Page 23 of Daycare Santa
Zack walked them to the door and held it open. “Have a good evening.”
“You too.”
As she walked past, he murmured, “I haven’t forgotten about that date.”
Gina gave him a side-eye and retorted, “The one youdidn’tactually ask me on?”
“Yeah, that one.”
“Ask me again sometime,” she said over her shoulder. “You never know what my answer may be.”
He stood with his back pressed to the door, watching Gina and Luca as they went down the steps. She placed Luca’s belongings next to him and ensured he was strapped in and comfortable before getting into the driver’s seat. As she drove out, Gina tapped the horn, and he lifted a hand in response.
While he gathered his laptop and Thermos, Zack’s mind stayed with Gina. She’d been tied up in knots over her situation, but he didn’t mind her lateness. Luca had told him a little about her that intrigued Zack more.
He knew Luca didn’t have a father before she told him. The boy also mentioned an Uncle Boyd that roused his curiosity. He couldn’t question Luca because that was a no-no, but he was desperate to know if that man was her brother or someone she was seeing.
He hoped it wasn’t the latter. On his way to the Maserati, the phone rang, and he pulled it out. Eli face appeared on the display. “What’s up? I hope you aren’t calling about work.”
“Since when do the hours matter to you? Did the kids wear you out?”
“Not exactly, but I’m just leaving Wintertime.”
“I hope you collected the late fee.”
“Nah. This was a first-timer who had some challenges today.”
“That’s how it starts, mi hermano.”
He set his laptop and flask on the seat behind him. “Not with this woman. She’s different.”
“Is that a hint of interest I hear in your voice? Liz would have something to say about you checking out the clients.”
He laughed. “I make an observation, and you assume I’m interested in this person?”
“Actually, I was judging by your tone of voice and the fact that no woman has turned your head for a while. A whole year, in fact.”
“It hasn’t been that bad.” Zack powered up the engine and let it idle.
“When was the last time you went out with anyone?”
“I’ve been working.”
He put the car in gear, drove out of the property, and pointed the remote at the gate. As it closed behind him, Zack connected the call to the car’s Bluetooth system. “I guess that’s the reason you haven’t been on a date lately either, huh?”
“My reasons are different.”
“Well, so are mine.”
“Bro, you need to get over Alana and let yourself love again.”
“Iamover her.” He tapped the horn to thank the driver who stopped and allowed him onto the main road.
“Could that be why you’re locked away in the house, working every evening?”
The backed-up traffic ahead of him meant it would take him twice as long to get home. “I’m sure you didn’t call to harass me about my love life.”
Eli chuckled, then said, “Actually, I’m inviting you on a double date.”