Chapter 15
The late morning sun glinted off the mirror of Caitlyn’s SUV as Daniel pulled his truck up beside her.
“He’s here!” Owen exclaimed, pointing at the truck.
Caitlyn forced a smile, her stomach twisting into a knot.
She spent the morning wrestling with her conscience, torn between the fear of Silas and the hope of spending time with Daniel.
Ultimately, she decided to see where things might lead with Daniel.
It was easier to explain the change in plans to Owen than Daniel’s role in their lives.
Daniel stepped out of the truck, a slanted grin on his face. She rolled down her window and Daniel gripped the seal and bent to peer in at them. “Ready to go, bud?”
Owen nodded eagerly, a large curl of his dark hair falling between his eyes. “Wait until you see the new game I got. It’s so cool!”
“You can tell me all about it on the way. You riding with me?”
Owen looked at Caitlyn, and she nodded. She’d hoped he would offer. If anyone passed by, they’d think she was at work. “I need to be back by four.”
“Four. Got it.” He walked around and opened her door. Stunned by his gesture, she stared at him until the other door slammed from Owen getting out. She rolled the windows up and got out of the SUV. The vehicle door between them, he leaned in, breathing in deep. “You showered.”
“You expected me to show up smelling of sweat and gas from the lawnmower?” One of his brows rose.
She almost leaned farther, enjoying the scent of his woodsy cologne. “Is this new?”
“The smell?”
“Well, it’s not grass or lawnmower,” she said, her cheeks getting a little hot.
“Oh, yeah. I borrowed Yeats’ shampoo.” Then he pressed his finger to his lips. “Shh… Don’t tell him.”
“Come on. Let’s go!” Owen tilted his head back and groaned. “We don’t got all day.”
Daniel chuckled and Caitlyn stepped out of the way, sweeping his arm for her to step away from the door. She didn’t bother correcting her son’s bad English.
“Best we get this show on the road,” Daniel said.
Owen wasted no time. He wrenched open the truck door and clambered into the back seat. Caitlyn hesitated for a moment, having second thoughts. She worried if Silas or one of his friends caught them what implications it would bring. You better be worth it, Jones.
The drive to the go-kart track was filled with Owen’s chatter about his new game.
Daniel listened and asked questions, and if she didn’t know better, she’d say Daniel was as excited as Owen about the new game.
Caitlyn tried to keep up with their video game talk, but her mind kept drifting back to La Rosa’s.
When they arrived at the go-kart track, the air buzzed with the roar of engines and the excited chatter of several other families with kids around Owen’s age. Owen practically leaped out of the truck, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Daniel held open the door for Caitlyn to get out of the truck.
A warmth spread through her at the gesture.
She chewed on her lip as Owen ran ahead.
Daniel reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as he offered a hand to follow.
Caitlyn hesitated for a split second, a part of her wanting this connection and the other part cautious, protective, holding her back.
Owen, oblivious to what was behind him, shouted for them to hurry.
Caitlyn laced her fingers through Daniel’s.
He gave her hand a squeeze, sending a thrill through her.
She glanced over at Daniel, and he grinned.
“Why don’t we grab some hot dogs and a drink before we hit the track? There’s mini golf, too.”
Owen turned, walking backward. “Mini golf?”
“I thought your mom might want to play,” Daniel said.
Owen snorted. “Mom’s gonna beat you on the track. After me, of course.”
He smacked his chest, and Caitlyn laughed. “Mijo, this is not a competition.”
“Says who?” Daniel asked, his eyes twinkling. “I fully intend to burn some rubber on that track. If you don’t want to race, I won’t hold it against you.”
Caitlyn let go of his hand, wishing for a moment she still held it. Losing his touch made her want to grip it again, but her cheeks heated, too embarrassed to reach out and take the man’s hand. This wasn’t a date, and her son was watching. “I’ll leave you both eating my dust.”
“I don’t know, Owen. Sounds like a challenge to me,” Daniel said.
Owen shouted ahead of them, “I’m gonna win!”
“Hot dogs first,” Caitlyn said. “Race second.”
“Aw, Mom!”
“Your mom’s right. We need sustenance if we’re going to race.”
