Page 22 of Masquerade Mistake
We reach Del Mar Park and Finn is already unbuckling his seatbelt as I pull into the parking space.
“Finn, I told you to wait until the car has stopped moving,” I say, but he’s already out the door and running toward the playground before I can open my door. I can’t stay mad long. As I grab our things from the seat next to me, I see he’s already found one of his friends.
I spread a blanket out on the grass, and settle with the book I’m reading, all while keeping one eye on the playground. I’m sure Maren won’t be here for another thirty minutes or so, giving me enough time to maybe get to the first kiss of the story, and maybe a little…further. God, I love romance books. My love life may have been non-existent since Finn came along, but thanks to books like this, I at least get the thrill of the “meet cute,” the chase, the longing, and then the satisfying coming together. The sex scenes don’t hurt either. But really, it’s the stuff that happens in between, all the reasons the reader can’t stop reading until it’s certain they’ll end up as a couple. They always do, of course. But it’s the buildup I live for.
“Let me guess. Frankenstein.”
I slam the book shut and look up as Ethan kneels in front of me. He’s completely sweaty with a huge grin on his face, his hair sticking to his forehead in adorable curls.
“Not exactly,” I say, trying to hide the book under my hand.
Nina’s voice plays in the back of my mind, He doesn’t want to fall in love. That paired with the fact that he doesn’t want kids—those should be two red flags. And yet, everything evaporates except for his smile and the butterflies swarming in my belly.
Ethan picks my book up and his grin widens as he takes in the cover—a shirtless male with rock hard abs, offering a sultry look. But I’m too busy looking at the shirtless man in front of me, sweat pouring down his chiseled muscles, and the allure of the tattoos covering his arms and chest. I want to run my hands over the designs, see if I can feel the raised lines beneath my palms, press my body against his sweaty chest.
“Is it good?” he asks.
“Oh yeah.” Then I look at his face, and I know my own is bright red. “I mean, it has a great storyline. It’s very sweet.”
“Uh huh.” He laughs as he puts the book down.
“What are you doing here?” As soon as I ask it, I want to fall through the earth. It’s not like I own the park or anything. But all I can think of is Finn playing several yards away, and how I’m not ready to tell Ethan about my son…or that he’s his son too. Even more, I don’t want Finn to see me talking to Ethan. We’re not doing anything, just talking, I remind myself. However, it doesn’t stop the visions of my mom talking to some random dude while I played by myself at the playground. Inwardly, I pray that Finn will be too busy playing to notice.
If Ethan notices my awkwardness or inner turmoil, he doesn’t show it.
“I just finished a game of hoops,” he says, nodding toward the basketball court. I glance where he indicates and notice a few players still shooting around. Even more, I notice a group of girls on a bench near the courts, obviously ogling the guys. I’m even more haunted by Nina’s words, and part of me wishes I’d never talked to her.
He’s here with you, not them, I remind myself. And even though it’s true, I can’t help feeling like some naive lovesick girl. I don’t even know Ethan. What’s to say he’s not charming to every girl he’s around.
“Hey, where’d you go?” He brushes my cheek with his finger, and the gesture is so familiar, as if we’ve known each other for long.
“I’m just…I’m glad to see you,” I say. I relax into his smile, but I feel a flutter of panic when he looks at my lips. Oh God, he can’t kiss me. What if Finn sees? But he doesn’t. Instead, he touches his lips, and then touches mine before standing. I feel equal parts relief and disappointment. There’s something intoxicating about his scent, how the smell of his sweat pulls at something deep inside me. You can’t get that kind of sensory overload from a romance book, that’s for sure. “I’d stay, but I have work in an hour and probably smell like shit.”
“You don’t,” I say, and my cheeks blaze as he reveals that crease in his cheek.
“You should stop by tonight,” he says. “Come get a drink.”
More than anything, I want to get that drink. Then I feel the guilt wash over me. How can I be this selfish? We just went out last night. Probably every other girl he’s dated would say yes. But I’m not every other girl, I’m a mom.
“I can’t. I have a deadline to meet and will probably be up all night.”
“Fair enough. I have a rare night off this Friday, though. Would you like to go out again?”
“She’d love to,” Maren says behind us. I turn and glare at her, then try not to crack up at the feigned angelic look on her face. “Hi, I’m Maren.” She shuffles the tray of iced coffee to reach over and shake his hand. “And you must be Ethan. I’ve heard a ton about you.”
She plops down next to me, handing me a coffee as I bite my lip, unsure whether to completely die or just evaporate into thin air.
“You have, have you?” Ethan’s smile tugs at his mouth, and I bury my face in my hands. “I recognize you. You play at Hillside, don’t you?”
Maren nods. “I’ve seen you there too. Nice to officially meet you. I hope to see more of you around.” She looks from Ethan to me, then at Ethan again.
“Me too,” he says, also looking at me.
“All right, fine. I’ll go out with you on Friday,” I say, but I laugh when I do.
“Great, it’s a date.” Ethan glances at the time on his phone and stands. “I’ve gotta run, but I’ll text you later for your address.”
Both Maren and I watch as he runs off, the muscles in his back rippling, his calves rock solid with each step.