Blocked by Lisa N. Paul Page A

Rusty. Molly Martin, his third-grade girlfriend, had thrown Rusty out the window when Decker broke up with her for Samantha Park.
    The same errant lock of hair had escaped her ponytail. Decker couldn't help but reach out and tuck it behind her ear. His heartbeat quickened when she leaned into the touch. “I get it, you know.” Her arched brow told him she had no idea as to what he was referring. “Other than wanting to pummel that ass, Rocco, for trying to help himself to something that wasn't his and to someone who wasn't interested, I was jealous as hell that he was talking to you and I wasn't. Fuck, I’ve been jealous of every man who got you to smile, even if it was just your I’m-not-interested-now- go-away smile. So don’t worry about feeling jealous, and don't worry about other women, April... there isn't anybody else.”
    As he waited for his words to sink in, he watched as what appeared to be concern, possibly even torment, drift across the planes of her beautiful face.
    “I hear you, Decker, I do,” she replied, nodding her head. “But I also believed my ex-husband when he promised to be faithful, and that got me nowhere. So while I truly look forward to going out with you this weekend, you're gonna need to give me a little time and a large learning curve with anything that comes after the check.”
    Honesty, she was giving him flat-out honesty. Shit, when was the last time anyone other than family had offered that?
    Nodding, he smiled at the playful, genuine woman before him. “Dinner and drinks, April. Just two people who clearly like each other”—he winked—“getting to spend some time together. Sound good?”
    The divots in her cheeks winked at him. “I look forward to it, Decker, but now I need to go and pick up Eli from day care… I’ll chat with you later.”
    “I’ll call you tonight,” he promised, “after I put Charlie to bed.”
    When April flashed him another of her megawatt smiles, something inside him shifted. The satisfaction he felt from seeing her beam, from being the man who put it on her lips… fuck, it was incredible. Without thought, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss on April’s forehead. When she didn’t shy away from the embrace, he ran his finger along her jawline and under her chin, tilting her head back until her eyes met his. Her stare glazed over with questions and lust as her once smile shifted into a siren’s grin—alluring, inviting, and intoxicating.
    “I can’t believe you just kissed me, Decker. I must have tasted gross, all salty and sweaty. Not my finest moment.”
    Decker chuckled. Her tone was sweet, and her words were adorable, innocent even, but it didn’t match the sexy woman who was clearly begging to come out. He wondered if April even knew how many incredible sides she had. Something told him she had no idea.
    “Mmm, I think you tasted perfect.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Yep, amazing. Dinner, April, Saturday night. I’m looking forward to it.”
    “Me too,” April agreed once more before waving good-bye.

 
    Chapter Six
     
    My Mother is Babysitting
     
     
    “EEEP!” RORI CLAPPED her hands together. “I can’t believe my girl is going on a date tomorrow night. I feel like a proud parent.”
    “Oh my God, Ror, keep your voice down. The last thing I want is for my personal life to become fodder for the rumor mill here at school.” April peered over her shoulder to see who else was in the staff lounge this early in the morning. “I swear, sometimes I think the teachers are worse than the students when it comes to gossip.”
    “Ooo, gossip. What gossip?” Janie floated into the lounge, her usual smile present and accounted for. “Seriously, girlies, what am I missing?”
    “Oh, nothing,” Rori said in a singsong voice. “Except that April here has a date tomorrow night with Super-Hot-Gym-Guy.”
    “Shut the fuck up!” Janie exclaimed, her eyes wide with interest. “I’m so excited for you that I’m not