Caitlyn nodded, her surprise outweighing her apprehension. Daniel caught up with Owen, and they headed toward the concession stand. As they waited for their food, Caitlyn thanked God for a normal day, away from the Ghosts, as a brief respite from her life.
The hotdogs were greasy, the fries crispy, and the drinks cold. “A little racing fuel.”
Caitlyn unwrapped her hotdog, and there was a dollop of ketchup and mayo already mixed on the bun.
“Mayo and ketchup together?” Daniel asked with mock horror, snatching a fry from her basket. “I almost didn’t put it on. I thought Owen was joking.”
“Well, the joke is on you,” Caitlyn declared, taking a bite. Once she swallowed, she patted her lips with a napkin and said, “It’s a delicacy.”
Owen laughed, following Daniel’s lead and stealing another one of her fries.
“More like an abomination.” Daniel attempted to take another, and she pulled her fries closer to protect them.
“What do you have on yours?”
“Mustard.”
“Keep it away from my fries.” Caitlyn grabbed a fry and dipped it in her ketchup and mayo from her hotdog.
“Mine, too.” Owen gave Daniel a look that made Caitlyn laugh.
“Don’t tell me it’s two on one here?” Daniel threw up his hands. “I thought you were with me, Owen?”
Owen unwrapped his hotdog and took a huge bite. While chewing his food, he shook his head. “K… up” he said around, trying to chew.
“Mouth closed while you chew. We don’t need to see your food, and we’re not in a hurry,” Caitlyn said.
“Says who?” Daniel asked.
“Are we having a food eating contest?” Owen asked, taking another big bite.
“No,” Caitlyn said the same time as Daniel. They both locked gazes for a long moment.
“We’ll save that for on the racetrack,” Daniel said, grabbing a few fries from his basket.
“Just wait until you see my driving skills.” She took a bite of her fry
Owen’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m gonna beat you both.”
“Then you better eat up.” Daniel lifted his brows and reached for another fry, this time from Owen’s basket. “Going to burn a lot of fuel when we race.”
Caitlyn reached for one of Daniel’s fries as he reached for hers. They both paused, mid-reach, and Caitlyn grinned. She snatched a fry. Then took two, dipping them in ketchup and mayo.
“Hey!” Daniel exclaimed, mock outrage in his voice. “Two fries? That’s a declaration of war. What say you, Owen?”
Mouth full of hotdog, her son wholeheartly agreed. Two against one.
Daniel winked and slid his fries closer.
After they finished, Daniel tossed away their trash. “Alright, racers,” Daniel said, wiping his hands free of the trash. “Time to put your skills to the test.”
Owen and Caitlyn exchanged a determined look. She held in her laugh and grinned at him. They followed Daniel. “Mom, don’t be too sad when I win.”
Caitlyn brushed her hand over his head. “I’ll do my best.”
Daniel glanced over his shoulder at her, and Caitlyn chewed on her lip. He put on a pair of sunglasses and gave her a lopsided grin that sent a flutter in her chest. If she wasn’t careful, she might like Daniel... too much.
The go-kart track was a blur of color and speed. Owen, fueled by hot dogs and excitement, took the lead. Caitlyn, determined not to let her son show her up, pushed her kart to its limits. Daniel, however, seemed to hold back, letting Owen maintain his lead. What was that man doing?
“Come on, slowpoke!” Owen yelled over the roar of his kart as he neared her.
Caitlyn gritted her teeth and pushed harder, but Owen was a natural.
He weaved through the bend with ease, his kart a blur of red.
As they neared the final lap, Daniel finally picked up the pace and came up alongside her.
Both Owen and Daniel passed her. He pulled alongside Owen, their karts bumping slightly.
“Hey, no funny business!” Owen shouted.
Daniel’s kart swerved away, and Owen surged ahead, crossing the finish line just a hair’s breadth before Daniel. Once they came to a stop and exited the go karts, Caitlyn threw her hands up in mock defeat. “Alright, alright, you both got ahead of me. But next time...”
Daniel laughed, pulling off his racing helmet. “Next time, I won’t go easy on you.” He pointed. “Either of you.”
Owen’s grin widened. “See, Mom? I told you I’d win.”
“You did, mijo. You did.” Caitlyn helped him take off his helmet. She gave Daniel a sidelong glance, and he shrugged. Her eyes narrowed on him.
