21 Lindsey #2
I turn my torso so I can look at him easily.
His smell invades my senses completely, overriding the fried smell of diner food.
I softly inhale, his woodsy smell calming me for whatever reason.
It’s probably not okay, but it doesn’t feel not okay.
In fact, having him here next to me feels the very opposite of not okay.
I clear my throat. “Yes.”
Dane nods and turns to the bag in front of him, taking out his meal and the plastic utensils that came with it. There’s extra silverware in a basket near me, so I grab him a fork and knife.
“Here,” I say. “Might as well use the real ones.”
He reaches for them with a thanks, and I swear he purposely brushes my fingers when he takes them from me. It sends a zip down my arm like lightning, and if Kas wasn’t here, I think I’d throw myself at him like a rabid dog.
I pull my hand back and take a sip of my icy root beer, debating if I need therapy instead of a Dom. I swear that none of my reactions to him are normal.
“What is that?” Kas asks with a sour expression.
Her question makes me look at Dane’s food.
“It’s an egg-white omelet with chicken, spinach, and broccoli.”
“Ew, Logger Dane. Gross.”
Dane smiles softly at Kas, and my heart melts a little. “It’s good.”
“You’re lying.”
“Kas,” I say. “Don’t comment on other people’s food like that or accuse them of lying.”
“It’s okay, I know it doesn’t look appetizing,” he says. “But I like it.”
“I’m calling cap,” Kas adds, eating a fry.
“No cap,” he answers back easily.
She barks out a laugh, covering her mouth as she finishes chewing. “No, no, no, Logger Dane. It’s so Ohio when you try to use our slang.”
“I thought it was lit,” he adds, taking a bite of his food. Food that, to Kas’s credit, does look pretty gross.
She giggles again, and the sound is music to my ears. “Nooo, please stop!”
“Wait, what does Ohio mean?” I ask.
“Cringe,” Dane and Kas say at the same time. They look at each other in amusement before Kas breaks out into giggles once more.
“How do you know that, Logger Dane?” she asks.
“Yeah, Logger Dane, how do you know that?” I add.
He swallows another bite of his food. “The internet.”
Kas snort-laughs. “Logger Dane, that is Ohio.”
Dane smiles like I’ve never seen him smile before he shrugs. “I have to keep up with you kids. I don’t know what you’re saying half the time.”
“Please don’t talk like that on Friday. You’ll embarrass yourself.”
“Kas!” I say.
“What? I’m saving him.”
Dane eats another large bite of his weird omelet, then says, “I appreciate the advice. I’ll take it under advisement.”
Kas giggles yet again, and I think she says “It’s your funeral” under her breath.
“Sorry,” I say to Dane.
His gaze turns to mine, and the sparkle in his eyes mesmerizes me. “It’s fine.”
My eyes fall to his lips as his tongue darts out to lick away remnants of his food. I watch the action as if it’s a documentary on National Geographic. I wonder what that tongue would feel like on my skin, or his lips sucking on my neck. My nipples tighten at the dirty thought, and I shiver.
“Cold?” he asks.
His rich voice resonates through me, and embarrassment floods my cheeks. I manage to meet his eyes, and I can tell right away that he knows I’m not cold. I’m the opposite. So very much the opposite.
“It’s hot in here, Mom; how are you cold?”
Kasandra’s question throws me back to reality, and I shift my body away from Dane as far as I can—which isn’t far considering there’s a wall preventing me from moving. Why did I say he could stay again? This was a stupid idea.
“I’m fine, honey. Just got a random shiver.”
She eats a bite of her burger. “You want a fry, Logger Dane?”
My heart speeds up at her question. She really does like him, and I wonder if he’s had any experience with kids or if this is new to him.
While this is unexpected, I’ll admit it’s nice having him here.
His presence is soothing, and I like when Kas laughs and jokes. I don’t get to see much of it lately.
“Sure,” he says. I know Dane is from here, and I’d bet money he’s tried the diner’s fries before. I know he’s humoring my daughter, and I think I fall in love with him a little for it.
Kas smiles at his answer, looking like a cat who caught the canary as she pushes her plate closer to him. He takes one and pops it in his mouth.
“They’re good,” he says after chewing.
“Better than your egg whites?”
“Want to try for yourself?”
Kas screws up her nose. “No way.”
Dane laughs. “You’re missing out.”
“Don’t think so,” she responds quickly.
Dane and I make eye contact, my cheeks blushing for a whole other reason now. This feels nice. Maybe too nice.
“You want a fry, Mom?”
I shake my head. “You eat them.”
She nods, and I feel Dane watching me. I turn my head as I chew my bite of salad.
“You want to try my omelet?” he asks.
Kas laughs. “I dare you, Mom, it looks so nasty.”
“Kas!”
Dane only laughs and cuts a bite of his omelet, making sure to get a piece of everything. I think he’s going to put it in his mouth, but instead, he holds it out to me.
Kas covers her mouth to try and stop her laughter.
I don’t think I’ve seen her this excited since before Jeremy and I broke up, unless I count her excitement over the obstacle course, but this is different.
This is more of an everyday type of excitement.
And all over me potentially eating a bite of Dane’s food.
“You really want me to try it?” I ask her.
She giggles. “Mom, it’s so yucky looking. You have to!”
I shake my head and smile with her, turning my focus back to Dane. I expect him to hold the fork out to me so I can take it; instead, he’s holding it up to feed me.
Kas giggles. “Zoom, zoom goes the airplane, Mom! Open wide.”