“No. I didn’t get the shuffle. I got a Christmas card. Every couple of years, she swooped in for a visit, but I haven’t seen her in a very long time.”
“My mother died when I was born. A couple of days after. My childhood is a page ripped from the cold-hearted stepmother playbook. I don’t blame my dad,” he assured her when she groaned. “Like yours, my dad did the best he could but with a shattered heart. He was easy pickins if you know what I mean.”
She sighed. “I didn’t understand until recently how much I was affected by having a disinterested mom.”
“I’ve only ever known the harsh side of stepparenting.”
“Two peas, different pods.”
“Indeed,” Arnie drawled.
She growled. “If I ever have kids, everyone better watch out. I won’t be messing around.”
It was easy to imagine Summer as a fierce mama bear protecting her young. Screw with her at your own peril.
“The hour is late, Goldilocks. It’s after midnight,” he said with a glance at his watch.
She stood swiftly and wiped her butt with both hands. “Did I get all the sand?” she asked while sticking her ass out.
There was no way he was ignoring the invitation. “Let me,” he said. He hooked her on his hip and thoroughly patted her curvy ass.
“I think you missed a spot.” Summer wiggled her butt and giggled.
Wiggle and giggle was his new favorite thing.
“So do you want kids?” she asked as if him fondling her ass hadn’t just happened.
He straightened and looked off in the distance. “Well, I find myself thinking about it, but I’m not sure kids are in the cards for me.”
“Why not?”
“Uh, gee.” He chuckled although the sound was not mirthful. “I was, uh, in an accident,” he explained truthfully. The Humvee he’d been riding in had definitely crashed. “Modern medicine is a wonderful thing. They put me back together. I spent weeks in the hospital, and all the important parts work fine, but you know”—he shrugged—“shit happens.”
“Oh, so not Superman. More like Humpty Dumpty.”
Did he expect more shock and a bit of freaking out from his announcement? Yes. The last thing he expected was jokes.
“Super Humpty?” he shot back. “Sure.”
“Having nothing whatsoever to do with your big feet, I like you, Arnie.”
She looped her arm through his. He felt the weight of seeing her safely off the beach and back to civilization.
“Are you working tomorrow? I’d like to see you again if that’s okay.”
When she hugged his arm, he felt the softness of her breasts press against him.
“I’m covering someone else’s lunch shift. If it’s a normal day, I’ll be free by midafternoon. Hey, have you ever been to a wine and paint event?”
“You mean one of those deals where you get hammered on vino and paint along with an instructor?”
“Yes! Exactly! I know a place. It’s way, way fun.” She sniggered. “And the wine doesn’t suck, so there’s that.”
“I thought you didn’t drink.”
“When you asked earlier, I didn’t know you. Now that I do, I think I can risk a glass of chardonnay.”
He reached into a pocket and took out his phone. The agenda for tomorrow’s business sessions was on his calendar. His nuts would be in a sling if he fucked around while in his grandfather’s backyard. It didn’t matter what he did the rest of the time, but when he was in his Wanamaker guise, it was easier to do what was expected and not rock the family boat.
“I’m tied up till two. Does that work?” Please say yes. Please say yes.
“Perfect! I’ll make a reservation for the early class. That way, we can paint, sip, and then grab dinner.”
Arnie could not believe this enchanting golden girl was willing to take him on. “Are you asking me on a date?”
She laughed. “I guess I am.”
“Mm-hmm.” He snickered. “So you plan to get me drunk, ply me with dinner, and then what?” He wagged his brows and grinned.
Her snort of amusement rang out in the night. “I’ll google some options.”
“Stay away from Pornhub.” He chortled.
“You sound like my brother.”
“Smart man. There are some things better left unseen.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“No, but you are a good girl.”
“How do you