Chapter 14
HARLOW
“It’s really dangerous for you to look this good,” I warn Jameson with a playful smile. “It makes me want to drag you back to bed.” I adjust his tie.
He chuckles, picking up his leather work bag. “I wish, but if I’m late Roger will have my ass.”
Roger—his boss—is a stickler when it comes to everything and loves to catch his employees doing something wrong. Jameson was annoyed when Roger called him into his office to reprimand him for wearing mismatched socks.
“I know.” The two words echo from my throat with a ghastly sigh. Standing on my tiptoes I place a kiss on his lips. “Oh, sorry. Lipstick.” I swipe my thumb over his bottom lip to get rid of the red color.
I don’t normally wear bold lip colors, but I decided to be a little brave today.
He grins down at me, a twinkle in his brown eyes as his hand settles low on my waist. “Keep that up and I’ll say fuck work and fuck you instead.”
“Jameson!” I smack his chest lightly, my cheeks flaming as I check that Monroe didn’t overhear.
“Don’t worry.” He nuzzles his face against my neck and his barely-there stubble rasps against my skin. “She’s still in her room.” He kisses the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. “Seriously, I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight.” He drops another kiss on top of my head.
“I love you.”
“Love you more.” He kisses my cheek and then he’s gone.
Down the hall, I poke my head into Roe’s room, finding her on her stomach flipping through one of her books at a speed that tells me there’s no way she’s reading the words on the page. “Roe,” I sing-song. “Time to go.”
She sighs dramatically, rolling to her back. “I’ve decided school isn’t for me.”
“Hm, is that so?” Folding my arms over my chest, I lean against her doorway. “And why is that?”
She lets out an aggravated sound—a cross between a scoff and a scream. “It’s so boring, Mom. I’m six now, I’ve learned all I need to.”
I have to stifle my laugh. “I don’t think so.”
Rolling her head in my direction, her light blue eyes are too intelligent for her age. “I know about the birds and the bees and once you know about that you’re an adult. That’s what Drew in my class said.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “The birds and the bees, huh? Interesting. Care to explain it to me.”
She sits up, pushing her sandy blond hair off her face. Her skinny legs swing over the edge of the bed. “Yeah, it means you and dad had sex and then a bird left me at your door and the bees … I forgot what the bees do.”
Oh my God.
“Sex, huh?” I repeat, trying not to laugh. “What’s that?”
She rolls her eyes in exasperation that I’m even asking. “It’s when you play with lightsabers and donuts. Duh.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, torn between wanting to laugh or cringe. “And did Drew mention where he learned this?”
“From his big brother. He’s a fifth grader so he knows a lot,” she says in a matter-of-fact tone.
I press my lips together and cross the room, crouching in front of her. “Listen, Roe, now’s not the time to talk about this or we’ll be late, but I promise you that Drew’s brother is wrong. We’ll talk about this more later.”
Do I really want to have ‘the talk’ with my six-year-old?
Hell no. But Drew’s brother has left me with little choice and I have to say something.
I can’t let her believe something so untrue.
Monroe has always been a smart kid who wants to know the facts and I refuse to be that parent who lies just to get out of being honest. Thank God I’m meeting Spencer for lunch today, and I can pick his brain for the best way to go about it.
Especially as co-parents we need to agree on how to handle certain things.
“Do I still have to go to school?” Her nose scrunches with annoyance. No doubt she already knows my answer.
I narrow my eyes. “Yes.”
“Fine.” She hops off her bed and grabs her backpack. “Let’s go waste a bunch of hours of my life I’ll never get back.”
I pull up outside the restaurant Spencer told me to meet him at in Malibu. It’s an obscure place tucked between two large buildings. The sign on the door says Hot Buns, just like his text said.
After parallel parking, I grab my phone from the cupholder and send Spencer a text to see if he’s here yet.
Spencer: Yeah, I’ll come meet you at the front.
Slipping my phone in my purse I get out of my car and can’t help but notice it’s the oldest one parked in the vicinity. I give my tried-and-true car a pat on the hood, silently telling her that she’s way better than those expensive models.
Stepping into the restaurant I smile at the hostess, sliding my sunglasses into my hair.
“How many?” She reaches for the menus.
“Oh, I’m meeting someone.”
She smiles and nods. That’s when I spot Spencer weaving through the restaurant. Eyes follow him as he goes, and the hostess’s eyes widen when she realizes he’s who I’m meeting.
