The Pairing (The Proposition #3)(63)

With the strains of Despicable Me playing in the background, Pesh lay on his back with Mason on top of him. Her son’s face was snuggled into Pesh’s chest, and he was sound asleep. They both were. Pesh’s face was tilted down, his nose pressed into the strands of Mason’s hair.

Before she could harden herself to the emotions coursing through her, tears stung her eyes. In that moment, she allowed herself to fantasize that this was truly her life. She had a loving husband who adored her, and her son had an attentive and doting father. What more could she ask for in life? In those minutes of weakness, she wondered why she had been fighting Pesh so hard about a relationship. Besides her own happiness, there was nothing more in the world that she wanted than for Mason to be safe and happy.

As she came crashing back to reality, she saw things clearly for the first time in a long time. Pesh had been so worried about her that he’d driven over just to check on her. She’d never had a boyfriend who cared about her that much, and no matter how hard she searched in the future, she was probably never going to find another man like Pesh. There were so many things about him that she liked…maybe even loved. He made her want to get up in the mornings, so she could see him at work. She found herself anxiously checking her phone to see if she had a text from him. She loved spending time with him. But it was more than just the feelings that Pesh felt for her or that she felt for him—it was the fact that he cared so much about her son. They were a package deal for any future man, and he had willingly embraced that fact without complaint.

On shaky legs, she walked over to the couch. As she stood over the two of them, she couldn’t help reaching out her hand and tenderly touching Pesh’s cheek. He stirred at the contact. When his eyelids fluttered open, she smiled at him. “Hi.”

His gaze spun around the room like he was trying hard to remember where he was. When he glanced down at Mason, realization washed over his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure you needed it. Besides, I took too long in the tub.”

He smiled. “I would argue that you need it as well.”

Bending over, she slid her hand under Mason’s stomach while the other went under his legs. She hoisted him up and into her arms. When he whimpered, she murmured, “Shh, Mommy’s going to put you to bed.”

“Night, night, Pesh,” Mason mumbled drowsily.

“Good night, little man,” Pesh replied.

Once she had tucked Mason in and kissed his cheek, she closed his bedroom door and returned to the living room. Pesh sat hunched over on the edge of one of the couch cushions, as if he were planning to leave as soon as she came back. “Is he okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “Out like a light the moment I put him down.”

“Good.” When he started to stand up, she pushed him back down on the couch. Easing down onto his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He brought his hand up to rub lazy circles over her back. She didn’t speak for a few minutes. Instead, she just enjoyed being close to him, the feel of his hand on her, his strong, muscled thighs beneath her.

“Thank you for coming over tonight.”

His brows rose in surprise. “Are you sure? I was afraid I was overstepping my bounds.”

Raking her fingers through his dark hair, she shook her head. “I think we need to talk about our boundaries.”

“Oh?”

She nodded. “You coming over here tonight made me realize something very important. What we’ve been doing has been fun, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. But now—”

Pesh’s dark eyes snapped shut, and the expression on his face shifted as if he were in pain. “Please. You don’t have to say this. I’ll just go.”

“But I don’t want you to go,” she argued.

“Then what are you trying to say?”

“That I need you in my life, and I want more.”

His brows shot up. “More? As in more of us together?”

“Yes.”

He sucked in a breath. “You want us to be an official couple?”

She smiled. “Yes, I do. Well, everywhere except work.”

“I can’t believe it,” he murmured.

“This isn’t exactly the reaction I thought you would have,” she teased.

“Oh, I’m happy. Trust me. I’m just shocked, that’s all.”

She brought her lips to his and gave him a tender kiss. Against his lips, she murmured, “Can you ever forgive me for being so stubborn and so stupid?”

“I can try. But I suppose you’re going to have to work very hard to make it up to me.”

“Am I?”

He nodded. “Yes, very hard.”

“Why do I have the funny feeling that your idea of me making it up to you is entirely different than mine?”

“No more orgasms for dates. Just dates.”

“I can handle that.”

A wicked gleam flashed in Pesh’s eyes. “The first date will be to the Fox to see an opera.”

She groaned. “You don’t play fair.”

He ran his hands up her sides, causing her to shiver. “I would have to argue that you haven’t been playing fair all along. Now it’s my turn.”

“Are you going to punish me?” she questioned in a whisper.