Spinster? (21 page)

He shook his head. "Sorry, I can see your delectable nipples through that shirt, so I'm having a hard time concentrating."

She smiled. "I can see your nipples, too, and I can concentrate just fine." He was sitting on a bar stool, wearing only his boxers.
 

"Not the same thing." He gave her a lop-sided grin. She turned back towards the stove and bit her lip. This man was going to kill her. When she faced him again, she was holding an oven mitt in front of her distracting areolae.
 

"Better?" she sassed.

"Now I'm just staring at your legs."
 

"I can go put on my flannel Angry Birds robe if you want."

He laughed. "Angry Birds robe?"

"A gift from my nephews. I also have a Sponge Bob sweatshirt, and a lamp made of Legos."

"You must be the cool aunt."

"I'm the only aunt, so competition is slim."

"Still, it's sweet that you keep the things they give you."

"Well, I love the little turds, so...Okay, I'm getting carpel tunnel holding this spatula, so what'll-it-be, sugar?"
 

"Would it be too much trouble to make it an omelet? Nothing fancy, just cheese."

"I think I can handle that."

"Can I help?"
 

"You just sit there and look devastatingly handsome." She winked.

"Done and done."

In a few minutes they were drinking coffee and having omelets, cozy as can be, like they'd done it a million times before. She was usually herself around guys at this point in her life, but this went a step further. She felt so relaxed around him that she couldn't be anything but herself. The compulsion to let it all hang out was overwhelming. It was hard to explain.

"What do you have planned for the rest of the day?" he asked, picking up their empty plates and taking them to the sink.

"Don't worry about the dishes. Leave them there and I'll get them later."

"You sure? I'd be happy to wash them. It's become second nature with two kids."

"You don't have a housekeeper?" She couldn't believe it.

"I do, but she only comes twice a month. That leaves many, many dirty dishes on my plate, so to speak." He leaned back against the sink, crossing his feet out in from of him. It made his stomach crease in all the right places.

"Wow, high powered lawyer by day and washer of dishes by night. Very impressive."

"Don't forget launderer, potty trainer, fight referee, and boo boo kisser."

Tess cocked her head to the side. "Boo boo kisser, you say."

"Yup. You got any that need kissing?" Pushing away from the steel farm sink, he stalked towards her.

"I can think of a few spots...but first, you should know I kiss boo boos as well."

"Is that a fact?"
 

"Yes, and I think I see one right there." Her grip was sure as it slid over the fabric of his boxers. She smiled as he groaned. "Care to step into my office? I think I need to take a closer look."

She kissed it all better. He did too.

"Stop smiling," Tess whispered to herself. "Stop it." But she couldn't, it only made her smile harder. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so, dare she say, happy. Tess had forgotten how good sex could brighten her mood. It had been a long time since her boat had been rocked. And Wes rocked it something good. She had been attempting to focus on some social media posts she was creating for the magazine, but she couldn't come up with anything except #IGotLaid. She moved her computer away. By Monday her afterglow would have faded, and she'd be able to focus. She was too tingly to sit still. Every spot he'd touched, kissed, licked, pinched...every inch vibrated. If he hadn't needed to pick up his girls they would still be in her room. She loved this stage of the dating cycle, when all you wanted to do was f...ornicate.
 

Tess wondered when, and if, she'd meet his daughters. He hadn't brought it up, but if she was honest, it would have freaked her out if he was already talking about that. She didn't know everything about Wes, but she knew enough to figure out that he was protective of them, as he should be. That would be a sign, a sign that things were getting serious. It was too early. They'd only been back in each other's lives for a few months, and dating for a month of that. She wasn't even sure she wanted to meet them yet. She wanted to have fun, enjoy the company and the orgasms. She liked him though, more than she had anyone in years. Donovan was great, but it felt more like a friendship with kissing. This, with Wes, went deeper, and she had no plans to date anyone else. She hoped he was on that page, at least.
 

