Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,221

ready to kiss my cheek, but retreats before he does it. It’s probably because he doesn’t know what I’ll do if he kisses me in front of my kids, but suddenly, my skin goes cold after anticipating the warm gesture.

“How did you get in here?” I stand there, bug-eyed, as he slips Travis’ school backpack off my shoulder.

Meanwhile, the kids clamor to the table, not even bothering to wash their hands, to accept food from someone they barely know. Guess that talk about not taking candy from strangers went straight in one ear and out the other.

Forrest sets all my things down and then clinks his wineglass against mine. “Presley told me you keep a spare key under the planter in the back garden. That’s not very safe, and I probably sound like a stalker, but I wanted to have this ready for you when you got home. Figured everyone would be hungry.”

It was both thoughtful, caring, and surprising coming from him … and I am currently putty in his hands. He asked my friend how to get into my house so he could set up dinner for my boys and me? It might be the sweetest thing Forrest has ever done for me.

“Thank you.” I blink, still in shock that he did all of this for me.

For years, I’d been used to the selfish Forrest, the bachelor who cracked sarcastic jokes and didn’t even help out his family. But maybe, that had just been a one-sided opinion of him. Over the past few months, I’ve seen different sides of this man, and I have to admit … he is as giving as anyone I know.

With his hand on the small of my back, a floating, secret touch that the boys would never notice, he ushers me to the table. We sit at either end, co-heads with the boys filling in the middle. It strikes me how normal this moment feels … and also how odd it is. I’m usually the only figure of authority at this table, I don’t have another person help me out or backing me up. My children don’t have a male parent to look to for advice or even a funny dinner table dad joke.

Forrest might have pushed his way into my house tonight, but I am starting to realize he has somehow pushed his way into my heart too. Because … it is easy to see how a family that includes him would look.

Hopefully, he wasn’t scared about that. God, am I really letting myself think about this? As the smell of shrimp lo mein wafts up from my plate, I ponder it.

That was what he would get with me, all or nothing. What any man would get if they were considering a life with me. I don’t have the luxury of moving slow, of getting to know each other, of seeing how things went. I have children, which means that if I am even considering introducing someone to them, it’s going to be pretty freaking serious, pretty freaking fast. Not only did that person not have the convenience of doubt in a relationship, neither did I. I have been married before, I know if and when love is love.

Love? Where did that come from?

All I know is, so far, Forrest has passed every test I’ve thrown at him.

“P, do you want some beef and broccoli?” he asks from the other end of the table and I can tell it’s not the first time he’s asked.

I shake my head to clear the fog. “Yes, please.”

“Mom, Forrest said he’ll teach me some cheat codes in Fortnite.” Travis beams excitedly.

My brows lower in disapproval. “He’ll do no such thing. We don’t cheat at anything, especially video games.”

Matthew pipes in, “Mom, everyone cheats at video games. It’s like … practically the law.”

“I think you have the wrong definition of the law floating around in your head.” I bop him on the nose.

“Forrest, will you watch The Incredibles 2 with me?” Ames asks sweetly, a mouthful of noodles hanging from his lips.

My man friend (is that what we’re calling him?) fist bumps my youngest. “Dude, love that movie. I’ll definitely watch it with you. Who is your favorite character?”

Shoving more chicken in his face, Ames seems to consider this. “Jack Jack, because he’s the baby of the family but has a lot of powers. And the coolest ones!”

Forrest shrugs, shooting me a wink. “I’ve never heard a better response.”

“Yeah, but isn’t Captain America cooler?” Matthew tries to one