Saturday, Mae closed the back door of Merit’s green SUV while Ian fastened his seatbelt. She turned around to find their handsome chauffeur holding the front passenger door open for her.
With his jaw shadowed by stubble, he looked particularly gorgeous in a black, button up shirt with the sleeves rolled past his thick forearms, and a pair of not quite so worn as usual jeans. Her heart beat a little faster when he blocked her way and discretely laid his hand on her hip.
She hadn’t seen him since he left Tuesday evening, but they’d texted throughout the week, and he’d called her each night before bed. She was a little behind on her sleep, but hearing his voice and learning all about him was more than worth it.
“I really do love that dress,” he murmured.
Mae met his gaze with a small smile. “So you’ve said twice already.”
But she’d be okay if he said it a few more times. She’d picked the blue mini summer dress with tiny white polka dots because it made her eyes look super blue. The snug fit smooshing her boobs together was a bonus Merit had visually appreciated a few times since he’d knocked on the door with birthday roses for her, and a roll of Bottle Caps candy for Ian.
“And those sandals…man, do they do great things for your legs.”
The white sandals with little blue flowers across the toe strap had three inch heels. After every day all day in steel-toed work boots, she loved wearing fun shoes to go out—although, she’d tucked a pair of white tennis shoes into her bag for mini-golf after dinner.
She reached up to lay a hand against his cheek, and his dark stubble scraped against her palm. “I am partial to the scruff,” she whispered. “I like the way it feels on my skin.”
His eyes darkened, and his nostrils flared. “You’re mean.”
She dipped her head and looked up with a dramatic flutter of her lashes. “Whatever do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” He shot a glance toward the back seat as his fingers flexed on her hip, and he lowered his voice. “It’s killing me I can’t drag you into your bedroom right now and give you a proper happy birthday.”
Her core clenched in reaction to the rough, gravelly growl of his voice. “Maybe later.”
His surprised, hopeful expression made her laugh, and she gently pushed him out of the way so she could slide into her seat.
On the drive to Ian’s restaurant pick—Nick’s Pub—she had to ask, “What’s the criteria for green versus red?”
“What?”
“What makes you decide to drive your green vehicle instead of the red one?” She was especially curious since the red Jaguar was much nicer than the green Ford they were currently riding in. Not that she cared, she only wanted to know what made him tick.
“I don’t actually have two vehicles. I sold the Jaguar and bought this instead,” he said quietly. “A crash course in paying bills convinced me to downgrade.”
“Something else new for you?”
“You could say that.”
“Well, that was a very mature move. Welcome to being a grown-up.”
“It was advice from my brother that wasn’t a set up to make me look like an idiot.”
She laughed as he pulled into the parking lot at Nick’s. “I think I need to get to know Grayson better.”
“Good luck with that.”
They made their way inside where the hostess asked, “Table or booth?”
“Booth!” Ian answered before either of the adults could.
He bounced onto the seat on one side, and when she sat opposite, Merit slid in beside her. His thigh pressed against hers, and she relished the warmth of his arm against her bare shoulder.
The pub wasn’t overly crowded at five-thirty, but then again, they were eating earlier so they could mini-golf afterward. As Merit and Ian discussed what they were going to get, Mae noticed the redheaded server at the booth next to them sneak glances their way.
At first, she thought the girl was simply keeping an eye on her section, but a moment later, she felt Merit stiffen beside her. When she shot him a sideways glance beneath her lashes, he was definitely looking at the redhead.
Pretty, tall, and curvy, she looked to be in her mid-twenties. It was obvious they knew each other, and Mae’s stomach twisted as she wondered who she was to him. One-night-stand? Previous girlfriend? Current girlfriend? She hated that her mind went there, but all her insecurities about his playboy past rushed forward with a vengeance.
Suddenly, she wasn’t quite so hungry anymore.
Their server arrived—a brunette who was most likely still in high school. After they gave their orders for burgers and fries, Merit and Ian kept up a steady stream of back and forth until the food came. Mae managed to toss in a comment every so often, but mostly she was hyper aware of how Merit tensed every time the redhead passed near their table. She battled sharp little nips of jealousy all the while she picked at her dinner.
“Everything okay?” he asked after their plates were cleared.