Once she was seeing a guy, she didn't sleep with anyone else. There was that one time in Ibiza, but she'd been twenty, her boyfriend a lying douche, and Javier had been delicious. But in most cases, Tess was monogamous, if the guy deserved it and it was agreed upon. Though the subject hadn't come up, she had a feeling Wes was a one woman kind of guy whether it was "serious" or not. She didn't need a label, and was content with things the way they were. She admired the kind of father he was, but that didn't mean she was ready to meet the kids and play house. They'd have to meet eventually if this thing progressed, but she'd worry about it later. Why was she even thinking about it?

Tess told herself she didn't want to meet his daughters, but three weeks later, as the best sex of her life continued, he still hadn't brought it up. Did he not think they'd like her? Did he not think she was good enough to bring home? Was it just physical for him? Was she his secret Twinkie? As the thoughts rolled through her mind, she started stabbing the lettuce with her fork.

"You, okay?" Wes asked. They'd met for lunch at one of their usual spots halfway between each of their offices.
 

"Fine." Universal woman speak for anything but.

"You sure? You seem kind of stabby. Do you have someone in mind?" He was trying to lighten her mood, and he did look handsome in his gray striped button down. No tie today, which was good, because she had a thing for his neck. But not even a glimpse of his soft skin could improve her sour state.

She set down her fork with a sigh. "Okay...can I be honest without you making it into something it's not?"

"Um, okay. I'm intrigued."
 

"Why haven't you mentioned anything about me meeting your daughters?"

"Oh." He set down the chicken club he'd been enjoying. "I didn't think we were there yet."

Ouch. She agreed, but ouch, nonetheless. "Okay. Good to know." That did not help the plight of the spring mix on her plate. It was one thing for her to have those thoughts, but to have the man you're sleeping with confirm that it's not serious was a blow to her ego. Fair, probably not, but women made up their own rules that weren't meant to be understood by the male half of the species. Attempting to transverse the female psyche was a tricky business on normal days. Poor Wes didn't stand a chance.
 

"Tess, I was under the impression you wanted to take things slow. I was just following your lead."

"My lead?" He gave her a look. Fine, maybe she'd been obvious with her arms length approach to relationships, but damn it, she thought she'd been letting him in. Guess it was more obvious to her than it was to Wes.

"Do you even like kids?" His voice was gentle.

Oh shit. How did she answer this one. "Yes?" She hadn't meant it to come out like a question.

We laughed. "Look, I really like you, and I know you like me. If things keep going this well, then I'd like you to meet the girls. Does that sound fair?"

"Yes. It was starting to hurt my feelings that you hadn't brought it up. Stupid, I know."
 

"It's not stupid. I understand. If the shoe was on the other foot, I'd wonder, too."
 

"And for the record, I do like kids. I'm just not keen on birthing them, if that makes sense."

"Yes, having seen the live show, it does." He picked up his sandwich and recommenced his lunch. "I felt like that before I had them, but they were both surprises I didn't have the luxury of second guessing."

Tess was glad she'd been open with him, she felt lighter for it. Who knew emotional transparency could be so freeing?

"I'd be honored to meet your girls...when the time is right." She gave him her best smile and finished her salad.
 

Whether it was a when or an if, only time would tell.
 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The right time did end up being a when, and that when ended up being three weeks after they'd had the conversation, and four months into their relationship. It would be a two birds with one stone meeting because he'd invited her to a function being held at his parents' house. A casual Sunday cook out. Funny, it felt anything but casual. Tess knew them, as in knew of them, and had seen them on various occasions, but meeting them as the woman dating their son was a big deal. It still paled in comparison to the other introduction that was going to take place.

"I know it might seem like a lot, meeting my parents and the girls at the same time, so if you'd rather split that up I understand."

"No, it might be nice to get it all over at once. Not like I'm dreading it, 'get it over with,' just, you know, it's a big deal."

He chuckled, "I love that you ramble when you're nervous. It's cute."

"I'm not nervous, so much as super excited," she said, coming out more sarcastic than she'd intended. She was trying for enthusiastic, but missed the target. "Okay, I'm nervous. You're lucky you've known my dad for years, so you get out of the whole meeting your girlfriend's dad awkwardness."

