Chapter 2
It had to happen. Someone hates me up there, or I must have done something terrible in a past life and piss off someone important.
Out of all the girls that Jess could have made friends with, who is her new best friend?
Lucia . . . of course it’s Lucia - Nathan’s daughter.
Three months of school have passed; in this time, they have become inseparable.
She is asking if Lucia can come to our house for dinner.
.. bugger. I've been trying to avoid Nathan like the plague, I have it down to a fine art.
For the sake of my child, I’m going to have to talk to him whether I want to or not.
My main worry when Jess started school was that she wouldn’t make friends.
I should be over the moon that she’s happy about her new friend.
I'm going to have to grow up, put my feelings for Lucia’s dad to one side, and bite the bullet and talk to him.
I see him every day – he either drops off Lucia at school or collects her - his mum picks her up when he’s not there.
Every time he walks into the playground, my heart skips a beat, as does every other woman who is over eighteen and has hormones.
All the mums check him out. He’s a homing beacon when he walks into an area, women can't help but look – hell, men do it - if they think women are any different, they’re sadly mistaken.
He was an apprentice joiner when he played semi-pro rugby – that must have progressed to him starting his own business now.
I’ve seen him in a van with ‘Harris Joinery’ printed on the side.
When he walks in the playground to get Lucia, he’s every woman’s fantasy - dressed in scruffy work jeans or cargo pants and a t-shirt showing his muscly arms, covered in tattoos.
All of him, from head to toe, is always dirty, which should be a turn-off, but it makes him more appealing.
His physique makes every woman feel like a damsel in distress – tall, broad and manly.
The mums stop gossiping and watch him walk across the playground, practically panting.
He acts like he’s completely oblivious, but he must know!
His eyes seem to come to me a lot in the playground.
Sometimes, he comes over and tries to make small talk; sometimes, he smiles at me with that smile of his.
I don’t ignore him; that would be rude and childish.
Mostly, I say ‘hello’ back and engage in small talk with the other mums. I keep it light and friendly, and try to avoid him if I can without it coming across as rude.
I've caught him frowning at me a few times, probably wondering what’s going on in my head – he can't understand why I'm not flirting with him or paying him any attention.
This whole friendship deal between the girls is pushing the situation.
I’m going to have to talk to him... ask him if Lucia can come for dinner one night after school, which will mean either me taking her home or him coming to my house.
I wish I didn’t get butterflies every time I saw him, my skin burns, or hums around him… stupid body betraying me.
As I walk through the school gates, I check around for him.
It’s Friday afternoon, and (not that I’m keeping track or anything), he always picks Lucia up on Fridays.
I spot him leaning on the school climbing frame, scrolling through his phone.
I’ve never gone to talk to him before, why am I so bloody nervous? Here goes…
“Hey, Nathan,” I say as I reach him. He looks up, surprised but pleased to see me. He puts his phone away in his back pocket to give me his undivided attention.
“Hello, Kate.” Did I mention his voice was sexy? Gravelly. His saying my name in his sexy voice makes me shiver. He smiles a smile that makes me lose my train of thought. Hmmm, those dimples . . .
I shake my head a little. “So... Jess was asking if Lucia could come for dinner one night after school, would that be OK with you? If she wants to, of course.”
“Oh, she’ll want to come, all I hear at home is Jess this, and Jess that, they sound pretty tight those two.
” He smiles at me. “I’m happy she’s settled in and made friends.
I’m fine with her coming to yours for dinner, it’s not like I don’t know you.
Why don’t you give me your number so that we can arrange it? ”
I must seem hesitant because he holds his hands up in protest and says, “Hey, I promise I will use it for child play dates only.”
I laugh - I’m being ridiculous, “Yeah, that’s fine.”
I give him my number, which he programs into his phone and my phone beeps,
“I’ve texted you so that you’ve got my number. You don’t have to only use it for playdates, you can use it for anything you want,” he says and gives me a wink.
My stomach does a flip, but I try not to let it show that his wink has affected me. I laugh at him and shake my head.
When I check my phone, the text says:-
You have such a sexy laugh.
I smile and he gives me the showstopper smile in return... great.
The school doors open, and the girls come running out to us.