“Yeah. Fine.” But how about you? she wanted to ask. Why are you so nervous whenever that waitress comes by?
When Ian announced he needed to go to the bathroom, she jumped at the chance to escape the booth. Merit stood and offered his hand to help her out. She gave him a tight smile of thanks while averting her gaze, only to see the redhead watching them from over near the bar. The woman turned back to her drink tray the second she saw Mae looking her way.
Yeah, there was definitely something going on between them.
She clenched her jaw so tight on the way to the bathroom her teeth hurt by the time she and Ian made their way back out. He spotted a row of four, quarter candy vending machines, and pressed his hands against the glass of one of them with a gasp. “Mom, look! Scooby Doo super balls!”
“Very cool. That has to be meant to be, don’t you think?”
“Yep. Can I get one?”
She dug some quarters from her purse and dropped them into his hand. “It’s your birthday, Scoob. You can get two.”
His happy grin would’ve been worth ten dollars in quarters. As he fed the machine and twisted the lever, Mae glanced across the dining area of the pub. Her heart skipped when she saw Merit at the bar talking to the redhead. She should feel better that neither of them looked happy, but she didn’t. Not one damn bit.
He frowned as he turned away. His gaze darted toward the bathrooms, and his expression stiffened when he saw her watching him. She didn’t look away.
Yeah, buddy, you’re busted.
The back of her eyelids burned. It was too early to be this invested in the man, and yet here she was, battling the pain trying to rip her heart to shreds. She had wanted so badly for him to be different—for him to not be that guy.
Merit returned to their booth to toss some bills on the table, then made his way over to her and Ian, his expression grim.
“Merit, look at what I got!”
He shifted his gaze from her to her son and gave him a genuine smile while taking one of the super balls in his hand to look at it closer. “These are awesome.”
“Can you believe they have Scooby Doo on them?”
“And Shaggy, too.”
Ian grinned.
Merit handed the ball back. “You both ready to go?”
“Yep!”
Mae was ready to go home, but when Merit’s cautious gaze met hers, she simply gave him a stiff nod. Much as she wanted the night to be over, it was Ian’s birthday, too, and he was expecting miniature golf and ice cream. No way she’d take that away from him, so somehow, she had to figure out how to get through the next couple of hours.
Merit moved ahead of them to get the door. “All right then, let’s go play short sticks.”
“What does that mean?” Ian asked.
As they walked out to the vehicle, Merit explained that in golf, short stick was a slang term for putter, and miniature golf was also called putt-putt, so…short sticks.
“I get it.” Her smart little guy grinned as Merit unlocked his vehicle and opened the back door for him. “Let’s play short sticks.”
“You got it, but is it okay if I talk to your mom for a minute?”
“Yep.”
Mae narrowed her gaze at him when he closed the door. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to hear his excuses right now, but he didn’t appear to be giving her a choice as he grasped her elbow to guide her to the back of the vehicle. She pulled away and swung around to face him as he said, “It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I think?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
She crossed her arms and shifted her weight back, away from him. “Then tell me, Merit, what exactly is it?”
“Her name is Carly.”
She fought to keep from wrinkling her nose at the name.
“We went out twice before I met you.” He winced. “Well, kind of before I met you.”
Already he was shifting his story. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“We went out the night before my dad’s election, and then again the weekend after the election.”
They’d first met the night of his father’s election. The night she’d gone along with Honor’s little joke to let him think Ian was her significant other, not her son.
“I didn’t ask her out again after the second date, because the whole time I was with her, I kept thinking of you. Comparing your eyes and the color of your hair. I never had a preference for blond until you.”
“That’s a good line,” she muttered as her heart beat faster at the implications of what he’d said. If it was true, it was a really good line. Especially since he’d said something very similar last weekend.
“It’s not a line, Mae.” A spark of anger in his denial caught her off guard.
“Did you sleep with her?” When he frowned, she held up a hand and looked way. “On second thought, forget it. I don’t want to know.”
Yes, you do, liar.
“I did sleep with her, but I haven’t seen her since last November. Besides which, why does that even matter? I’ve never claimed to be a saint, and anything with her was before we even knew each other. I shouldn’t have to apologize for that.”
