“Just a guy I hooked up with randomly. But not anymore.”
I nod. “I’m sorry he wasn’t good to you.”
“Eh, I seem to be caught up on one guy, so I keep going out with assholes.” My lips curl when she flashes me a wide, beaming smile. “I’m talking about you.”
I grin. Man, she doesn’t even know what’s about to hit her. A whole lot of Kirby charm. I glance over at her as she does the same, and our eyes meet. In the moonlight, her skin glows and is incredible. Her hair is wild, curls everywhere, and I want to tangle my fingers in them. I still can’t believe she’s feeling me. I’m relieved, but it’s almost too good to be true.
“I didn’t think you liked me anymore,” I say, with no clue how those words came into existence. I know I didn’t choose them. They just came out, and I guess my “charm” means me being a complete loser. If she didn’t like me before I said that, she sure as hell doesn’t now.
Her lips tip upward as she eyes me. “What gave you that impression?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. When I saw you at the law office, you seemed standoffish. And then that email that was very straightforward. Kind, but no clues into you feeling me.”
She scoffs. “I don’t think I ever stopped feeling you,” she admits, meeting my gaze. “I didn’t mean to give that impression, but I didn’t know where your head was at. I didn’t want to be in the way of all the things you have going on.”
I nod. “But what if I want you in the way?”
She looks away shyly. “Then I wouldn’t protest.”
When she comes to a stop beside a badass red Lexus convertible, I’m not surprised. She’s a walking billboard for success, and I love it. She leans against her car, eyeing me as I sway side to side to keep Celeste asleep. Jaylin plays with her keys, and I can’t help but stare, though I know she’s waiting for an answer. I clear my throat to buy myself some time before I say, “Well, Counselor, I’ll be really honest and admit that I want you in all the ways.”
She grins. “I figured that out after you kissed me.”
I step toward her, wishing my child weren’t between us, but it’s my life, and if she doesn’t like that, she needs to tell me. “I want to kiss you again.”
She licks her lips, sending my body into a frenzy. “What’s stopping you?”
Man, is she sexy. “I don’t know if you’re okay with me being a dad.”
Her brows come in, confusion deep in those dark-brown eyes. “I love that you’re a dad. You’re a great one.”
A grin pulls at my lips as my eyes search hers, looking for the lie. I’m so used to being lied to by women that I expect her to do the same. But she isn’t like my ex or even my mom—she’s Jaylin. “I’m sorry that we didn’t get to explore this before, and while it sucks, I don’t regret Celeste.”
She nods. “I know. She’s perfect.”
“But I do regret something.”
Her lashes kiss her cheeks before she meets my gaze. “Do you?”
“Yeah, and this is me being really straightforward.”
She cocks her head with a smile. “Okay?”
“So, there is no question how I feel or what I want.”
“Which is smart since we’ve apparently spent the last month still feeling each other and not doing anything about it.”
“Exactly,” I say, and she nods. “So, my regret.”
“Yes, the regret, which I’m pretty sure is my regret.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, very much so.”
I love the little grin on her face. I love the playfulness in her eyes. This girl sets me on fire. I know I’m grinning ear to ear, and I can’t help it. I also can’t beat around the bush. “I regret not getting you into my bed.”
Her grin grows as she gasps softly. “Yup, same regret.”
I nod slowly, both of us grinning at each other. “Then I think we should fix that.”
“I would agree wholeheartedly.”
I gulp, and then it hits me. “Wait, I don’t want you to think I only wanted you for sex. It’s not—”
She presses her hand into my hand that’s lying on Celeste’s back. “Kirby, I know.”
Our eyes are locked in one hell of a heated and naughty embrace. If I weren’t holding my daughter, I would wrap Jaylin in my arms and take that sexy mouth with mine. “So, would it be too bold of me to assume you want to come home with me?”
“I happen to enjoy the bold side of you because that side assumes correctly.”
Thank God.
I unbuckle Celeste as Jaylin gets out of her car. While I slowly try to get my daughter out so she doesn’t wake up, Jaylin comes up beside me and quietly asks, “Can I help?”
“Can you grab her bag?”
“Of course,” she says and does just that as she shuts the door behind me.
“In the side pocket are the keys. Can you grab them?” Without a word, she does it, running ahead of me to open the door. I follow her in as she locks it behind us. I kick off my shoes as she does the same, setting down Celeste’s things and then my keys on the side table. “I’m gonna go get her settled.”
I head into Celeste’s room, and I don’t even realize Jaylin’s behind me until I’m laying Celeste in her bed. I take off her little shoes and then her outfit, when Jaylin hands me a diaper and a sleeper. I grin at her, and she shrugs.
“Just trying to help.”
“It’s appreciated,” I say, and it’s the truth. I’m so used to doing this all by myself. It’s a breath of fresh air to have help. When Jean is here, she does it all to get familiar with Celeste. Lilly and I never raised Celeste together, and it isn’t like my mom is here to help me. My pride doesn’t allow me to let my neighbors help much, but it feels right to let Jaylin.
Wow. Kirby, hold your horses, dude. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Then again, everything has always felt right with Jaylin. I smile as I change Celeste, thankful she’s staying asleep, when Jaylin runs her hand down my back. “It’s really sweet the way you look at her.”
I grin over at her. “While I do often smile at my baby like this, I was actually thinking of that first night we met.”
Her grin widens. “Is that right?”
“Yup, I can still remember everything you wore. How undeniably gorgeous you were. How much you laughed and how much fun we had. It was easy.”
She nods. “Very easy.”
We share a small smile as her hand glides up and down my back. I desperately want to ask what she is looking for. Is she just wanting a random fuck, or is this going to be something? I want so badly for it to be something that I fear if I tell her what I want it to be, she’ll run out the door. What if I’m giving off the wrong vibe? Maybe I shouldn’t have said what I did. That I regretted she hadn’t been in my bed. Maybe it gave off the wrong intentions. Shit.
“What?” she asks.
“I’m overthinking.”
Her eyes soften. “Well, let’s finish putting Celeste to bed, and I’ll make sure you don’t think any more tonight.”