But Margot was worth it.
At least I hoped so.
7
Margot
Ian and Gracie had just gotten back from Ian’s run and we were making more waffles for them when someone knocked on the door. I went to get it since Everly was making the waffles and Ian and Gracie were fighting over the one that was left from what Everly and I had eaten.
The house was in a gated community, and there were only a handful of good friends who had the code, so I didn’t even look before throwing open the door since.
“Tore.” I blinked in the bright sunlight, surprised to see him and suddenly a little shy.
He’d spent hours between my legs last night.
He’d seen every inch of me naked, stretch marks and all.
He’d been inside of me.
He’d made me come over and over.
I was either going to die of embarrassment or have an orgasm, right here in the doorway.
Shit.
“Good morning.” He gave me a soft smile.
“Uh, hey. Good morning.”
“Uncle Tore!” Gracie came running down the hall and vaulted herself at him.
“Hey, Princess Penalty Box.”
I had no idea what had started him calling her that, but Gracie thought the penalty box in hockey was the funniest thing ever and was constantly sending him there when they were together, so that was his name for her. Part of me hated him for integrating himself so deeply in her life; the rest of me fell in love with him a little every time I saw them together. He could be immature and annoying as hell, but even so, my ovaries exploded every time I saw him with my daughter.
“I’ll share my waffles with you,” she was telling him.
“I already had breakfast but I’ll come keep you company,” he told her. “Just give me a minute with Mommy and I’ll be right in.”
“Okay!” She bounded back to the kitchen and I watched her with a wry grin.
“So, what’s up?” I asked him.
He gave me that sweet smile again, which was so unlike him. Normally he was quirky, funny, and mischievous. Today he was quieter, sincere, as if last night had changed something. “Margot, I know you’re going to have a lot of excuses after everything that’s happened between us, but I don’t want to talk about any of that. Not yet. What I’d really like is to take you out on a date. One night, just the two of us with zero expectations. No sex, no pressure, nothing but two friends who have an attraction, seeing what there is to see without all the outside drama that seems to follow us around.”
His blue eyes were focused on mine, and with the sun glinting off his blond hair, he looked a little godlike. He was kind of like a god, in my eyes anyway, and that was one of many reasons I kept pushing him away. Guys like him were too good to be true. My ex had been like Tore, except not wealthy or successful, and definitely not as interested in Gracie. Just really good-looking and funny.
“What do you say?” he asked softly, reaching out to push a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Say yes, Margot. Last night proves just how damn good we are together, and we’re already friends. What can it hurt?”
I continued to look at him, taking in that handsome face, the shock of blond hair falling over one eye, and that beautiful mouth that had given me so much pleasure last night. I ached for more, to have him kissing me again, but this time focused on no one but me.
“Margot?” He cocked his head. “Come on, don’t say no. Give me one date to convince you we’d be good together.”
“I already know we’d be good together,” I whispered. “But that’s short-term and—”
“Uh-uh.” He pressed two fingers over my lips. “No ‘but this or that’ nonsense. One date, then you can make excuses.”
“How many more waffles do I need to make?” Everly called from the kitchen.
“None!” Tore called back. “I already ate.”
“Make me one more,” I yelled to Everly. “I’m still hungry.”
I turned to Tore and pulled my lower lip through my teeth. “One date?”
“One date.”
“Okay.” I didn’t know what I was setting myself up for, but we’d literally done almost everything else, so in an odd way, it made sense that we should go out on an actual date. It was one of the few things we hadn’t done.
Tore leaned over and brushed his lips across my cheek before grabbing my hand and tugging me into the kitchen.
Jamie and Viggo were having a barbecue the following day and had invited Gracie and me to come over. Gracie was the same age as their son, J.J., and they’d started playing together quite a bit. They’d been in the same preschool class last year and had become fast friends, which was a big part of the reason Jamie, Viggo, and I had become friends. They had a big, gorgeous pool and Gracie loved being in the water. We hadn’t been able to come by for a few weeks because of her last surgery, but we’d gotten the okay for today from her surgeon, Mack.
Jamie loved my homemade pasta salad, so I’d made a huge bowl of it and I was holding it with both hands as we waited for someone to open the front door. Gracie was practically bouncing with excitement and I laughed as she rang the doorbell a second and then a third time.
“Stop,” I told her, laughing. “They’re probably out back. Be patient.”
“Hey, there.” To my surprise, it wasn’t Jamie, Viggo or their nanny, Misty, standing there, but Josh.
“Oh. Hi.” I blinked, unsure what to do. Somehow, I hadn’t thought I’d ever see him again. “I thought you were going back to Canada?”
“Thursday,” he said, smiling as he looked down at Gracie. He got down on his haunches and spoke to her. “Hi. I’m Josh. I’m a friend of your mom’s.”
“I’m Gracie.” She politely put out her hand and he shook it solemnly.
“It’s very nice to meet you. Why don’t you head out to the pool? J.J.’s been asking when you were getting here all morning.”
“Yay!” Gracie took off at a run and I chuckled as Josh took the big bowl of pasta salad from me.
“So, how are you?” he asked as we walked through the house to the kitchen.
I automatically started moving things around in the refrigerator. I’d been here enough times to feel comfortable doing it and Josh waited as I made room for the big bowl.
“I’m good. Have you been having a relaxing vacation?” I straightened up and he slid the bowl onto the shelf.
“I come to Vegas a few times a year,” he said. “Jamie and I have been friends since he played in Ottawa, before he retired, and he, Viggo, and I are good friends. Usually when I come in the summer, we go somewhere like the Grand Canyon or Lake Havasu, but the club has been insane and Jamie couldn’t get away. So it’s been mellow this time.”
“Sometimes mellow is good,” I said. “It gives you a chance to recharge.”
“Very true.” We walked out back onto the expansive patio and I waved at everyone. I’d met Misty on many occasions since she was usually the one arranging the playdates with the kids, along with J.J.’s mother, Emilie, who was also here. She was with her husband, Chains, and the rest of their kids. Emilie had been married to Viggo once, and they had a daughter named Simone. Emilie also had a daughter named Lily with Chains. The two families were close and they shared all three children, including Lily, even though she wasn’t related to Jamie or Viggo biologically.