Ainsley sat next to Ian and tried not to listen to his phone call. He said he and his dad were close, but something was off. A tantrum in front of them distracted both from his call.

Ainsley mumbled, "Go ahead. Give in. Give the kid another cookie. She needs more sugar."

It wasn't the child who bothered her so much but the parents. They had an accusatory look at each other. A few curt words were exchanged, and she imagined they were once in love like Lilli and Zach until a child turned them into foes. She didn't see the point.

Ian hissed. "Stop. This is awkward."

"If they fight, I'm going to give the kid a piece of candy."

He looked at her. "You have candy?"

"Oh, shoot no. I left my bag at home."

"Didn't need a change of shoes?"

"Well, heels would look nice sitting on this bench, but a bit trampy with my jeans."

Ian laughed and shook his head. "You are unlike any girl I've met with the way you make fun of yourself. You would make fun of my sister."

A thrill ran through her at the thought of meeting his family. She ignored it and snickered. "I make fun of my sister all the time. She's a princess and married a man who treats her like one. I wonder if a crying child will unravel the perfect couple."

"Do they have a kid?"

"Not yet, but my guess is soon."

Ian looked out at the view of the park. The child had moved on with her frazzled parents. "I like kids. My aunt and uncle have done a great job balancing their careers with parenting. Although I'm guessing there have been some conflicts. I always thought of myself as borrowing a kid for the day not raising one. Maybe it comes from my dad who had me on vacations then he returned to his bachelor ways. Except for now."

"Now? You aren't a kid to have custody of."

"No, but he is not acting like a bachelor anymore."

His frown made her pause a moment. "Really is that such a bad thing? Is he happy?"

Ian nodded. "He's happier than I remember. I never thought he was unhappy before. I was put off earlier. Maybe I'm like that little girl."

Ainsley cocked her head. "I'm sure you weren't like that little girl." She smiled. "Or I'd be running in the other direction."

He frowned but his eyes sparkled. "And I couldn't catch you."

"Would you want to?" What was she asking?

"I think I would. Would you want me to?"

"It depends on your temper tantrum." Her thoughts were a dichotomy because she wasn't looking for serious, but she didn't want baggage. In this case, it was daddy baggage.

"It wasn't a tantrum. I was a little put off. For years, Saturday brunch is our thing. In fact, it's become the only regular time we see each other. It doesn't happen every week, but it's regular enough. Even when I was with my ex."

"Suburbia girl."

He nodded. "I went alone."

"So you crawled out of a warm bed to have brunch with your dad?"

He nodded. "To be fair. Brunch is at ten-thirty. There was plenty of morning prior."

She blushed, but liked how he didn't hide his sex life. "Okay. So almost lunch. But."

"Today I arrived to find his woman friend sitting with him."

She smiled. "You're so cute. Jealous because daddy has a girlfriend."

"Not jealous. It's just weird because he was always single."

"Seriously? If he's anything like you I find that hard to believe."

"Well no. My uncle let it slip that he dated when I wasn't around. What do you mean like me?"

She thought he missed her comment. "Good looking. You are very handsome." And sexy. He wasn't the tallest guy out there but his jeans looked good on him in back and front. Not all guys had enough to know from their pants. She felt her cheeks get warmer.

"Very handsome. Really? When I saw you on the sidewalk, I thought you were beautiful and sexy."

Her heart rate sped up. Nervous, she needed to break the feeling. "Don't say it!"

He leaned in. "I didn't, but you did. Wet."

She could smell his alluring masculine scent. "What are we doing? Because neither of us are looking for anything serious, but we are attracted to each other and I'm putting my foot in my mouth."

"No. I like spending time with you. As long as you know I'm not looking for the four-bedroom in the suburbs."

She bit her lip. "With the dog."

"The car I can't drive." He stared at her lips.

"Don't forget the temper tantrums." She licked her lips.

Together they had closed the gap and it would have disappointed her if their lips hadn't met, but they did. It was a gentle taste which ended with a smile from him and a longing for a longer taste from her.

He reached his hand up and laced his fingers through her hair. When his lips descended onto hers again, he cradled her head, and threw gently out the window. Only as their lips separated did Ainsley realize they were in a public park.

"All these tourists know the answer I've been wondering."

"What's that?" His eyes twinkled.

"You can kiss."

Pink spread up his neck. "How long have you been wondering?"

She winked. "Before I got wet and definitely after."

He laughed. "I'm not looking to label this but you should know I like spending time with you."

She snickered. "I enjoy kissing you, but can we keep this out of Roche-Sumner? I'm trying to build my career on my own merits, not because of who I know."

"Why would you say I'd change that?"

His response was a knee jerk almost over the top. "I just mean because you are a director. It's not a big deal." She wasn't ready to share she was related to the Sumners by marriage.

"I see your point. Honestly, I go to work to work. I have some fun with my team, but I leave my personal life at the door."

"Exactly." She smiled, and he laced his fingers into hers.

He smirked. "So do you want to get dinner together?"

She smiled. "Like a date?"

He smiled. "I agree with the terminology. Here in the neighborhood? Casual?"

"Okay. That sounds nice."

He squeezed her hand. "Just nice."

"Okay. Very nice." She smiled, and he shook his head.

"What?"

"I want to kiss you, but three kids are about to walk by."

Ainsley turned her head. "Look at that. A happy family. Skipping. And the parents are smiling and holding hands."

"They aren't all horrible. Your parents are together."

She nodded. "They both live very full lives. I think they spend more time together now they are on their own, but they definitely sacrificed their relationship between parenting and his business and her charity work."

"I keep reminding myself to be happy for my dad, but I didn't go back home to play like I usually do. They haven't said, but I think she stays there."

"You really are so cute. Face it, your dad is having sex. That's how you got here."

"Believe me, I'm well aware." Ainsley laughed. "Seriously, it's a little strange to be the by-product of a one-night stand. Siblings fight and name call, but once my sister called me a bastard and my mother wasn't happy with her."

"Because technically you are one. For the record, my sister is a bitch and I have no qualms calling her one to her face."

"I'm sensing you aren't close."

"I love her but the princess has never been my best friend."

"Families are an interesting dynamic. I'm happy for my dad. Can you remind me when I forget?"

"Can I hear you play the piano sometime?"

"You really want to?"

She held up his hand with hers. "I want to see what these fingers can do."

He laughed and shook his head. "I think you're the dirty one."

Dirty and wet. "I think you misunderstood me."

He smirked. "I hope not. So a dinner for two. It's definitely a date."

"What was last night?"

"A date too." He said confidently.

"So our second date?"

"Or third if we count this."

"Third date. Just last night I was on a blind date with sports guy. You move fast."

"Fast is relative. We've seen each other for months. If I moved fast, we would have been dirty and wet long before the puddle."

She laughed. "For the record, I am a nice person. If we knew each other, I would have helped after your surgery."

Maybe she would have had a date for Lilli's wedding. She kept her thought to herself because the plus one thing was a bigger deal than having sex which Ainsley was confident they would have soon.

He smiled at her. "I never thought you weren't a good person."

Ainsley smiled. "You are officially the nicest guy I've dated and there have been a lot."

"How many second dates?"

"A few. You don't have a foot fetish do you?"

"No, I like feet, but they aren't my favorite body part." She gasped. "Don't say it!"

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