“Hey, you looked great up there!”
Emily beams at the compliment from Serena before turning back to me.
“Dad, can I sleep over at Jasmine’s house tonight? She said it was okay.”
“Is it okay with Jasmine’s mom?”
“Um, yeah.”
Serena tries to hide her grin as I pull the parent card. “Why don’t you check first, honey.”
Emily scampers away, and I give Serena a look as she lets the laugh out.
“Just so you know, it’s not all fun taco nights,” I mutter. “I get to play bad cop too.”
“Hey, I think you’re great with her.”
I shrug. “So are you, you know. I’ve had Don over for dinner before and she wants to eat in her room or in front of the TV.”
“Well maybe Don should learn to make better Texas-style guacamole.”
I laugh.
“Landon! Hi!”
We both turn at the sound of the woman’s voice - Erika, Jasmine’s mom, with Jasmine and Emily in tow.
I smile warmly. “Hi, Erika.”
“Hey there. So, the girls were thinking of having a movie night tonight to celebrate their rising Hollywood stars.” She wags her brows knowingly as the two girls gush about “Hollywood!” behind her. “That okay with you?”
“Absolutely.” I smile. “I’m fine with it if you are.”
Emily and Jasmine cheer before running off again to change out of their pint-sized football gear.
“Well then, I don’t think we’ve met!” Erika smiles curiously at me and then at Serena. “Landon, I hadn’t heard you were seeing any-”
“Oh, no,” Serena says quickly shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “We just work together.”
Erika’s smile seems to grow wider as she turns back to me, her eyes doing a not-so-hidden drive-by up and down over me. “Oh,” she says, biting her lip. “Well, Landon, if you wanted to come on by tonight with Emily, maybe we could watch our own movie?” She smiles predatorily at me, wagging her brows. “I’m sure you and I could find a way to amuse ourselves.”
Serena almost loses it behind her, actually clamping a hand across her mouth and turning away.
I clear my throat, forcing myself to smile cordially at Erika. “Appreciate the offer, but I’ve got work to plow through tonight.”
Erika pouts and making a clicking sound with her teeth. “Aww I think you work too hard.” She moves closer, her hand going to my arm through my shirt sleeve. Her lips curl again.
“Landon, I don’t know how you have the time to keep in such great shape!”
She turns to Serena, shaking her head. “My goodness, how do you even get any work done with this hunk walking around?”
Serena smiles. “Oh, I mostly just let him have his way with me across his desk whenever he wants.”
Erika hoots out a laugh, batting her hand at Serena’s arm as she shakes her head and wipes her eyes. “Well then, I suppose I should go find the girls.” She pouts at me. “You sure I can’t convince you take the night off?”
“Maybe another time, Erika.”
She shrugs and sighs. “Well fine then. Wonderful to meet you, Serena. Love that sense of humor.”
Erika strolls off, and Serena turns back to me, a big, needling smirk on her face.
“What.”
She chuckles. “Has she been to Tap & Vine with you?”
I roll my eyes. “No.”
“You sure about that?”
I arch a brow, peering into Serena’s face and grinning. “Why so curious?”
“Morbid curiosity.”
I snort. “No, definitely not.” I start to open my mouth to continue with that history, but I quickly shut it instead.
Serena clearly catches it though, her brow shooting up. “Oh my God, gross!”
“What!”
She cracks up, shaking her head. “Jesus, Landon. Banging Emily’s friends’ moms? Ick.”
I frown. “Okay, first of all, no, I’d never and never have touched Erika Marshalls, or any of my daughter’s friend’s moms. Jesus, what do you think I am?”
“A man whore.”
I snort. “Look, do you want to get a drink?”
She bites her lip, and I’m almost sure this is a bad idea. I’m almost sure she’s going to say no, or come up with some fairly good reason why we shouldn’t go get a drink together.
She nods. “Sure, but only if you swear to finish this story.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Serena
“So, Jasmine’s mom.”
Landon groans and takes a sip of his drink. “It’s seriously nothing.”
“I’ll leave.” I grin at him, shaking my head. “Don’t think I won’t.”