One Day You'll Be Mine(52)

I couldn’t deny how badly I wanted Desmond. It’d been so long since a man wanted me so deeply. The spell he was putting me under was intoxicating. But I didn’t know if he was being real, or whether this was some line he’d given every woman.

Before I could answer, Jordan returned with the dessert menu. “Have you saved room for any of our incredible desserts? I absolutely love the toffee cake?”

“Excuse me.” Jordan. My son. My heart quickened as a pit of fear swirled in my stomach. I was a horrible mother for not checking on him. Guilt swarmed my heart. I slid out of my seat. “I’ll be right back.”

“Yes,” I heard Desmond reply. “Bring us some of that fantastic toffee cake, and the blondie.”

I couldn’t get to the bathroom quick enough. I only got there in enough time to lock the door, retrieve my phone, and see if I missed any calls from him. None. It was still early enough over there that he would just be getting ready to prepare for bed when I called.

“Hi, Mommy!” He said. “You look pretty!”

Tears of joy ran down my face as I looked at him. He was my heart, my world, and I missed him so much. I had no business being out with a man I barely knew when I could be with my son.

“Why are you crying, mom?”

“Hi, honey.” He scrunched his face when I called him that, but I didn’t care. “I’m not crying because of anything bad. I’m just sad. I miss you so much.”

“I miss you too. Mr. Preston doesn’t cook as well as you do.”

“Who’s Mr. Preston?”

“Daddy’s friend from Mrs. Kelli’s street?” He asked. “He’s in the kitchen making tacos tonight. Wanna say hi?”

“No honey, that’s okay. I called to talk to you.” I seethed on the inside. It hasn’t even been a month and he’s got this man coming around my son, in our former home together? I couldn’t believe Hollis was such a wreckless asshole. But I was halfway across the country. There’d be no way I could confront him at the moment.

“Where are you, Mommy?”

“Mommy’s out to dinner with friends.” Now was definitely not the time to have that conversation. I chatted with him briefly about school and Ms. Kelli, making sure everything was alright. He asked if I was coming home for Thanksgiving.

“Probably not, honey.” I started to get misty eyed as I realized Thanksgiving was just weeks away, and I was going to be alone with Ro. “But I promise I’ll see you for Christmas.”

“Okay.”

“Get ready for bed. I’ll call you tomorrow okay?”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, little man.”

A few angry tears slid down my face. I was consumed with rage and guilt. Rage because I wanted to kill my soon to be ex-husband for bringing his secret lover around my son. Guilt because I was here on a date instead of driving back to Twenty-nine Palms and taking my son. No, I may not have had the prestigious job with money that Hollis did, but I was a damn good mother, and I loved my son more than life itself.

Although my eyes couldn’t hide the redness from my tears, my makeup had held up and remained pretty intact. I looked at the sultry-eyed goddess in the mirror and she winked at me. To be honest, I don’t know how Rose managed to make me look this good, but I was going to have to learn these magical secrets of makeup. Excuse my vanity, but it was hard to keep a foul mood when I looked so pretty.

And had a hot man like Desmond waiting for me at the table.

Our desserts were spread on the table, with extra plates on each of our sides. He waved, smiling pleasantly when I returned. “For a minute I thought you ditched me.” He looked at my eyes and saw through the smile. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Feeling open and vulnerable, I leaned in. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yes.” He placed his knife and fork, which he was using to split our desserts, on the table. There he went again, giving me eye contact with his undivided attention.

“I haven’t been on a date in years. My son’s father and I split up for good less than a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t been in Dallas long at all – we’ve spoken about this – but I’m still shaky and all over the place. This is a new beginning for me. And I’m just a mess because I don’t have it together.”

Tears started to form in my eyes. I was getting so embarrassed, but I had to tell the truth. “I’m not this wonderful woman you think I am. I ran to call my son and say goodnight, and he told me about his father’s new lover in the kitchen cooking dinner already.”

“Oh…” You can’t ever tell someone how to react to your drama, but hearing “oh” didn’t help me at all. I felt like I was having a meltdown as I spoke, with Desmond watching me. What could you say to a woman you just met who’s stuck on her ex, and crying at the dinner table? Not much… but I still felt crappy.