Summer Love: The Best Mistake / Impulse

His mouth stopped its desperate journey over her throat. Slowly he drew back to look at her. Her eyes were clouded, and her mouth was swollen and ripe. “No one?”

“No.” She swallowed and prayed for her system to level before she gave in to the urge to rip off his clothes and cut loose. “Since before Keenan was born. I feel like all those needs dried up—like old leaves. You’ve set a match to them, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

“The kid’s father,” Coop said carefully. “You’re still in love with him.”

“No.” She might have laughed at that, if she weren’t so shaken. “He has nothing to do with it. Well, of course he does, but… I have to sit down.” She walked unsteadily to a chair. “I knew this was going to happen. I think I knew it the first time I saw you. There’s been no one, because I didn’t want anyone. Because Keenan was all that mattered to me. I have plans.” That came out as an accusation, and her eyes darkened. “Damn it, I have plans. I want to go back to school. I want to have my own flower shop one day.” Her voice began to catch, alarming him.

“Zoe—”

But she barreled right over him. “And everything was going along fine. I got the house. I wanted him to have a house, and a yard, and neighbors. Everyone said I was crazy, that I’d never be able to do it, that I’d be sorry I’d given everything up to raise a child on my own. But I’m not sorry. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And I’ve done a good job. Keenan’s happy, and he’s bright and funny and wonderful. We have a good life, and I know I can make it even better. I haven’t needed anyone. And… Oh, God, I’m in love with you.”

The hand he’d lifted awkwardly to pat her head froze. “What?”

“Oh, what a mess. What a mess.” She plucked a tiny sock out of the laundry basket and wiped her eyes. “Maybe it’s just hormones. It could be, you know. But I walked in and you were sleeping with him on the couch. It was so sweet. Then you were kissing me and everything went crazy. Then you’re out in the yard looking so smug and male, showing Keenan how to hit that silly ball. And you’re eating pancakes and looking at me. I can hardly breathe when you’re looking at me.”

Somewhere along the line, his mind had gone blank. “I think I missed a step.”

“No, you didn’t.” She sniffled and struggled to get herself under control. “I’ve just taken too many. It’s my fault. You’ve been nice to Keenan, and you’ve been honest with me.” She sighed, dropped the damp sock in her lap. “Believe me, I know my emotions are my responsibility.” Because he was still staring at her, like a man who’d just had the friendly family dog lunge for his throat, she smiled. “I’m sorry, Coop. I shouldn’t have dumped all that on you. I didn’t even know it was all bottled up.”

This time he took a step back. “Zoe, I like the kid. Who wouldn’t? And I’m attracted to you. But—”

“There’s no need to explain.” Steady now, she rose. “Really, there isn’t. I don’t expect anything from you, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. But I feel a lot better.” And, oddly enough, she did. “When I go to bed with you, we’ll understand each other.”

“When you—”

“I think we both know that’s going to happen,” she said calmly. “We both want it to, and it’s smarter to face that than to live with all this tension. Keenan’s been wanting to spend the night with a friend of his. I’ll arrange it.” She laughed a little at Coop’s expression. “It’s a little hard to be spontaneous with a four-year-old around. I hope you don’t mind planning out a night together.”

“No, I mean, I don’t— God, Zoe.”

“If you’d rather not, or if you want some time to decide, that’s all right.”

He studied her face, felt that same greedy tug, and a flare of something entirely different. Entirely new. “No, I want you. Whenever.”

“How about Monday night?”

“I’ve got a twilight doubleheader on Monday.” He couldn’t believe he was standing here planning out a wild night of love like a dentist’s appointment.

“Ah… Wednesday?”

He nodded. “Wednesday’s good for me. Do you want to go out somewhere?”

It was sweet, she thought, really sweet of him to ask. “It’s not necessary.” She laid a hand on his cheek. “I don’t need flowers and candlelight. I’ll come upstairs after Keenan’s settled.”

“Good. Fine. I… better get back to work.”

“Do you still want to have Keenan tomorrow?”

“Yeah, no problem. Tell him to come on up.” Coop backed toward the door as Zoe began folding laundry again. “I guess I’ll see you.”

She listened to him walk up the steps. He was certainly a mistake, she told herself. But she’d made others. Life got too mundane when you avoided all the wrong turns.

Chapter 7

“He shoots, he scores!” Coop made appropriate crowd noises as Keenan dunked the basket.

“I can do it again! I can, okay?” From his perch on Coop’s shoulders, Keenan swung his sneakered feet.

“Okay, you’ve drawn the foul.” Coop scooped the palm-sized ball up and passed it into Keenan’s eager hands. “It’s game point, kid, ten seconds to play. This free throw is all or nothing. Got it?”