“Again?” Owen asked after their third race, trying to keep her from taking off his helmet.
“You got us that time,” Daniel said. “We’ll have to save the rematch for another day. Your mom said she needed to be back by four, and we haven’t hit the golf course yet.”
Owen shoved the helmet at Caitlyn, a pout on his lips.
“You’re too old to pout,” she told him. “If this is how you act, then Daniel won’t bring us again.”
They played a game of mini golf, where Owen and Daniel turned it into another challenge. Caitlyn finished last and was almost reluctant to hit her ball through the clown’s mouth to signal the end of the course, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun in one afternoon.
As they walked back to Daniel’s truck, Caitlyn wrapped her arm around Owen’s shoulders. “We’ll come back soon.”
“Before school starts?”
“When is that?” Daniel asked with interest.
“We’ve got a month and a half yet,” Caitlyn answered.
“Plenty of time for a rematch,” Daniel said, approaching the truck and holding the door open for them. Owen hopped up in first and slid to the middle. Caitlyn brushed against Daniel, her heart lighter for once. Like Owen, she wished they had more time.
Before she got in, Caitlyn turned and looked at Daniel.
His eyes remained hidden behind his sunglasses, but her gaze fell to his lips.
Chewing on her bottom lip again, she tore her gaze away and hopped up into the truck.
Slowly, Daniel shut the door, pausing momentarily.
She looked up from buckling her seat belt.
He tapped on the truck’s hood and went to the other side.
On the drive home, Owen leaned against her. His eyes drooped from the long day of shopping and racing. Forty minutes later, they arrived back at La Rosa’s. Neither spoke, with Owen napping against her for most of the ride back.
“It’s almost four. I’m sorry. I should have tried getting away sooner, so we had more time. What are you going to do with Owen?” Daniel asked, pulling in beside her SUV.
She pulled out her phone and winced. “Could you take Owen to Grace Meadows for me? Sammy will expect him. I can call her and let her know you’re dropping him off.
” The ease with which the request tumbled out surprised her.
Just this morning, the idea of anyone watching Owen beside Sammy would have filled her with anxiety.
But seeing Daniel interact with Owen chipped away that apprehension.
“Or he could come hang with me for most of the night. He’s got the new game he hasn’t played yet,” Daniel proposed. The side of his mouth ticked up. Owen sat up, rubbing his eyes, and Caitlyn leaned away as her son stretched his arms.
Torn between Owen going to Grace Meadows and the unexpected warmth of Daniel’s offer, she sighed.
Not ready to explain what was happening between them, Caitlyn couldn’t bear to keep much more from Sammy.
And Caitlyn needed more time to figure this out.
“I’d really like him to stay with Sammy tonight. No offense, but she’s expecting him.”
Daniel scratched the side of his face. “Yeah. I can do that.”
A wave of gratitude washed over her. “You don’t know how much I appreciate it.” She turned to Owen and kissed him atop the head. “Daniel will take you to Sammy, and I’ll see you after work. Be good, sí?” Daniel hurried from the truck and made his way around to grab the door for her.
Daniel took off his sunglasses. He leaned close, his voice a seductive murmur. “I’m here for you. Anytime. And, hey,” he added, a playful glint in his blue eyes, “maybe we can find some time for a game of mini golf, or go out for a bite to eat, just the two of us.”
Caitlyn’s heart skipped a beat. “Maybe,” she said, biting her lip and tilting her head up a fraction.
Daniel’s gaze lingered on her face, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.
His thumb grazed her lower lip. Their eyes locked, and Caitlyn held her breath, her gaze flickering to his lips and back to his eyes, a desperate hope blooming in her chest.
Daniel’s gaze followed hers a moment. A flicker of something intense passed between them.
Caitlyn’s heart hammered in her chest, but instead of finding his lips on hers, a chaste kiss landed on her forehead.
The unexpected tenderness sent a jolt of electricity through her.
It sparked something sweet and confusing.
Disappointment battled with a surge of affection as he pulled back, his eyes hooded from view for her to see if his emotions mirrored the swirl of those awakening inside her.
“See you soon?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Caitlyn nodded, watching him walk back to the other side of his truck. As he drove away with her son, her hand lingered on the spot where his lips had touched her.