“Would you like a coffee?” Jamie offers, already reaching for a mug. “I, uh, hope it's okay that I already made some. And breakfast. I probably should have asked first, but you were sleeping so peacefully, and Ella was hungry, so—”
“It's perfect,” I assure him, accepting the coffee with a smile. Our fingers brush during the exchange, and even that brief contact sends a small thrill up my spine. “Thank you.”
His eyes hold mine, and my body warms as I inadvertently smile. “You’re welcome.”
Being in his presence makes it a lot harder to forget what happened between us last night. The way his hands felt against my skin and how he kissed every part of my body that I’m insecure about.
I swallow, feeling the heat pooling in an area it most certainly shouldn’t while we have pancakes between us.
Damn him.
He just has this way of making me feel sexy with one look.
“Look, Jamie. I ate everything.” Ella shows him her very sticky and very empty Princess Blanca plate, then she looks at me. “Jamie told me I had to eat breakfast before I could go to football.”
“Peewee football,” Jamie clarifies, flipping a pancake. “She told me there’s apparently a tournament today?”
“Championship game,” I correct, taking a sip of the coffee. It’s sweet, just the way I like it. “She's been excited about it all week.”
“Can Jamie come?” Ella asks, looking between us with those big green eyes. “Please? He's really good at teaching me how to catch.”
“I'd love to have you there,” I say softly, meeting his gaze over Ella's head. “If you want to come.”
“I want to,” he says, and the regret in his voice is palpable. “God, I really want to. But I can't. I have something I need to take care of this morning.”
Disappointment crashes through me, sharp and immediate. It's irrational—he's allowed to have other obligations—but I kind of like having him around.
“Oh.” I take a sip of coffee to hide my reaction. “That's okay. We understand.”
“No, I—” He sets down the spatula, turning to face me fully. “It's an interview for the bookshop. I could try to reschedule, but—”
“The bookshop.” My brows rise in surprise. “That’s a great opportunity. You have to go.”
Jamie nods, looking genuinely torn. “Yeah, I’d turn it down, but they’re the only people who have even offered me an interview here.”
Ella frowns, her little brow creasing. “So you can’t come to football?”
Jamie crouches beside her, his voice gentle. “Not today, but I really, really want to see you play again soon.”
“That’s okay,” she says after a moment. “You can come next time and help me, and you can come to ballet too.”
Jamie’s mouth curves into a soft smile. “Deal.” He stands, glancing toward me, nervously. “Do you guys have plans later?”
I tilt my head. “Later?”
“Yeah.” He wipes his hands on a towel, the smallest hint of a grin tugging at his mouth. “If you’re free this afternoon, I walked past this funfair by the riverfront. Thought maybe we could go. They have rides, cotton candy, terrible music—the works.”
Ella gasps, clasping her sticky hands together. “Can we, Mommy? Please?”
Her excitement is contagious, bubbling through the room, and when I meet Jamie’s gaze again, it’s impossible not to smile.
“Yes, of course we can.”
Jamie’s grin widens, relief taking over his demeanor. “Then it’s a date,” he says quietly.
My pulse quickens at the word “date”. It definitely feels different from when Reese said it.
“Okay,” I say, trying and failing to keep my voice steady. “A date.”