In His Bed(30)

She grinned, thankful he could always pull her out of the dark thoughts. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

He laced their fingers together again and helped her step off the bleachers. “I can always tell. I know you—you like peanuts on vanilla ice cream, you won’t use mouthwash in the morning because it makes your coffee taste awful, and you like your eggs sunny-side up with no salt. Now, come on, I’m starving.”

Lea dipped her head and quietly let Colin lead her to the parking lot. He took her keys from her hand and pressed the button to unlock the door. She buckled in and he pressed a quick kiss against her lips before shutting the door.

She started the car and watched as Colin got in his truck and waved. He pulled out of the parking lot and Lea couldn’t help but feel her heart drive away with the man she loved.



*****



“Can I use these?” Colin asked his dad as he lifted the fishing poles from the hooks on the wall of the garage.

“Take the Falcon BMC. I get the best bass catches on that one. I found it!” Dave lifted a dust-covered tackle box with superhero stickers plastered all over the lid. “You remember this?”

Colin grinned. “Shit, you still have that?”

He watched his dad unlatch the hinge and pull out red and white bobbers. “You used to love to go out on the boat. Hey, let’s go out next weekend and make an overnight out of it. We’ll head up to Baldoff’s pit.”

Feeling the familiar excitement bubble up in his belly, Colin gathered the rods. “Hell yeah, I want to go. We’ll get Mom to make some turkey sandwiches.”

Colin’s dad laughed. “Son, I think you go more to eat your mom’s sandwiches than to catch fish.”

“Probably.” Colin walked to put the rods in the back of the truck. “I’ll get these back to you this week.”

Dave rested his forearms on the ledge of the truck bed. “You know you’re going to have to bait her hook, right?”

Colin usually didn’t get nervous about anything, but his dad’s question caught him off guard. He knew Lea wanted them to keep their relationship secret, but, damn, he wanted to tell everyone how much he loved her. “I doubt Hernandez will have a problem baiting his own hook.”

“Son, if you think for one minute I can’t see what’s going on, you’re as crazy as your uncle Dan.”

Colin snorted. “Hey, Uncle Dan used to let us ride in the back of his truck and eat beef jerky. He’s not so bad.”

Dave rounded the back of the truck to where Colin stood. He patted Colin’s shoulder and squeezed. “Last Saturday, I stopped by to see you. No one answered the front door.” Colin’s chest sank. He and Lea had been swimming last Saturday afternoon. “Son, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard a woman make those kinds of noises, and the filth I heard come out of your mouth made me want to go to church.”

Colin felt his cheeks heat to four shades of a five alarm fire. Shit, his dad had heard him fucking his woman. “Dad, I can exp—”

Dave laughed and started back into the garage. “Hey, if you can do it, why not? Lea’s a nice woman, not hard on the eyes either—never ever tell your mother I said that.” Colin smiled, knowing Lea was gorgeous. “But, if this is going to continue, you owe it to your mom to tell her.”

Knowing his dad was right made his stomach twist, not because he didn’t want to tell his mom but because Lea didn’t. He wanted her to be proud of their relationship. He was. “I know,” he said. “We’ll tell her soon.” He looked to his dad, man to man. “Thanks for not freaking out. I know she’s Mom’s best friend. I can’t help the way I feel. She’s the one, Dad.”

Dave pulled his son in for a hug. “Just don’t be stupid. Tell your mom. She’s a smart woman and she loves you. Tell her before she finds out on her own. You two be careful. Give me a call about next weekend.”

“Will do.” Colin got in the truck and pulled out of the driveway. The closer he got to Lea’s house, the faster the blood pumped through his veins. His dad knew how he felt about Lea and the world hadn’t exploded. Maybe telling his mom wouldn’t be so bad.

When he pulled onto the brick driveway, Lea was standing on the porch watching Charlie scamper around the front lawn. She smiled and his gut eased, knowing he had come home.

He turned off the truck and they walked into the house together.

“I made some sandwiches and sweet tea. Charlie has her snacks in that bag,” She pointed to a small canvas bag on the kitchen bench. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want…”