Page 74 of Starting Back
“No. I mean Dad has a girlfriend, and it’s not like the two of you are together anymore.”
My brows shot up. That was news to me, but Colin and I didn’t share details about our lives other than work schedules and what weekends he wanted to take the kids.
A heads-up would have been nice, especially if he brought her around the girls, but it didn’t bother me. Whether or not Leo was sort of in the picture, Colin and I were very over, and I wished him nothing but happiness if he could find it.
“Hey,” Jake said, his arm around his wife. “I hear I have the kids tonight.”
“Just Emma. Chloe is sleeping over at her friend’s house. I’ll be home early.” I tried not to let my eyes drift toward Leo.
“Where are you headed? The guys want to head to the bar in town after we de-holiday the truck and unpack all the donations.”
“Us too.” I nodded. “I bet this town won’t seem so small to you when it’s all packed into Halman’s.”
He cracked a slow grin at my joke, the same sinful glint in his eyes he’d had right before I’d taken his cock in my mouth.
Focus, Kristina.
“I suppose not,” Leo said, his eyes searing into mine. I shifted back and forth, fighting the inclination to squirm under the weight of his stare. Did he get flashbacks from those three days as often as I did?
Instead of longing looks and heavy moments of silence, we needed to talk and figure out if we were on the same page.
Yet I couldn’t seem to make that suggestion.
Kelly Lakes Kristina was pissing me off.
“Sounds like a plan,” Peyton said as she burrowed into Jake’s side. “Even though I’ve had plenty of peopling for today.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” Jake said, kissing the top of her head. “But I got a few new customers from this afternoon.”
“There are people in this town who haven’t dealt with Russo’s Contracting yet?” I squinted at my brother.
He was great at his job and the only contractor in town. He used to hold the title of most eligible bachelor here. He’d sworn to all of us over and over again how he’d never remarry, until he fell madly in love with his best friend’s niece.
I was reminded of being at this festival only a couple of years ago. Colin and I weren’t speaking to each other because of an argument we’d had on the way here and had almost turned back home. Once we’d finally arrived, my brother snatched the girls away from us for the day, both to give Chloe an escape from the obvious tension—Emma was too little at the time to notice anything but the sweet treats on sale—and to keep the women drooling over him at a distance.
This was considerably better, although fraught with a different kind of tension that only I had to suffer through.
“Ihaven’t.” Leo laughed, his golden eyes holding mine and making me forget where I was or who was watching us.
At this festival, I was the one drooling, and when I spied Claudia gaping at me, I ran my hand over my mouth to check if it was pooling in the corner.
“My place could use a little work, and Jake seems to be highly recommended around here. Since I’m not planning to eventually move for a change, I’d like to make the place I’m living in seem like mine.”
“Makes sense,” I said, clearing my throat when my reply croaked out.
“I better get back. Hopefully I’ll see you later.” He shot me a smile over his shoulder and jogged back to the truck.
“You know, Emma could sleep at our house if she wants,” Peyton offered. “She could help set up the baby’s room a little with me in the morning.”
Emma’s hands flew to her mouth after she took in a loud gasp.
“Oh please, Mommy. I won’t be any trouble. I promise.” She clasped her hands under her chin.
“You’re never any trouble, pretty girl,” Jake said. “If it’s okay with you, Kris.”
“This way,” Claudia began, her grin so wide her cheeks probably ached, “you don’t have to worry about rushing home, should you want to stay out longer or if you want to bring a friend ho—”
“Okay, fine. Emma can sleep over at your house tonight. I’ll call Nicole and see if she wants to join us.”
