I didn’t startle. I didn’t shout. My hands squeezed whoever’s hips were above me for a bare instant, and then I remembered where I was.
After I had put Joshua to sleep, I had sat on the couch next to Dakota to make sure she was okay. We had talked, but not much.
We must have fallen asleep, because now she was draped over me, neither of us even needing a blanket given the heat we produced.
And, Jesus Christ. Her son had walked in on us.
Not that we had done anything wrong. But I knew she wouldn’t be happy when she woke up.
The fact that I hadn’t woken up by being startled, fists swinging, said enough about what I felt for these two—even if I couldn’t say or think the words. I would never hurt Dakota and Joshua and thank God my subconscious seemed to understand that.
“Hey there,” I whispered, my voice morning-rough.
I knew the moment Dakota woke because she stiffened in my hold, the hands on my chest digging into my flesh.
She knew exactly where she was, but like I had, she probably wondered how the fuck we had gotten here.
“What are you doing? Why is Mommy laying on top of you?” Joshua asked.
“Um, we fell asleep.”
“Hey, baby,” Dakota said before she scrambled off me.
There wasn’t another word for what she did. Dakota pushed at my chest, nearly kneed me in the balls, and almost fell off the couch as she staggered to her feet. She straightened her shirt, pushed her hands through her hair, and blinked.
“I think we fell asleep. I didn’t even take out my contacts.” Dakota rubbed her eyes. “And we need to get ready for school and work,” Dakota added before looking down at her phone. “And, crap, we’re running late.” She cursed.
I was up in an instant, standing on the other side of Joshua and Dakota. “I need to head to work, too. Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“I guess we didn’t mean for a lot of things to happen.”
Something cracked inside of me, and I blinked at her, wondering what she could mean by that.
She bit her lip. “I mean…let’s talk later?”
Joshua bounced in front of his mom. “What about Macon? Doesn’t he need coffee like you? And breakfast. We need to make sure he gets breakfast.”
I looked at the two of them, their little family, and I ached. I wanted to be a part of this. When the hell had that happened? I knew I had a thing for Dakota, a huge one, and I knew I loved this little kid like he was mine, but hell. How could I want this? I shouldn’t.
“Maybe some other time,” I said, looking down at Joshua but knowing my words were for Dakota.
I had just thrown down the gauntlet, at least a little bit. Maybe she’d figure out what she wanted with me.
Because I wanted her.
I remembered that kiss, the need I’d felt, and I wanted more of it.
I didn’t remember falling asleep with her in my arms, but waking up with her there?
I wanted more of that.
And I knew it would be complicated. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But I knew what I wanted.
And now I just had to figure out how to get it.
“We need to get ready for the rest of the day.” Dakota put her hands on Joshua’s shoulders.
“Okay,” I replied. “But we’re going to talk.”
“Yes,” she said softly. “We are.”
I didn’t know what I saw in her expression, but it wasn’t denial. It wasn’t rejection.
But neither was it acceptance.
What I did see had to count for something, though.
“You’re not going to stay for breakfast?” Joshua asked.
I shook my head and then went down to my knee. Joshua came and hugged me tightly, and I inhaled, needing this moment. I wasn’t okay. I wasn’t completely healed. But for some reason, even though Dakota put me on edge, she and Joshua also settled me.
I didn’t know what that meant exactly.
“We’ll hang out soon. Now, you should go get ready. I need to head home and do the same.”
“And then we can talk about a puppy!” Joshua threw his hands up into the air.
“Joshua Bristol,” Dakota snapped, even though there wasn’t much anger in her voice.
I held back a wince. “Probably not the best thing to say in the morning before your mother has her coffee. And you shouldn’t have mentioned it in front of another person.”
“I was just trying,” Joshua said, a twinkle in his eye.
“Yeah, and you crashed and burned.”
“Fine, no puppy. Ever.” He let out a put-upon sigh before running to the back of the house, presumably to get ready for his day.
I held back a laugh and shook my head. “I’m not going to encourage him,” I said, and Dakota just ran her hands over her face.
“Macon, about last night—”
“No,” I cut in, taking a couple of steps forward.
I checked over my shoulder to make sure that Joshua wasn’t around, and then I slowly lowered my lips to hers, holding her chin with my thumb and forefinger as I did.
It was a bare brush of lips, a mere intake of breath, and then I stepped back.
“We’re going to talk. You and me. We just fell asleep last night, like normal people do. Like friends. But that kiss in the park? And what I feel right now? I don’t think it’s only friends.”
“I don’t know what I want, Macon,” she said honestly.
“Neither do I. I already said before that I wasn’t going to hurt either of you. I’m not taking that back. So, let’s figure this out.”
“Macon,” she whispered.
“Don’t. Let’s call it a good morning. I am going to be late for work if I don’t leave. And I know you have some babysitter issues to deal with.”
“Oh, God,” she said into her hands. “I know Constance’s parents called last night