"I haven't met your mom before, so maybe that will be painful enough to even the scales."

"Puh-lease! Have you seen you? Topped off by your career and your family, she'll be planning our wedding before you even leave the house."

"Well, have you seen you?" he asked. "On top of being painfully beautiful, you're smart and funny, and have a career you love. Your family name carries a lot more weight than mine by a long shot, not that it matters a lick."

"So, you think they'll approve?"

"My parents?"

"Oh, I don't care about that...well, maybe a little...but I meant the girls." She bit the side of her nail, glad he was on the phone and not in her living room. She could hide her nerves on the phone, but not in person. It was probably too late in the game to perfect her poker face.

"They'll approve, all of them."

Meeting the parents, when she'd first arrived had gone fine. It was quick and friendly enough. They knew her parents and said it was nice to see Wes with a nice young lady. Who was she to correct them? Mrs. Glenda Caraway was attractive, with silver hair cut into a smart bob. Mr. Jack Caraway was slim, but shorter than Wes's six foot three. Tess could tell that he must have been quite the looker back in his day. He still was, but the tracks of time were evident on the lines of his face and the slight droop of his jowls. Tess was glad to see that it was indeed a casual event, just a few neighbors. You never knew in this part of town. A "casual" cookout could in reality be an upscale garden party. Fortunately she dressed for either circumstance. An sundress was always a safe bet, when paired with the right accessories.

A handshake from his dad, and an unexpected warm hug from his mom later, he whisked her away to meet two little dark headed girls running around a tree fort like squirrels. Tess's steps were tentative. Wes gripped her hand in encouragement and leaned into her and whispered, "They'll love you. Just be yourself. How could they resist?" His warmth against her cheek and shoulder gave her courage. How could two little beings be so intimidating? Wes was amazing, but what if he'd spoiled them, indulging their every whim to make up for their lack of a mother? She'd met those kind of kids before...no, thank you.

The sound of of high pitched laughter made her smile. Surely such dulcet sounds meant they themselves were sweet. Solid theory, but couldn't be proven until she walked the few feet between them.
 

They stopped when they saw their father approaching. "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hello, young ladies...Girls, I want you to meet someone. This is my friend, Tess." They looked at her with cocked heads, leeriness in Ella's eyes and curiosity in Kate's.
 

Tess had it on good authority that she was the first "friend" to be introduced. She almost wished it wasn't the case, that someone else had taken the inaugural bullet.
 

"Hi. It's very nice to meet you." She held out her hand, not in a shake, but in a high five. Kate slapped her small hand into hers with a giggle. Ella, taking her little sister's lead, returned her five. She wasn't sure what to say next, and the girls were no help as they stood watching her. She racked her brain for some topic that would bridge the uncomfortable silence. She had nephews, so she could wax Transformers all day long, but she had no experience with little girls. She was a little girl once and she'd heard all things old were new again, but she was coming up blank. Unicorns? Puppies? Cabbage Patch? The doll, not the dance.

"Are you my daddy's girlfriend?" the elder daughter asked, saving her from her ineffective brainstorming.

Tess looked to Wes as if to say that's all you, buddy. She was pretty curious as well.
 

He answered, "Yes, Ella, Tess is my girlfriend. It's why I wanted you to meet her." Good to know.

"Are you in wove?" the younger Kate asked. In that moment Tess loved kids—their unfiltered honesty was working in her favor. She again looked to Wes, eyebrow cocked. He crouched down and took Kate into his arms, giving her zerberts on her neck, eliciting peals of giggles. "I like her a whole, whole lot." Tess was okay with that answer. Kate looked toward Tess, then spoke into her dad's ear, supposed to be a whisper, but it wasn't even close. "Does she like you?"

Wes looked at Tess and winked. "I sure hope so."

Ella stood quiet and still, so Tess approached her. "Your dad tells me you're in 3
rd
grade. What's your favorite subject?" Ugh, school? Lame, but it was all she had.