All Stars Fall (Seaside Pictures #3.5)(29)

“Goodnight Moon…” Penny finished, then kissed Bella on the top of her head while I saw movement in Eric’s room.

How was it humanly possible to be sleeping that hard one minute, then snickering the next? Unbelievable.

“Boys. Bed!” I yelled.

“Sorry, Dad,” they muttered together like they were anything but sorry. Maybe I should let them share a room? I always thought that space was the way to go, but more and more Malcom was sneaking into Eric’s room and asking to stay.

I let out a frustrated breath and glanced back into my daughter’s room as Penny pulled the covers up to Bella’s chin and then gave her another kiss on the forehead.

Pain squeezed my chest so tightly, so effectively and efficiently that I had to look away.

Penny shut the door with a quiet click and faced me.

I wanted to torture myself with information about their date, even though I was pretty sure I knew exactly how good it had been for Drew.

Bastard.

“Drink?” I asked, apparently needing alcohol to have that sort of conversation with her.

Why him?

I mean, he was good looking, charismatic—okay, I needed to not go down that dark, depressing road. He was free. I wasn’t. Maybe deep down that was what she craved, to be someone’s world.

Kinda hard to compete with that when I already had three running circles around me on a daily basis.

“Yeah.” She frowned and then nodded toward the kitchen. “That actually sounds great. I’m not a huge beer drinker, though Drew tried to—”

“Convince you?” I bet he did. Why did she have to catch Drew’s eye? Him of all people? Really?

“It was okay but not my favorite. He kept ordering different kinds until I made him stop.”

I smirked. “He likes it when people like what he likes, mainly because he’s an expert when it comes to himself. Narcissist and all that.”

Penny scrunched up her nose and smiled. “Isn’t everyone like that, though? I mean narcissism aside, it’s nice to have similar interests.”

We couldn’t be any more different if we tried. “Yeah I guess so. Which means if you don’t like gin and tonic…” I tried to lighten the mood.

“Ahhhh, with lime?”

“Always.” I winked and grabbed two glasses, then looked around for the limes only to find Penny already slicing them open for us.

The woman was perfect.

Damn it.

I was killing Drew later.

And shoving my drumsticks up his ass.

Alcohol.

I grabbed the bottle of Beefeater Gin and poured a generous amount in both cups, then grabbed ice while Penny grabbed the tonic water and started to pour.

It was too damn easy with her, like she belonged in my house, my kitchen. Like making her a permanent fixture in my life wasn’t just a dream but destiny.

I held up my glass, she held up hers. “Cheers.”

She smiled and clinked hers against mine then took a long, slow sip that had me staring for an embarrassing amount of time at her neck and the way the liquid flowed down her perfect throat.

Great, now I was obsessed with her throat.

When had this happened?

Seeing her with Drew had made me want to snap.

Seeing him flirting with her made me want to commit a crime, and now I was drinking with three kids sleeping upstairs, all because I couldn’t calm my racing pulse. And if I was being really honest, I knew if I didn’t have something to hold in my hands, I’d reach for her.

And I wasn’t sure anymore if that was what she wanted, not since the date. Besides, how did I even begin to explain that to the kids? I kiss her, I like her, yet she also works for us, but no, she’s not your mother…

“So.” I cleared my throat and leaned against the countertop. “How’d the date go?”

Penny smiled over her glass. “Probing a bit?”

“A lot, not a bit.” I laughed and took another fortifying swallow.

“We decided we would be great friends.”

“Joint decision?” I frowned as the alcohol got stuck in my throat and left a lingering burn.

“After some explaining, yes.” She nodded slowly. “Though it’s Drew, so I’m sure reminding him what friendship means will be a daily necessity.”

I barked out another laugh. “Yeah, good luck with that. When he sees something he wants…” I shrugged.

“What about you?”

That got my attention, and I jerked my head up and snorted. “Drew doesn’t want me like that, thank God.”

Her eyes narrowed, she put down her drink and leaned over the counter. Her shirt was just low enough for me to see breasts; two perfect mounds that I wanted to cup, to kiss and suck and squeeze and…shit, what were we talking about again? “Not Drew, I’m talking about when you want something…do you just blindly pursue?”

“Used to.” I gritted my teeth. “But that’s what I did with my ex, and look how that turned out.” I exhaled roughly, the final reminder released into the universe. I had been impulsive with her, impulsive with my heart, ready to just toss it at the first woman who I thought truly got me. And I was wrong, so very wrong. “Besides, I have three other people to think about, even if I wanted…” My voice fell as sadness flashed across her face. “You know what I mean. It’s not just me anymore. I have to think about them, what’s best for them, what’s best for us.”