No Commitment (Capital Kingsmen #1) - Lisa Suzanne Page 0,44

as I get up to find the remote, which we store out of Luna’s reach, and then I search to find the right channel.

Tyler: Mike and Frank drive around and pick through people’s old junk to find treasures.

Me: Sounds boring AF.

Tyler: Tell me what episode it is when you have it on.

I check the info on my guide.

Me: Roll Like a Rock Star.

Tyler: [laughing emoji] Perfect.

Me: Why is that perfect?

Tyler: It’s my favorite episode ever.

Me: Why?

Tyler: Mike and Frank find Aerosmith’s old tour van.

I sigh as I turn my attention to the episode that’s midway over.

Me: Are you a big Aerosmith fan?

Tyler: I’m a fan of pretty much every classic rock band, but they’re one of the best.

We settle into a conversation about rock bands and the type of music we both like—something we’ve never really talked about despite his profession. I’m a Capital Kingsmen fan, obviously, although I don’t tend to play a lot of hard rock during the day, sticking instead to pop songs that Luna bops around to. I like pretty much anything when it comes to music, but he mostly prefers classic rock, hard rock, and heavy metal.

I have music playing almost all day every day.

He prefers silence when he’s driving or working out so he can draft new songs in his head.

I realize it’s been five full minutes since I’ve texted him as I watch the hosts of the show as the van is authenticated by a former member of the band. I have tears in my eyes when another one comes through.

Tyler: You still there?

I laugh at the ridiculousness of being so engrossed by a show on his channel that I actually didn’t respond to his last text.

Me: The van was just authenticated. [crying emoji]

Tyler: [laughing emoji] You’re crying?

Me: Maybe.

Tyler: I told you the history channel is legit.

I laugh. Okay, fine. So he was right.

Me: Thank you for introducing me to this whole new world.

Tyler: Give me time. There are lots of worlds I can’t wait to introduce you to.

I send the laughing emoji, but there’s a world I’m finding myself more and more ready to introduce him to, as well.

The world of being a father.

CHAPTER 23

DANIELLE

Tyler texted me on Monday evening, just after Ford got home. It was simply a picture of the moon.

I deleted it without replying because my husband was inches from me, and as my hands shook while I swiftly got the message off the screen, it was the first time I felt like I was having an affair...aside from when I actually went to his house and we shared that fiery, emotional kiss on his patio.

I changed Tyler’s contact name in my phone just in case Ford happens to see a message. Now when he texts me, it looks like a text from Jen Murphy, one of the moms in a local playgroup I’ve taken Luna to a few times.

That was the second time I felt like I was having an affair.

The third time came tonight.

Me: What’s on tonight’s agenda?

I glance at the clock. It’s a little after eight, which means it’s a little after six in LA. I only held out for an hour tonight after I got Luna down, and it was only because I have to look like I did something today when Ford gets home. So I folded laundry and cleaned the kitchen.

When I finished, I promptly collapsed in the rocker recliner and shot off that text.

And now I’m staring at the screen and waiting for his reply when my phone starts to ring.

I nearly drop it in surprise, but I recover quickly. And when I see the name of the person calling, my heart thumps as a wave of guilt pushes through me.

I sit up a little straighter in my chair.

This is wrong.

My heart pounds a little harder as tingles dart up and down my spine, exploding everywhere in my blood.

I shouldn’t answer.

But it’s not like he doesn’t know I’m sitting here holding my phone in my hand since I literally just texted him a question twelve seconds ago.

Shit.

“Hi,” I answer before I can think it through. Before I can stop myself.

“You,” he says.

“What?”

“You are on my agenda tonight.”

I laugh.

“Is it, uh, okay that I called?” he asks.

“No,” I say because that’s what feels like the right thing to say. The honorable thing. “But I’m glad you did.”

“I am, too. I just wish we could talk in person.”

I settle back into my chair, and it creaks with my movement. I blurt out my next