24. Missing Your Moment
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dalton
Missing Your Moment
T he rest of the week Dalton had to fight the urge to touch Brooke every time she was near him: at work, at the ballfield, and on Friday when he dropped Max off after the makeup baseball practice spent catching fly balls.
“Mom, is it okay if Dalton stays for movie night with us? Pleasseeeee?” Max asked as he stood outside the front door next to Dalton.
Brooke looked at her son, who was clearly refusing to enter the house without Dalton.
“I had no idea you guys did movie night too,” he said, trying to play it cool. He couldn’t read Brooke’s reaction to know if she wanted him to stay or go.
“Actually,” Dalton continued as he ruffled Max’s hair.
But before he could finish his made-up excuse, Brooke decided for him.
“Actually, I think you read my mind, Max. I just set the table for three and happen to know there isn’t a nacho Dr. Dalton doesn’t like.”
Max looked up at him with shock. “You love nachos too! It’s like we were made to be buds.”
A lump caught in Dalton’s throat as Max gave him a side hug and pulled him toward the door.
“Come on, my mom makes the best, most amazing homemade store-bought nachos ever,” Max said.
Brooke and Dalton both laughed.
Dalton stepped inside the small house that oozed family and love, with a wall of family pictures in the entry, a cozy living room filled with toys, and a fridge covered in Max’s art, pictures, and a list of activities for the week.
“Are you sure you have enough for me too?” Dalton asked, giving Brooke a last chance to change her mind.
“We definitely do, because someone always thinks he can eat more than he actually can.”
Dalton stepped farther in and closed the door behind him, then he and Max followed Brooke to the kitchen. It was a small galley-style kitchen at the back of the house, but he would bet her dad had remodeled it for her when she moved in: all white cabinets and light gray countertops, with new appliances.
She already had all the typical nacho ingredients out on the counter.
“First things first—you two need to clean up,” Brooke said.
“Aww, Mom, I’m starving,” Max said.
“Go on, quick shower—and use soap.”
Max stomped off.
“A shower sounds good, if that’s not too intrusive,” Dalton said.
“I think we’ve gone beyond that,” she said in a low tone. Which meant she might also be thinking about how he’d explored every inch of her body between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
“Okay, I’ll just grab my change of clothes from the truck.”
She nodded.
He’d have to change back into his scrubs, but that beat wearing sweaty clothes to eat and watch a movie.
Once he was back inside she showed him to her room, a light and airy space painted a pale mint green. There were a few books on the nightstand and several pieces of art on the walls.
“Fresh towels on the shelf, and you’ll have to settle for my soap in the shower.”
“I like the idea of smelling you on my skin,” he said in a whisper.
She didn’t move to leave, so he pushed the door closed behind her and pulled her into him. He covered her mouth with his, and within seconds she was in his arms as he hoisted her up on the edge of the sink. Moving his mouth down her throat, he continued to kiss her but then gave them both a chance to breathe and get their desire under control.
“I have been wanting to do that since the last time I kissed you,” Dalton said.
“Max will be out of the shower any moment,” Brooke sighed.
But he couldn’t resist slipping his hand up under her shirt and sliding his thumb over her already taut nipple.
“Any chance your sister or parents could watch Max tomorrow night?”
“Maybe. I’ll ask.”
He bit her lip before kissing her one more time then gently lifting her off the counter to stand. With her hands on his biceps, she didn’t make a move to walk away. But he heard the water cut off; Max would be looking for them any minute.
She turned away without saying whatever she was thinking, and he swatted her full bottom before she exited.
“Tell May I’ll pay her a fortune to watch Max,” he whispered.
Brooke laughed and left him to take a cold shower.
Sitting with Max and Brooke to eat what they called “tabletop nachos” was not only delicious, but maybe one of the best times he could remember having. Which, when he thought about it, scared him more than a little bit. Because they weren’t his family, and he hadn’t told Brooke yet that he was strongly considering making Sandy Point a permanent home. He knew he needed to be 100 percent sure before he told her, but he had to face his brother first. After dinner, Max showed him his room, the cool fort he had under his bed, and all his baseball cards. Then he got really serious.
“Dr. Dalton, do you like my mom?”
Dalton was lying on the floor of Max’s room, with half his body under the fort where Max sat inside looking at him with curiosity. “I think your mom is awesome. Is that okay?”
“Yah, I just mean that if you wanted to hold her hand during the movie I would be okay with that,” Max said. “I see my friends’ parents hold hands, but sometimes they kiss and that’s gross.”
An alarm bell went off in his mind. It was clear Max was comparing his friends’ parents to Dalton and his mom, and he didn’t want to confuse him.
“You know, your mom and I went to high school together—we were friends back then. So it’s been really cool to come back and get to know her again.”
Max nodded. “So you just like my mom as a friend?”
Dalton nodded. “I really like your mom as a friend.”
Before he could say any more Brooke appeared in the doorway, but she didn’t meet his eyes. “Max, if you want to do a movie we better get started before it gets too late.”
“Okay, great! Let’s watch The Sandlot ,” he said, shooting out of the room and leaving Dalton and Brooke alone.
Brooke turned away, but Dalton gripped her hand.
“Hey, I didn’t know how to answer him honestly and not make this confusing.”
“It’s fine, we’ve always been friends. There’s just a few more benefits now,” she said with a small smile, then pulled away and walked down the short hall to the living room.
He wasn’t sure if he should believe her or assume she was just being defensive. They needed more time together, but for now the only time they had was with a seven-year-old sitting between them. When the movie ended Max was yawning and Brooke made sure they both said good night to Dalton before she put Max to bed. There was so much standing between them, and they’d only been seeing each other casually for a week. When he got back in his truck he shot her a text.
Thank you for tonight; I’d like to spend more time with you and Max when you’re ready. In the meantime, I’ll see you tomorrow night, and pack your bathing suit.
He could see the three little dots that indicated she was writing a message but then they stopped. Finally she responded.
I’ll ask May if she can stay with Max. Let you know tomorrow.
Perfect, sweet dreams.
Clearly Brooke was bothered when she overheard him say they were just friends, but not enough to not spend more time with him. And she was the one who said she wanted to keep things casual, so he was just going to have to convince her she liked him more than she thought. But was he setting himself up for a fall? Because even if he did stay in Sandy Point, there was no guarantee Brooke would want to have something real with him.