While she enjoyed watching the two of them work together, she was anxious for Colton to go to bed. She wanted to talk to Kip about-everything. He'd asked her point blank in the restaurant if she had any regrets; she was going to ask him point blank if this was turning into something. If it was just a fling, then she couldn't go on. She couldn't subject her son to it. If it was turning in to something ... then, what?

She didn't know. Did she want something with Kip again? He was still playing hockey for a living. Would he get traded and move again? Would he ask her to go again? Would she turn him down if he asked her? Would he even ask her to go this time?

Slow the fuck down, she told herself firmly. They had shared their first kiss in eleven years yesterday. That was a long way off from moving to a different city. And she had no idea what his career plans were. There was a lot of ground to cover between tonight and well, who knows. Maybe he'd tell her that it was just a kiss and he hadn't meant for it to happen and he was just going back to his life in Calgary, and he'd talk to her on Facebook from time to time.

She blinked, realizing that Kip was staring at her. He raised his eyebrows in question. She shook her head in reply. She glanced at the clock and then back at him, hoping he'd get the picture. He smiled and then turned to answer Colton's question.

It was sooner than she hoped that Colton did actually go to bed. She was losing her courage to ask him if he wanted this to go on. She kissed Colton's forehead, gaining the usual "Mo-om." She realized she had to be strong for him. She couldn't bring another man into his life only to have him leave again. It was enough that his father was a loser. She wasn't going to be too.

Squaring her shoulders she returned to the living room. Kip had refilled her wine glass and left it sitting on her coffee table, near where she was sitting. He was sitting at the other end. "Thank you for playing with him all evening. And for the Lego. He loves it and I am terrible with it."

"I had fun." He smiled genuinely. He'd really enjoyed sitting down there intricately putting the pieces together, hanging out with Colton. "And I know you are terrible. He told me about some of your creations when you were doing the dishes." There was a pause as they sipped their wine. "Thank you for making supper and doing the dishes."




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