"Then set your sights on someone else, someone who can offer more financial security. Just don't leave your heart out of the equation."
"Nonna!" Jack yelled for her as if she was in the next building instead of the next room.
"Coming, Jackie."
I finished the salad and hurried into my room to shower and change. I'd considered putting on a dress but decided it was too date-like for a dinner where my son and Mom would be joining us. I pulled on jeans and a sweater and dabbed on some lipstick and perfume. I was nervous as hell, and I had no idea how to turn off the butterflies.
Mom was sitting on the floor next to Jack, and the two of them were busy coloring in Jack's coloring book. It would have been a nice peaceful evening; one I'd looked forward to but now I'd added in the butterfly inducing guest.
His knock made the stomach flutters pick up energy. Mom looked up from her coloring page and winked. I took a deep breath and walked to the door. Ronan didn't disappoint, and I wasn't imagining how gorgeous he was. He was positively breathtaking.
He paused in the doorway and flashed me his utterly disarming smile. "You look beautiful," he said.
"Right back at ya," I quipped. I motioned for him to come inside. As he walked past, I noticed the gift-wrapped flat package he had under his arm.
Jack spotted his friend and crayons flew as he leapt over the coffee table to greet him. "Ronan!" he chirped. He ran straight to him, smacked hard into Ronan's legs and wrapped his little arms around them.
Ronan scrubbed his fingers through Jack's thick blond hair. "Hey buddy, I got you something." He withdrew the package from under his arm and handed the gift to Jack.
Jack jumped straight up in the air. He snatched the package and hopped onto the couch. "Look, Nonna, Ronan got me a present." He ripped the paper off in two seconds and pulled out a dinosaur pop-up book. Jack's mouth was wide open in joy and surprise as he opened the cover and a giant brontosaurus popped up. Mom sat next to Jack to read him the text.
Ronan turned to me. "I went through a dino phase—it was short because I got a bicycle and somehow racing around on two wheels made those old fossils a little less exciting. I went by my dad's place after work and found it up in the attic. It's still in good shape, which tells you how often I looked at books. My mom sent me that on my birthday."
"Ronan, you can't give that away. It's got sentimental value."
"Nah, we don't do sentimental well in my family. It would have just sat in the attic collecting dust."
"Look, Ronan!" Jack held up the book. "Triceratops. They're so cool."
"They sure are. Coolest dinos in the world."
I took his hand and led him into the kitchen. The second we stepped out of view of the couch I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. "Thank you for coming tonight."
His long lashes lowered as he stared down at my lips. "Thank you for inviting me."
Jack was the main source of entertainment through dinner and keeping up that entertainment level exhausted him. Ronan volunteered to help with the dishes while Mom took Jack in for a bath and bedtime story.
"I'll give you two a little alone time," Mom whispered in my ear as they walked out. "Goodnight, Ronan."
"Goodnight, Emily."
The second Mom and Jack were gone, Ronan put down his dishtowel, pressed himself against my back and wrapped his arms around me. He leaned down to kiss my neck. His touch made me relax, and my knees wobbled.
I put the plate I was holding down in the dishwater and grabbed his arms to tighten them around me. I wanted nothing more than for him to pick me up and carry me off to some lush, quiet place where he could strip me naked.
"Are you thinking the same thing as me?" he asked in a gravelly tone.
I giggled. "Uh, considering what I'm feeling back there against my bottom, I'd say yes. I'm thinking the same thing."
I spun around in his arms and peered up at him. I pushed a strand of dark hair off his face. "In fact, I've probably been thinking about it for a very scandalous amount of my day. Ever since you kissed me this morning. I don't want to lose my head with this, Ronan."
"I've already lost mine, baby." Ronan kissed me again. His hands circled my ass, and he lifted me up onto the edge of the sink. He stood between my thighs. I dropped my head back as he left a trail of hot kisses on my neck and throat. His hand swept under my sweater, and his fingers deftly found their way beneath my bra to my already taut nipple. He pushed the sweater up and pulled my bra down so my breast was exposed to the warm air of the kitchen. His tongue stroked my nipple.
I tangled my fingers in his thick hair as I held his head against me. Jack's angry shout about there not being enough bubbles jerked us both from the heated moment. Ronan shook with silent and disappointed laughter. I held his head against me a second longer, then he reluctantly lowered my sweater.
"Not exactly the height of romance sitting on a dish sink and listening to awesome little Jack complain about the lack of bubbles," he said.
I took his face in my hands, and he reached up with one hand and held my hand against his face. He closed his eyes a second. "How about we finish these dishes?"