Chasing Marisol (Blueprint to Love Book 3) (5 page)

"It doesn't mean Jeff is
ready
for all that," she protested. "He may want it— and someday he'll make a wonderful husband. But that doesn't mean he'd make a good husband right now."

"But Marisol is perfect for him," he insisted. "She'd balance him out— make him stronger and more grounded."

Staring at him, Mona wondered where this sudden interest in Jeff's life was coming from. Linc had never been one to meddle in his kids’ lives. In fact— he'd been so busy building his business, he'd barely had
time
for their children while they were growing up. Too many times to count, she'd played the role of both mother and father. And she— more than anyone, knew the cost of marrying someone who was more enamored with his work than his wife or family. "What’s this really about, Linc?"

He hesitated. "I see what a wonderful girl Mari is— and I want that for Jeff. Good women don't come along every day. Guys always think they will— hell— we
assume
they will. We assume if we lose one— it's not a huge deal. The next one's around the corner. When you're young, you think you have all the time in the world." He paused— suddenly seeming to choose his words carefully. "But then you round that corner— and she's not there. So you round the next corner— still hopeful. I mean— how hard can it be, really?"

Her heart pounding, Mona's hand shook when she raised the teacup to her lips. Linc was talking about her—
about them
— their life together. She wondered if he even realized what he was saying. She cradled the cup in both hands so she wouldn't drop it.

"By the time you realize your mistake— you've trudged twenty blocks in the wrong direction." He swallowed hard. "Even if you go back to that first corner— everything's changed. The traffic pattern is different. That girl you were crazy for— she's moved on. She found someone else— someone who was ready. Someone who wanted the same things. And the worst part— the very worst part is— you've finally realized you wanted those same things all along— and you wanted them with her. But you're too late."

His voice trailed off and the silence lengthened— a ribbon of guilt. Regret. Pain. Swirling around them. Mona couldn't speak— couldn't breathe. For perhaps the first time in her adult life— she had absolutely no clue what to say. Little Madison's snuffly breathing broke the awkward silence and they both smiled. Linc's shoulders shook with silent laughter as he glanced at the angel sleeping on his shoulder. Mona finally summoned the courage to meet his gaze.

"I understand, Linc." Releasing a shuddering breath, she reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "But relationships don't always work out the way we choose. Sometimes you can do everything right— and it still doesn't work. People make decisions based on the information available at a given moment. It's impossible to see around that next corner." 

Her silver-haired husband smiled awkwardly, realizing he'd revealed far more than he'd perhaps intended. "I don't want that for Jefferson. He really likes her— and I think she likes him. If I can somehow help it along-"

"Liking and loving are very different emotions, dear."

He shrugged, his smile impish. Linc was back on solid emotional ground. "I'm banking on Jeffie. My boys go after what they want."

She raised an eyebrow in mocking disapproval. "Does Mari have any say in this matter?"

"If she puts him through the ringer— even better. Jeff's had it too easy with women for too long. He needs to suffer."  

"You make her sound like a battle you're strategizing. It's a little insulting."

"He'll appreciate the reward because he had to fight for it," Linc defended, the smile on his face one of merriment. "Jeff is a man who likes a challenge. You can't fault him for that."

Sitting there, plotting strategy— it was hard to believe they'd been divorced for a decade. She leaned forward in her chair. "Okay— you've convinced me. What can I do to help?" 

***

"Take it easy, Sport. If you eat too fast, you'll get sick." Jeff eyed Hector as he inhaled a third slice of pizza. He still couldn't believe he'd managed to pull it off.

Marisol Ortega. With him. On a date.

With Hector playing chaperone. . . But why get caught up in details? Technically— it was still a date.

"I won gek sif."

"Finish chewing before you speak. Where are your manners, tonight?" Mari reminded. "Jeff can wait to hear your answer. He doesn't need to see all that pizza rolling around in your mouth."

