Chapter 16 New For Me
NEW FOR ME
“Hi,” Farrah said when she opened the front door at six.
Four hours after he’d left her and Archer.
He’d taken a risk sending that text, and the minute he had, he worried she’d play it in the car where Archer could hear it.
But she’d said she’d had a feeling it’d be best to wait and had.
Rather than go out to dinner, when he was sick of eating out, Farrah offered to cook.
She’d done enough today, he’d said, but deep down he was happy to have the uninterrupted time here and not the rush of having a table turned over for the restaurant.
“Nice to see you again,” she said, laughing.
Jayce came in smiling just like her.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had been unsure of what a woman was thinking.
But that she’d contacted him for the day out, and then Archer gave him that gift and wanted to see him again, led him to believe she didn’t want him walking away.
“The same. So, I think maybe we need a little chat.”
“That’s what I always liked about you,” she said. “I was going to say the same thing.”
“Phew,” he said. “Let’s get the awkwardness out of the way.”
“I’m going to light the grill. I hope fish is good. I’ve got some planks to grill it that way. I made a pasta salad to have with it. Just an easy meal. A light one too in case the sauce wasn’t a good choice.”
“I’m doing okay, but I appreciate it. I’m used to eating out a lot but try to be as healthy as I can. The team normally has private chefs with them so it was easy enough.”
He missed that perk. He could cook, but it was nice to have someone else do it too.
Not that he wanted her waiting on him.
“Fancy,” she said. “A life I’m not used to.”
“Not one I was either. It took some getting used to.”
“Oh, I feel so bad for you having to adjust to private chefs.”
“Very cute, Farrah.”
Just like she looked now. Earlier she’d tested him in her leggings and T-shirt. Considering he and Archer had shorts on, he understood her wanting to be a bit more comfortable and protected from the ropes.
Most of the women were dressed just like her there, but all he saw were her long legs, toned body, her ass on display and he felt like such a cad fearful of being caught staring.
“I am,” she said. “You used to tell me that all the time.”
This was going exactly the way he wanted.
“I did and I still think it. More than cute. You’re a much more mature version of that girl back then. Not just in looks, but in personality.”
“The same,” she said, her eyes moving over him. “You’ve grown up some. Filled out.”
He laughed. “I have.”
“So, am I imagining things? I don’t want to be the idiot who is reading this all wrong.”
“What are you reading?”
“I think it’s safe to say we still find each other attractive.”
“Very safe,” he said, his eyebrows wiggling.
“Archer has to come first.”
“I never thought otherwise. I’ve got no problem respecting those boundaries. We know your kid adores me.”
She let out a soft laugh with that statement. “He does. Which leads me to wondering—are you using him to soften me up?”
He knew this would come up. “No. Did I think it a few weeks ago? That maybe I could get the door open a crack to feel you out? Yep. I did. I’ll be honest. But the more time I spent with him, it became all about him.
The last thing I’d do is hurt either of you.
So, if you told me I had to choose, it’s going to be what is best for him.
Be his friend first. Kids are too fragile to play with. ”
She blinked her eyes a few times, moisture gathering, which had her turning her back and grabbing a tissue.
“Sorry. The Jayce I knew before was sweet and considerate, but I still didn’t expect you to say that.”
“That’s the mature part of things. I’ve never dated anyone with a kid before. This is new for me.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Some of it is just natural,” he said. “Archer makes it easy.”
Because the kid was so desperate for male attention and, just maybe, Jayce was equally desperate to be the man worth looking up to.
Even if it was an eight-year-old he’d just met.
The boost to his ego was needed after returning home and losing the life he’d had for the past decade that he’d worked so hard to achieve.
It shouldn’t be the end of the world, but it sure the hell felt that way a month ago when he packed everything up and drove away.
“He does. He can be a handful and not everyone can handle it.”
“Don’t even think of putting me in the same category as your ex.”
She put her hands up. “I wouldn’t insult you that way. Just stating a fact.”
“Before we talk about that situation, let’s finish this with us. Is this our first date? Like an alone one?”
“We can call it that,” she said.
He reached for her and yanked her to his chest, Farrah bouncing off of him, laughing but hanging on, her hands slipping around his neck giving him the encouragement that she wanted this too.
“Should we test it out and see if it’s the same as before?”
“I want to hope it’s better. How about you?”