I hug Jess and go to say ‘hello’, but before I can speak, she hurriedly says, “Mummy, Lucia says I can go to the cinema tonight with her and her daddy. Can I? Can I? Please?” she asks, jumping up and down.
I sigh, time to be the bad guy again, I shake my head, “No sweetie, it has to be grown-ups that sort out those things - maybe next time.”
Nathan interrupts. “I don’t mind if she wants to come, she’s more than welcome. We’re watching Frozen, a Disney film Lucia has been dying to see, so I said I’d take her for a treat – we’re going to McDonald’s first for something to eat.”
Frozen... shit, I can't say no now. Jess has been talking about this film non-stop, waiting for it to come out at the cinema for weeks. I would be the bad guy if I said no. I shake my head, unsure about letting her go off with him. I can trust him, I’ve seen how he is with Lucia, and it’s heart-warming to watch, but I’ve never let her go off with anyone.
He sees my hesitancy. “Why don’t you come with us? Unless you have plans?” he asks me, shrugging. “We could all go.”
I look at Jess, her big eyes staring at me, hoping for the right answer.
I’ll be the evil one if I say no, but do I really want to go to the cinema with him?
I’ve been trying to give him the ‘stay away from me’ vibe for weeks.
It’s cruel to say no to her, because I’m worried about hiding the fact that I fancy him like mad. Stuff it . . . I can do it!
I nod, “Sure, OK... that sounds fun.”
“Hooray!” the girls scream together.
“Great!” Nathan says, grinning widely at me. “Why don’t you walk to my house now with us - we’ll go in my car together? It saves us taking two cars and means the girls get to ride together.”
Gulp! He wants me to go to his house, in his car.
I check what I’m wearing - fitted black skinny jeans and a thigh-length cream tunic top, paired with my leather biker jacket and boots.
I suppose what I'm wearing is fine for the cinema, but I’d rather put on makeup if I were going to be seen with Nathan.
“Er, yeah . . . that’s fine.” I agree.
He nods, seeming pleased with himself as the girls jump up and down, hugging each other with excitement.
What have I got myself into here? A night with Nathan Harris - I hope I can handle it.
I’m nervous as we walk around to his place, the girls are holding hands and chattering away happily, which leaves me alone with Nathan.
He walks alongside me, swinging Lucia’s school bag, seeming relaxed.
I hate that he’s relaxed and I'm on edge.
I try not to fidget and be as cool as I can.
I try to walk normally, but then I become so conscious of walking normally that I can't remember what normal walking feels like - I feel as though I'm walking like a robot.
“So...” He starts, “is there a man that was expecting you to be with him tonight, or are you single?
Wow, dive straight in there, Nathan.
“Why do you want to know that?”
He shrugs, “Just wanting to get a lay of the land, suss out the competition.” He's grinning - so I’m not sure if he's serious or not.
“No, I'm single. Patrick and I separated when Jess was a toddler, so it’s just the two of us, and that’s how I like it. How about you?”
Don’t go getting any ideas, mister.
“Pretty much the same. I've calmed down a lot from my twenties,” he shoots me an embarrassed glance, “I like to concentrate on Lucia.”
Yeah, right, I bet.
“We're here.” He says, pointing towards a big detached house. Wow, he’s done well. Running his own joinery business must pay well. It has a garage attached and a well-kept garden, which must take hours of upkeep.
“This is nice – you like gardening, huh?”
He laughs, “No way - I don’t have the time or the patience. My dad does it while I'm at work, he’s retired - gardening is a hobby of his – the back garden is something else.”
I smile as he takes out his keys and opens the door. He hesitates and grimaces, turning to me.
“It may be a mess. I didn’t think I was going to have company. I have a cleaner who comes in once a week on a Monday, but it's Friday today, so it's probably best to expect a mess.”
I smile at him warmly. “We have kids, our houses are always a mess!”
He laughs. My belly does somersaults when he laughs.
I made him laugh – I feel like the queen of the world.
What are you doing, Kate? I should not be happy about making him happy.
I have got to keep my distance from him.
He was a bastard ten years ago, so I'm sure he’ll be a bastard now.
Because he seems to be a good dad, it doesn’t mean he's changed – men like him never change.
His house isn’t that much of a mess, it just looks like a four-year-old lives there.
Lucia shouts, “Daddy, can I show Jess my room?” She’s already on her way up the stairs with Jess behind her.