A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts #1)(28)

He kissed her cheek softly. “Don’t be. I don’t mind taking it slow.” Edward moved to his side of the bed and sat up. Dana climbed off the bed and ran her fingers through her hair, feeling awkward.

She gestured towards the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower before the kids wake up. If you’re still around afterwards I’ll make you breakfast?”

“I’ll be here,” he said, looking around her room and back at his clothes. They were wrinkled and he felt grungy. “Any chance I can take a shower, too?”

Her eyebrows pulled together, making him back track. “I meant in one of the other bathrooms,” he amended.

She smiled. “I knew what you meant. I couldn’t help messing with you.” She winked at him.

“Brat,” he said teasingly.

“Hold on,” she said, walking into the bathroom. She came out a moment later and tossed a new toothbrush to him.

“Thank you,” he said, bowing theatrically before leaving the room. Edward made his way to the guest bathroom and locked the door. No need to scare the six year old after all. He jumped in the shower and cleaned up. It was hard focusing on the task at hand knowing Dana was close by, na**d in the other shower. He imagined hot water running down her body and then had to immediately cool the water off before he got too carried away.

“Come on, guys, sit down,” he heard Dana say as he came around the corner into the kitchen. The smell of pancakes, eggs and bacon hit him hard. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until that moment. The kids were sitting at the kitchen table and Dana was loading platters with food.

“Uncle Edward!” Cole said.

“Sorry I’m late, Dana. I got held up. Amy called me looking for Edward and I had to tell her I had no idea where he…” Deana's words trailed off when she saw Edward standing in the kitchen with damp hair. Her eyes moved from him to Dana who also had damp hair.

Dana put up a hand. “Don’t even go there. We worked last night and we both fell asleep.”

Deana studied her for a long moment. Nothing was out of place, but there was something different about Dana. She put her bags down and grabbed the house phone and tossed it to Edward. “Call your sister before she sets the cops on you.”

Edward sighed, “Fine.” He walked over to Cole and gave him a kiss on his head and one for Elizabeth. Then he walked up to Dana and gave her a slow serious kiss before she could protest.

“Oh. My. God,” Deana said, stressing each word.

Dana pulled back quickly to look at her friend and children. Elizabeth and Cole seemed perfectly content. They didn’t react in any way, but Deana was leaning against the wall, hyperventilating.

“Deana, are you okay?” Dana asked, coming to her side.

Edward seemed relaxed, more than relaxed. He ignored the drama and started getting two plates together for the kids. “Do you guys like syrup?”

“Yes, Uncle Edward,” Elizabeth answered. Her eyes were fixed on her Aunt Deana. “Mommy, what’s wrong with her?”

Deana pushed off the wall and sat down next to Elizabeth. “I’m fine, sweetie. Just got the shock of a lifetime, but I’m fine,” she said, trying to control the smile that was threatening to break free.

“Ah, maybe you shouldn’t do that in front of her, Edward,” Dana said nervously as she watched Deana toy with a nervous breakdown.

Edward placed the plates in front of the kids. Dana noticed that he cut the pancakes for the kids and gave them each a cup of milk. She smiled at him. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“You’re very welcome. Now what can I get for you, beautiful?” he asked, clasping his hands together.

“Mommy, doesn’t eat,” Cole said, munching away on his pancakes.

Edward’s brows shot up.

“I don’t eat like this.” She pointed to the plate. “I’m on a training regimen. I usually have a bowl of oatmeal on Saturday and then I’m out of here.”

“Mommy’s training for a…a triaphalong,” Elizabeth said.

“That’s triathlon, baby girl,” Dana said, caressing her daughter’s long blonde hair.

“Really?” Edward asked surprised. Not entirely surprised since she had a great body, but he was pleasantly surprised that she was deeper than he thought. She had her own world, her own interests and wouldn’t be dependent on him for everything. It would be a nice change. All the women he took out over the last few years were too clingy and wanted to be around him twenty-four seven. Suddenly his likes were their likes. They never seemed to have an opinion of their own or got over being star struck. None of them were like Dana that was for damn sure.

“Yeah, I train twice a week hitting all three challenges. The rest of the week I run and lift,” Dana explained shyly.

Edward’s eyes instinctively moved over her body. Dana folded her arms under her breast and cringed into herself. She was embarrassed about her body that much was clear.

“What are the three challenges?” Edward asked, snagging a piece of bacon from the platter and eating it. Dana smiled. She liked cooking for a man and boy was he a man. She had to do a mental check to make sure that she wasn’t drooling or staring. She wasn’t, thankfully. He didn’t need to know how much she liked him.

“The first part is a bike race for two miles. Then we run cross country for five. After that we swim for twenty to thirty minutes. I’m never sure how many miles we do, I’ve only done three. Each triathlon is different.” She was embarrassed, because she didn’t like to talk about herself. It always sounded like she was bragging.