“Oh, it will be,” he said, his head dipping down.
He grazed the corner of her mouth, teasing some, before catching her bottom lip between his and sucking gently. Then he claimed her mouth fully, his tongue sliding in just a taste at first, then deeper, hungrier.
She opened to him, matching his need, tasting him as he tasted her. Her hands clutched tighter, their chests pressed together, heat sparking where his body strained against his jeans.
Control slipped from him faster than it ever had before.
“Jayce,” she whispered against his lips.
“Yes.”
“It’s so much better.”
He planted a loud smack on her lips. “Yes, it is.”
“And now we need a break. I’m going to cook dinner and you can ask me what is burning in your brain.”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“I will because it needs to come out. You want to know how many men I’ve brought around Archer, right?”
“I’d like to know that.”
“You’re it.”
“What?” he asked, his jaw dropping.
“I have brought no men around him. I’ve been divorced five years and I was mourning the end of my marriage.”
“From what you said, you’re better off without him.”
Her head moved slightly side to side. “Yes, but he gave me my son and I can’t forget that.”
It was pivotal that he watch his words. He’d like to insult the dick, but maybe it was for the best the guy wasn’t around.
“No. Archer looks like you. Seems to take after you more too.”
“He does. It’s a good thing, but he has a father and I have to remember that even if Tucker forgets he has a son often.”
Which meant the guy met his financial obligation and not much more. “Did he want to have a child?”
“He did. We talked about it. He’s older than me, and it was decided to start right away. I believe he didn’t think it was going to be as hard as it was. Or more like he just thought I’d stay home and raise Archer and for him it was more about providing the next generation.”
“You’ve got a career you’ve worked hard for.”
“That’s right. I spent six years in college and finally paid off that debt a few years ago. Not horrible, but it was there. No way I was relying on anyone to do it for me. It’s just not me.”
“Did you not want to be a stay at home mom? If things had turned out differently?”
“You know, there is nothing greater than being a mother, but it’s not all I’m meant to do.
That’s how I look at it. I’m great at my job and I love helping people.
I stayed home for six months and was itching to go back.
Maybe that was my mistake. When I got out of work, I was dealing with Archer and everything else in the house and Tucker felt he came way down on the list.”
“Marriage is about compromise. Why not do some things to help you so you’re not doing so much when you got home?”
She pointed at him. “There, right there. That was one of many arguments. He started staying out later and I thought it was work. Why would I think otherwise with his job?”
Because her words were he was a narcissistic prick. Always doubt someone with those actions.
“Sounds like he gave you a reason.”
“He did. So yeah, he cheated, then when I questioned him, he denied it.”
“How did you find out?”
“My gut. I was suspicious. Just things didn’t line up.” She waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. I couldn’t let it drop and hired a private investigator.”
“No shit. Good for you.”
“It was best to get it all documented at that point. Because cheating is one thing I won’t tolerate. Not even a whiff. I’m scarred at this point.”
He gulped. He felt the same way, but he was still accused of doing that with someone who was taken.
“I hear you there. I was raised to honor other people’s relationships, even if I was single.”
“Exactly. Anyone who would be with someone who they knew was taken means they’ve got character flaws themselves. That’s how I look at it. So anyway, he was cheating and we got divorced. It was messy for a bit until I ended it.”
He was curious how, but it wasn’t his place to ask.
“Moving on to other men.”
“It was about two years before I went on my first date. It felt as if I was just trying to get my feet under me. Archer had started school and it was who I thought was a father at his school.”
“Seems like a common thing. But what do you mean by thought?”
“Mark was a kid’s uncle who was helping his sister out. Picking her daughter up and dropping off half the time. We went on a few dates and I realized he was helping out of pressure, not because he wanted to. I don’t think he really liked kids that much.”
“Goodbye there,” he said.
“Exactly. I had a handful of miscellaneous dates after, nothing much more. Almost two years ago I was with someone for about four months. The only person I’ve slept with since my divorce.”
Shit. He’d have to tread carefully there too.
“What happened?”
“Alex didn’t like I wasn’t as available as he would have wanted so we parted ways. No drama, I just moved on. Since then, I’ve been very selective with my time.”
“Until your son almost beaned me with a basketball.”
“Until then.”
“Seems like it might be a little bit like fate.”
She reached for him again, their hands holding on loosely. “Seems it.”