“There you are,” he says in greeting. When he reaches me, he places his hand on my waist, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Table’s this way.” He jerks his head, urging me to follow as his hand falls away from my body.
It’s difficult to ignore the tingles left from his touch. It’s always been that way with him, though. When we touch it’s … electric.
We weave through the restaurant, an eclectic place with bright colors and surfboards on the wall along with unique paintings of hamburger buns painted to look like breasts and butt cheeks. Toasted buns indeed.
Spencer stops at a booth tucked into a corner out of the way. “Ladies first.” He sweeps an arm out.
I tuck the skirt of my dress against my legs and slide in, picking up the waiting menu while Spencer settles across from me.
“What’s good here?” I ask before opening the menu.
“The burgers,” he replies, deadpan.
I narrow my eyes in speculation and open the menu to find that that’s all they offer. “Same old, Spencer.” I try not to crack a smile, but fail miserably. “Give me a real answer.”
“The Hawaiian. You’ll regret it if you don’t get it.”
“Hmm,” I hum, perusing the menu in search of that one.
A throat clears and I look over to find a smiling, bubbly waitress.
Her blond hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail and her cheeks flush as she bats her eyes at Spencer.
She looks young, maybe eighteen or nineteen at the most. I can’t help but laugh to myself for thinking she’s young, because I’m young, only a few years older than her, but becoming a mom made me grow up fast. At my chuckle she gives me a fleeting glance before her attention returns to Spencer.
“Hi.” Her voice is breathy—not in a sultry or sexy way, but like she’s nervous.
“I love you on Hidden Nights,” she blurts out, mentioning the teen-geared sexy drama Spencer landed the leading role on a few years ago.
“Sorry.” She shakes her head, biting her lip.
“That’s so unprofessional of me. I’m Katie and I’ll be your waitress this evening—afternoon.
” Her once pink cheeks are bright now. “What—uh…”—her eyes shift to me, and she gives me a sheepish smile— “can I get you guys?” She clears her throat.
“To drink. What can I get you guys to drink? Any appetizers? You know what, I’ll bring some onion rings on the house because I’m butchering this.
Wait, are you allowed to eat onion rings?
I’m sure you have to be on a strict diet and I here I am offering you onion rings of all things.
” She smacks her hand against her forehead as both Spencer and I stare at her.
I don’t know about him, but I’m wondering how she spewed all of that without a single breath in between.
Spencer smiles at her, more than used to this kind of reaction. “Hi, Katie. Nice to meet you. I’ll have a water and she’ll have one too with lemon. Onion rings sound lovely. How about an order of mozzarella sticks, too?”
“Y-Yeah,” she stutters. “I can do that.”
She turns and heads off to put that order in. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh.
“What?” He smiles and moves slightly closer. “You can say it.”
I cock my head to the side, and whisper, “You render women senseless everywhere you go. It’s quite remarkable. A real talent you have there.”
His eyes lower. “Not you, though.” He sounds slightly disgruntled by that fact.
“Not me?” I repeat, incredulous. I let out a little laugh. “You got me pregnant. I think you can lump me in with the rest.”
Even though we’re joking, his blue eyes grow serious. “Trust me, you’re nothing like the rest. You never have been.” He scoops up the saltshaker and looks it over before putting it back. It’s classic Spencer—when he’s uncomfortable he starts to fiddle.
I tilt my head slightly, playing with the necklace at my throat—oh, God maybe I’m a nervous fiddler too. “What do you mean?”
He cocks his head to the side. “You have no idea, do you?”
“Here are your drinks.” The waitress sets them down. “Your appetizers will be ready in a few minutes. Have you decided on your meal?” She appears composed now, though her cheeks remain slightly flushed and there is a slight tremor in her hands.
“Are you getting the Hawaiian?” He plays with the corner of the menu lying flat on the table in front of him. I nod. “Sweet potato fries okay with you?” Another nod. Shooting a kind smile at the waitress he says, “Two Hawaiian burgers and sweet potato fries with both.”
She scribbles on her pad. “I’ll put that in for you and check on your appetizers.” She starts to turn to leave but swings back, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I know this isn’t professional of me, but I’m such a fan and I’d really love to get a picture with you. If that’s okay.”
“Sure”—he begins, and she reaches for her phone— “after we’re done with lunch.” He wiggles his finger between us.
Her face goes from pink to red. “Oh, right. Of course. Thank you.”
She scurries off, back to the kitchen I assume, and I hope in her excitement she doesn’t forget to put our order in.