Chapter 6
Chapter Six
SUTTON
“ D inner is already in the fridge. I laid out fresh pj’s for Lydia, and her library books?—”
“Are exactly where they always are,” my mom cuts me off.
I blow out a breath, swiping one last coat of lip gloss on in the mirror.
“I haven’t gone out on my own in a long time,” I tell her.
She drops her hands on her hips, eyeing me. “And this isn’t the first time I’ve watched my granddaughter.”
Who chooses that moment to come running into my bedroom. “Wow. You look pretty, Mommy.”
“Thanks, bug.” I drop a kiss into her unruly curls. They’re still wet from the bath I gave her earlier. “If you’re good for Gram, maybe she’ll let you watch a movie.”
“With popcorn?” She eyes me.
Girl is always angling for something.
“Yes, with popcorn.”
“Can we watch the new Paw Patrol ?” she turns and asks my mom.
“Whatever you want, baby girl.”
“Yes! ”
Lydia charges out of my room as Mom slumps back against the bed. “If I never watch that movie again, it’ll be too soon.”
I snort a laugh. “It’s sweet. The small pup being able to save the world.”
“I’ve seen it a hundred times with her.” She stands, grabbing my purse from the dresser and handing it to me. “Now, I don’t want to see you any earlier than eleven.”
“Only eleven?”
She concentrates for a minute, screwing her face up. “You’re right. Better make it one.”
I roll my eyes as I head into the small living room.
Mom’s house isn’t big by any means. We had to convert the office into my room, which gave Lydia the bigger bedroom of the two of us.
It’s not ideal, but it works for us.
Paintings from Lydia cover most of the wall space, and toys litter the floor.
“You be good for Gram, okay?”
Lydia nods, not giving me a second glance.
“Call me if you need anything.”
“Get out of here.”
I smooth a nervous hand over my yellow dress. “Are you sure this looks okay?”
Mom rolls her eyes at me. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so worked up over a guy before. Not even Danny.”
“Can you not bring up my ex-husband when I’m getting ready to go out on a date with a new guy?”
“What? I’m just saying he was a dick because he never made you feel like this.”
“That was ages ago, Mom. We met in high school.”
I don’t think I even remember how I felt when I first met him. He’s the only guy I’ve ever been with.
“You’re allowed to have a life, Sutton. ”
Mom pulls me from my thoughts before they can stray too far.
“Lydia is my life.”
Mom cups my cheeks. “And she’ll still love you even if you take a night away to have dinner with a sexy man.”
“Mom!”
“What? You deserve someone like Derek. Do something for yourself and have fun. Don’t mess it up.”
With that, she drops my keys in my hand and shoves me out the door.
Her words do nothing to quell my nerves on the drive to the restaurant. I want this to work. I loved seeing the way Derek was with Lydia—the way he chose to interact with her, which is more than Lydia’s own dad does.
Am I putting too much pressure on a first date? Maybe. But I wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t think this could turn into something.
Pulling into the parking lot, I turn off the car and take a steadying breath. It does nothing to settle my nerves when I see Derek sitting on a small picnic table on the patio.
He looks as sexy as ever in a short-sleeved, coral button-up, gray shorts, and his hair styled expertly.
In a word? Drool-worthy.
It’s the perfect night as I approach the small beachside restaurant. Red and white umbrellas cover the picnic tables.
“Sutton, wow.” Derek stands, dropping a kiss on my cheek like the gentleman he is, when I get to the table. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.”
I drop down onto the picnic bench, as Derek hands me a small paper menu. Noise from the beach filters up here. The restaurant isn’t crowded for a Thursday night—one of the only times both of us had off.
“Food is great here. I recommend the fish tacos. You can’t go wrong with them. ”
I tuck the paper menu into the holder and rest my elbows on the table. “Fish tacos it is then.”
“Beer?”
“Yes.”
Derek winks at me before going up to place our order.
I feel like a lovesick teenager watching him walk away. This is only the fourth time I’ve seen him. I shouldn’t be acting like this.
I have a daughter to think about.