His words sank in, and she realized he was right. She had no right to be mad or jealous about someone from almost nine months ago. If the situation was flipped, and he got bent out of shape for her being with Ian’s father seven years ago, she’d tell him he was being an idiot.
And now she felt like an idiot. And a jerk, too.
“No, you shouldn’t have to apologize,” she agreed, her gaze leveled at his chest. “You don’t have to apologize, I do. I’m sorry.”
He reached to take her hand and then tilted her head up with a knuckle under her chin. “I never have been and never will be someone who cheats. And I’m not going to walk away. I’m not looking for anyone else because I don’t want anyone else, got it?”
She nodded and then rose up to wrap her arms around his neck in a tight hug so he wouldn’t see her tears. His arms closed around her, and he lifted her off her feet. With her face buried in the crook of his neck and his intoxicating cologne filling her senses, she choked out another, “I’m sorry.”
“All I’m asking is for you to trust me here, Mae. I’m with you all the way.”
She nodded again as he stroked her hair. After a moment, he whispered, “Shall we go play short sticks?”
“Yes, please.”
Almost three hours later, Merit carried a sleepy Ian into the house after eighteen holes, ice cream, and presents. He woke up a little as he brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas. When he had the covers tucked in under his armpits and his stuffed Scooby Doo Great Dane in the crook of his elbow, Mae sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in to kiss his forehead.
“So, what do you think, Scoob? Good birthday?”
“The best, Mom. Thank you.” He gave her a tired grin, then looked past her shoulder. “Thanks for coming with us, Merit.”
Mae glanced back to see him lounging against the door frame, thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets, feet crossed at the ankles.
“Thanks for asking me. I had a ton of fun tonight.”
“Even though you got beat by a kid and a girl?”
Mae grinned at Ian’s taunt. They’d kicked his butt—and she was positive he hadn’t let them win for their birthdays.
“Even though,” Merit agreed with a wry smile.
He’d been a good sport through their trash talk during the eighteen holes, and their gloating afterwards. He’d been great with Ian, and after their talk outside Nick’s, she’d been able to relax and enjoy the evening together. She still felt bad for immediately jumping to the worst case scenario at the pub, but she planned to make it up to him once Ian was asleep. Plus, she’d been thinking of another way to show she trusted him and his word.
“Ian, remember when you asked me if the baby has a daddy?”
He nodded.
“Well…Merit is the baby’s daddy.”
His blue eyes widened as his head turned toward the door where Merit stood. A quick glance revealed his cautious smile for her son, and after what felt like forever, Ian asked, “Is that why you’re here? Because of the baby?”
Wow—her kid knew how to go right for the heart, didn’t he?
Merit pushed away from the door and came over to kneel next to the bed. “I’m here for the baby, and your mom, and you, Ian. I like you guys a lot.”
“I like you, too,” he said, his voice soft and surprisingly shy. Then he frowned. “Are you going to be a doggie daddy or a penguin daddy?”
Mae bit her lip as the conversation from last weekend flooded back. She didn’t interrupt though. She wanted to see how this went.
“What’s the difference?” Merit asked as he sat back on his heels.
“Doggie daddies aren’t always around, but penguin daddies help take care of their babies.”
“Well, then, count me in as a penguin daddy.”
Ian smiled before yawning and snuggling deeper into his pillow. “Good. I like penguin daddies.”
“Me, too,” Mae murmured.
Merit rose to his feet. “Sweet dreams, kiddo. I’ll see you soon.”
“Night, Merit. Night, Mom. Love you.”
“Night, Scoob. Love you, too.”
Mae followed Merit out of the room and pulled the bedroom door closed behind her. It was nearly ten o’clock, and she was tired and wired at the same time. It had been a long day, but a good one, and her body was humming with anticipation.
“Penguin daddy,” Merit said with a soft chuckle as he reached up to rub the back of his neck. “I was not expecting that. He’s something else.”
“That’s my boy.”
“He’s a great kid, Mae.”
When he lowered his arm and moved a little closer, her breath hitched. You’d think after last weekend, she’d be more comfortable letting him know what she was thinking, that it was later and there was no maybe about it, she was more than ready to feel his stubble against her skin. But with her heart threatening to pound right through her ribs, she couldn’t quite find the words.