Hiding his smile, Jeff wasn't surprised when Hector cracked up. Reminding the little boy of the mess in his mouth would only entice him to show it again. Her lecture would have the opposite effect of what she hoped for.

"She's right. A gentleman keeps his mouth shut when he's eating— especially when it's pizza." He softened his words with a wink. "We don't want Mari getting sick all over the place, do we? Then we wouldn't be able to stop at the park after dinner."

As expected, Hector took immediate notice and sat up straight. His mouth slammed shut. Hearing her exasperated sigh from across the table, Jeff tried not to gloat. "Something wrong, Miss Ortega?"

"That’s much better, Hector." Ignoring him, she acknowledged the little boy's efforts before reluctantly meeting his gaze. The luscious mouth he'd spent weeks considering, twitched with the effort not to smile.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Traynor. You've been very helpful this evening. I'd planned to ask you back to our home later, but since I might get sick all over the place . . . I wouldn't want to burden you with that possibility."

You had to appreciate a woman who thought on her feet. "I am willing to assume that risk."

Hector's eyes widened as he tried to follow their conversation. "Are you sick, mama? Can we still go to the park?"

"I'm fine, love. We’re only joking." Her beautiful eyes remained locked on him when she tousled Hector's curly hair. "Remember the dessert we made earlier? Didn't you want to ask Jeff something?"  

Hector's fork clattered to the table as he bolted up in his seat. "Oh, yeah. I forgot." He turned, big, brown eyes suddenly serious. "Jeff— we made brownies after school today. Before you gots us-"

"I love brownies." He couldn't help smiling over the little guy's excitement.

Hector's face lit up. "Mari said you would. She says all boys like chocolate. We want you to come inside and have brownies with us— after the park." He turned to check with her. "And maybe we can have ice cream with them?"

She nodded. "If you’re a good listener at the park."

Jeff relaxed in his chair. So far, the evening was progressing perfectly. He'd been surprised earlier to acknowledge he was nervous. All day, he'd been eager for this night to arrive. Not wanting to be late, he'd allowed extra time. But her directions had been spot on.

Yet when he'd pulled into her driveway, he'd hesitated. Convincing Marisol had taken twenty-nine days. Jeff had lost track of how many times he'd officially asked her— but it was easily a dozen. He didn't want to blow a month of effort with a mistake. His heart had actually been pounding when he rang the bell. But then she'd opened the door— gorgeous, sea blue eyes welcoming. And here they were. A fun dinner with a sweet little boy and a beautiful woman who was slowly, cautiously starting to lower her guard.

Jeff couldn't remember ever experiencing this level of uncertainty before. Part of him resented feeling this way. Obviously— it was the part that had always taken anything he ever wanted from the opposite sex. But the rest of him was enjoying the hell out of the challenge. The rush of uncertainty would definitely keep him fully engaged. There was no danger of complacency with Mari. There would be no games— not that he'd ever really been into that. But he also knew she wouldn't put up with them.

He'd already sensed she wouldn't tolerate a slacker, but he was absolutely certain she wouldn't risk exposing Hector to getting his feelings hurt. He'd met up with Hector accidentally— but staying on the fringes of his life would be solely up to Marisol. That made this date— and any he might be fortunate enough to secure in the future— high stakes. The way he viewed it— he had two choices. He was either all in and betting with confidence or he should fold his hand and get out tonight.

"Can we go to the park soon, Jeff? It's gonna get dark."

"Hang in there, Sport. We have plenty of time." He smiled over Hector's worried expression. "Let's make sure your mom has finished dinner."

"Mari, pleee-ze? Are you done?"

She hid her chuckle behind her napkin. "When you ask so nicely, how can I possibly refuse?"