But when Derek walks back, two beers in hand, it’s hard not to get swept away in him. In the gorgeous man that is smiling at me as he sits on the bench seat next to me.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.” I clink my glass against his and take a cooling sip. “Who’s watching Troy tonight?”
“My parents. They love having him. Maybe as much as he loves being with them.”
“That’s nice. I’m sure my mom gets tired of watching Lydia for me.”
“You know,”—Derek scoots closer to me—“as much as I love Troy, I don’t want to talk about him tonight. I want to talk about you.”
A blush creeps up my cheeks. “Sorry.”
Derek drops his hand over mine, linking our fingers together. “Don’t be. I know it’s hard to not talk about them.”
“God, am I totally ruining this?”
Derek shifts closer to me. “I don’t think you could.”
“Stop it.”
“I’m serious. I don’t think I’ve met a nicer person than you. You were able to keep Troy calm?—”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about the kids?” I interrupt with a smile.
He answers back with a grin. “Touché.”
“Okay, so tell me about football. I’m not a big fan. ”
“I take it back. You said the one thing to ruin it,” Derek replies, the smile on his face evidence that he is just joking.
This time, I’m the one shifting closer to him, pressing my knee to his. “Then maybe you can teach me to be a fan.”
Derek’s focus moves to my mouth. I see the way his tongue darts out to wet his lips. Thank God this thing between us isn’t one-sided, because I might lose my mind.
“Can I kiss you?” Derek shakes his head. “Sorry, that is probably really uncool, but if I can’t?—”
I press my fingers against his mouth and move within an inch of his. “It’s very cool. Especially because not many guys would ask. Now Derek?”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.”
He doesn’t need me to tell him again, closing the distance between the two of us. The moment his lips touch mine, everything fades into oblivion.
My toes curl, and every single cell in my body feels like it was set on fire.
Because wow. Can Derek kiss…
It’s soft, yet firm. The way his tongue slides along the seam of my lips, I open easily to him, not caring that we’re in the middle of a restaurant.
I want Derek like I’ve never wanted another man before. I fist my hand in his shirt, as a whimper escapes. I want to be as close as possible to this.
“Oh, sorry, Derek.”
A voice breaks through the kiss, both us nearly jumping out of our seats.
“It’s okay.” He hides the lopsided smile as the server sets our meals down and scurries away.
“Busted.” I laugh.
Derek pushes my plate toward me. “Hopefully we didn’t scar him. He’s the owner’s son. Working here while he’s in college. ”
“Come here often then?” I grab a lime and squeeze it over one of my tacos.
He nods, shoveling a bite into his mouth. “It’s one of the few places the tiny person we’re not talking about tonight likes.”
I take my own bite, smiling at him. I can’t remember the last time I’ve smiled so much. “Wow, you’re right. This is delicious. Maybe I should bring Lydia here.”
“We’re really terrible at this.”
“Not talking about our kids?”
Derek nods. “I guess it’s what happens when they’re your entire life.”
“I don’t think I’d like you as much if it weren’t the case.”
“You like me, huh?”
I try to push him away, but Derek holds me close.
“Stop it.”
“C’mon, Sutton.” Derek is laughing. “If it helps, I like you too.”
I shrug, going back to my taco. “A little.”
Derek stops me from taking another bite, looking straight into my eyes. It’s unnerving being under his gaze like this. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.
“I like you a lot, Sutton. And if you like me too, I’m hoping that you might want to go on another date again.”
I take a deep breath, holding it. Trying to calm down the nerves inside of me. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a chance on someone. Since I did something for me.
The last time, it blew up in my face and ended in a divorce.
I don’t know why I’m thinking so far ahead, but it’s what I do. I can’t just think of myself. I have to think of Lydia too.
My mother’s words ring in my head.
Do something for myself.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Derek asks. “You want to go on another date? ”
“Yes.” I lean closer, whispering against his lips, “and maybe we could follow it up with breakfast.”
Derek kisses the corner of my mouth.
“Breakfast, huh?”
“Mmm.” I turn my head to capture his lips. “The most important meal of the day.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I make excellent pancakes.”