Page 49 of No More Hiding

“She asked if we kissed more than once.”

“Then I suppose I’ve got a boyfriend too. He’s a little slow, but that’s part of his charm. Oh wait, he doesn’t like to be called charming, right?”

“Rusty,” he said. “Not slow. And considerate. Maybe I’m being considerate.”

“I could be the same. Maybe you’re fragile.” There was silence on the other line and she wondered if she pushed too far. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”

“No. It came out right. I could be considered that. My mother might think it too. Maybe that is why she wants to meet you too.”

“Then we can meet your parents on Monday. And on Sunday I was going to suggest I cook dinner for you and Sammie. How does that sound?”

“Sounds perfect,” he said.

They talked for a few more minutes, said goodnight, and she set her phone down and let out a deep breath.

Wow. She was meeting his parents the day after she planned on getting him in her bed. Hope his mother didn’t figure that one out.

16

Excitement And Adventure

Brent showed up at Vivian’s on Sunday with Sammie’s leash in one hand and a bakery box in the other.

She’d told him he didn’t have to bring anything for dinner, but he didn’t feel right doing that.

So on the way he’d stopped at the bakery, grabbed some big chocolate brownies and felt somewhat better.

Vivian opened the front door with a huge welcoming smile on her face. “Hello,” she said leaning down to pet Sammie and take her leash. “I’m going to assume she’s gone to the bathroom and is good to come in?”

“She just marked your front lawn. Hope she doesn’t kill your grass. She fertilized mine before she came, so that’s good at least.”

She laughed. “Not a problem. What’s in the box and the bag?”

“Dessert,” he said holding up the box. “And dog food and toys for Sammie in the other. I don’t mind her having some table food, but it’s best not to always do it. I don’t think it agrees with her.”

“Such a responsible father,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.

“I was wondering if I was going to get one of them.”

She laughed and walked to the back of the house toward the kitchen. “It’s early yet for dinner, but I thought we’d eat around three if that works?”

It was barely one now and he liked that they were going to spend the day together. He’d like it more if some of it was spent on the couch with their hands and mouths on each other, but as he’d said, he was rusty and letting her take the lead.

Shit, she was taking more than him and he was following along like his puppy, just waiting for a treat.

When had he become so docile?

Nah, he’d always been that way, he knew that now. Maureen was the outgoing one, him riding on her coattails of fun.

Then it was Rob that gave him the excitement and adventure in his life. With both of them gone, he found he just...was.

Like his job, he was a body that did what it needed to do from day to day but not many knew or remembered.

It was time to change that.

It was time to stand out more, or at least to the hot sexy woman in front of him that for some reason was giving him the time of day.

The one that made him feel better about himself more than anyone else had—even when he felt or looked like a fool.