Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(15)

She got in the van and I shut her door, then watched her back out. We waved one last time before she took off down the street, off to her next errand.

I glanced at Nora’s house before I went back inside. Had she gone back to sleep after I’d left last night? I certainly hadn’t. Insomnia might have kept me up anyway, but Nora hadn’t helped. There was no way I was inviting her to my family’s barbecue. I needed to make sure I limited my exposure to her.

That woman was dangerous.





7





DEX





I hated being late, especially for school stuff. I’d moved one of my clients so I could make it to the art show, but my earlier appointment had gone long. You just couldn’t rush a tattoo. That led to awful tattoos, and I didn’t do shoddy work. Ever.

It also meant sometimes I ran late. And even though there hadn’t been much I could have done about it, I still felt bad.

Dad-guilt was a thing.

I parked and followed the handmade signs pointing the way. The spring art show was being held in the school gym and the side door was wide open.

Inside, tables were set up in rows to display the students’ art. At a glance, there were sketches and paintings of various sizes, plus all sorts of pottery and sculpture. A lot of talent in the room, especially considering they were all young teens.

My eyes swept the crowd of kids and their families until I spotted Riley. She was with my mom and dad on the outskirts of the action, so I headed their direction.

Mom wore a blue dress with a brown leather belt and Dad looked like he’d just come from the office in his button-down and slacks. No jacket, but he did wear a blue on blue striped tie.

I was a carbon copy of my father. Same build, although I was thicker from years of lifting weights, same square jaw, same eyes. We even had similar hair, although his was shot through with gray.

“Son,” he said with a nod.

“Hey, Dad. Hi, Mom.” I grabbed Riley in a hug. Her stiffness reminded me we were in front of her peers and maybe a hug from Dad wasn’t considered cool. I didn’t care—hugged her anyway. “Hey, Ry. Sorry I’m late.”

She stepped back. “It’s okay. It’s open house style, so people have been coming and going.”

“Just wait until you see Riley’s paintings,” my mom said. “They’re beautiful.”

My dad patted her on the back. “Our girl is very talented.”

“Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa.”

“I can’t wait,” I said. “Show me the way.”

“We actually have to get going,” Mom said, checking her watch. “Dinner reservations.”

“Yeah, no problem. Thanks for coming.”

They hugged Riley and was it my imagination, or was she a lot less stiff? She even hugged them back.

Maybe it was still cool to hug grandparents.

Her hair was in braids again, but she’d left a little bit loose around her face. She tucked a piece behind her ear and opened her mouth as if she were about to say something, when her eyes widened and a smile lit up her face. “Oh my gosh, you came!”

I looked over my shoulder and almost choked on my own tongue.

Nora?

“Of course I did,” Nora said with a dazzling smile. “I told you I would.”

Riley practically ran into her arms. Nora’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she gave Riley a long hug.

She was dressed in an outfit that was somehow sexy as hell without being inappropriate for the setting. Form-fitting black shirt, high-waisted jeans, and red heels. Her dark hair cascaded around her shoulders in waves and when she flashed that smile again, it made something tighten in the pit of my stomach.

Fuck me, she was beautiful.

Riley stepped out of her long embrace. “Oh, sorry. Grandma and Grandpa, this is Nora. She lives next door.”

Nora turned that million-watt smile on my parents. “So nice to meet you. I’m Nora Lakes.”

“Joel St. James,” my dad said, offering his hand. “My wife, Gillian.”

“It’s so lovely of you to come to Riley’s art show,” my mom said, her eyes flicking to me with a not-so-subtle eyebrow lift.

“I was thrilled to be invited.”

“I wish we could stay and chat,” my mom said. “But we were just on our way out.”

“Another time,” Nora said.

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Mom said. “By the way, did Dex tell you about the barbecue?”

Nora’s gaze moved from my mom, to me, then back again. “No, I don’t think he did.”

“Dex, I taught you better manners than that.”

I crossed my arms. “Really, Mom?”

She ignored me. “He’s hosting a barbecue at his place a week from tomorrow and we’d love to have you.”

“You should totally come,” Riley said.

“How could I refuse?” Nora said. “I’d love to.”

“Wonderful.” Mom tucked her hand in the crook of Dad’s arm. “You three have a nice evening.”

“You too,” Nora said.

Mom stepped in for a hug and kissed my cheek. I gave Dad a hug, then we said the last of our goodbyes and they left.

Riley fidgeted with her hands. “So, do you want to see my paintings?”