"Okay, Hec. Lead the way." Jeff caught her glance and winked, hoping to provoke another blush. She'd done it all evening. For someone so tightly in command of her emotions, it was perhaps the one thing Marisol couldn't control. It probably drove her crazy— that a purely physical response could reveal all sorts of secrets she didn't wish to share. Did she blush like that around every guy? Or was her reaction reserved solely for him? Was it possible he made her nervous? The thought made him smile.

He'd thought of no one else this past month. From the moment he'd set eyes on her— she'd been it. Until she trusted him enough to let the wall down, her blush was one of the few signals he had to gauge her thoughts. And before they were through, that wall was gonna tumble.

Oh, yeah. He was all in.  

***

Marisol blew the wayward curls out of her face. Still flushed from the heat in the bathroom during Hector's bath, she was supremely conscious of the fact that she was completely disheveled. If her son hadn't insisted on Jefferson tucking him into bed, she wouldn't have cared so much about her appearance. But he was still here— waiting patiently to tuck him in. Then they would finally head downstairs together— alone for the first time. And she was a straggly mess.

She chewed her lip in frustration. Why did it matter how she looked? She wasn't getting involved with anyone— remember? Just because Jeff was stunningly gorgeous— even after a sixty minute stint in the park chasing her son— even after another hour spent crawling on the living room rug playing trucks.

"Mama— come on! I'm dry. Let's get out there."

She finished buttoning his pajamas, her frazzled thoughts calming with the basic task. "Jeff is waiting, carino. He won't leave without saying goodnight."

The moment she finished, Hector bolted for the door. She surveyed the damp towels near the tub before deciding the mess could be cleaned later. She'd stalled long enough. Avoiding the mirror, she turned off the fan and headed to her son's room.

To her surprise, Hector was already under the covers when she entered his room. Jeff sat perched on the end of the bed, absorbed in talk of baseball.

"Mari— Jeff likes baseball, too. He said his nephew plays tee-ball. And he's my age." Hector's eyes were wide. "Can I do that?"

She glanced from one to the other. "If you’d like to try it, I’ll call the parks department to see if there's a program here."

A flash of worry crossed Jeff's face. "Even if there isn't a program, Hec . . . you can still learn to play and then join a league next year."

"But I want to play," he protested.

"I promise to call for you," she repeated. "Now— isn't there something you'd like to say to Jeff?" His suddenly confused expression made her smile.

"I wanna play tee-ball?"

Jeff’s chuckle made her sigh. "To thank him for dinner," she prompted. "And for taking us to the park?"

"Oh, yeah. Thanks, Jeff." He beamed at his new best friend. "I had fun playin' with you. I think you should come over again tomorrow."

Jeff's expression was solemn. "I had a great time, too. And we definitely should do it again soon. I promise I'll talk with your mom before I leave."

"Okay." His eyelids were already drooping when he yawned. "Goodnight, Jeff."

"Sleep tight, buddy."

She watched from the doorway when he rose from the bed and straightened the blanket around Hector's slender shoulders. She tried not to read too much into his actions— tried to stop the visions scrolling through her brain. Tucking in children, walks in the park . . . with the person who would know you best in the world— who you could rely on, no matter what the situation-

What was wrong with her? They'd had one date— a few hours together— a mere blip in the span of a lifetime. Just because Jeff had been amazing tonight didn't mean she could simply insert him into her fantasy of the perfect family. She couldn't afford to allow fantasies to rule her head. She'd made that mistake before. And where had it gotten her? Emotionally shattered— and in need of a restraining order.

She drew in a shaky breath when Jeff turned and smiled. No doubt about it— he was beautiful. And thoughtful. He'd been kind and patient with her son. For those reasons, he scored extra points. Beyond that— she barely knew him. All men were capable of appearing interested for brief periods. It was the long haul that usually revealed their commitment problems.

They didn't speak until they were downstairs. Despite her unease, Mari's pulse tripped with anticipation. She feigned normalcy as she headed for the kitchen— as though the presence of gorgeous, attentive men were a commonplace occurrence at her dining table. "Can I get you a beer?"