LITMIR.BIZ

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I’m always working.”

      “My best friend Edward’s dad is like that. That’s why he started coaching our soccer team. So he could play and relax … at least that’s what Lori says.”

      “Who’s Lori?”

      “Edward’s mom and my babysitter. Mommy and Auntie Jen can’t be here all the time.”

      “Work?” Nate asked, getting the picture that the adults in Riley’s life spent too much time working as far as the kid was concerned. He didn’t want to care. This kid didn’t matter to him if he was going to part ways with Jen. And he was going to leave her alone after this. Their lives were different and he wasn’t willing to give up his lifestyle for her.

      “Yes. But I know that they have to so I can have nice things and we can live in this house … don’t say I was complaining about it, okay?”

      Nate nodded just as Jen entered the foyer to call them to lunch. Riley was an interesting little kid and Nate liked what he learned about Jen from watching her with her nephew.

      Nate had insisted they go to the local sports store and get a baseball bat, ball and gloves and go to the park and throw the ball with Riley. Riley was ecstatic and kept saying that Nate was obviously a man who knew life was about more than work.

      Jen felt bad for her nephew because she and Marcia were gone more than they were home. But today made up for that.

      Nate was patient as he talked Riley through how to throw a ball. “You are doing good.” “Your turn, Auntie Jen.”

      “I’m not as good at this as you are,” Jen said. And then proved it by tossing the ball and completely missing Nate who stood with his glove ready to catch it.

      Riley shook his head. “That was pitiful. Show her like you did me.”

      Nate walked over to her. “Get ready, Riley.”

      Nate walked over to her and stood behind her so close that she felt his body through the fabric of her clothing. He leaned in low.

      “Bend your knees a little,” he said.

      She did what he instructed.

      “Now, hold the ball like this,” he said, showing her the proper way to hold the baseball.

      He spoke directly into her ear sending chills down her spine and making this into so much more than just a kid’s game in the park. He made her want to turn in his arms and kiss him. But Riley was waiting and hoping for some spectacular results.

      “Next, bring your arm up like this. No, relax. Let me move your arm for you.”

      She did and the ball fell out of her hand on the ground. “Sorry.”

      “Its okay,” he said, bending down to pick up the fallen ball and letting his hand stray to her hip where he caressed her as he stood back up. “Okay, ready?”

      “I hope so. I’m a dancer not a baseball player,” she said.

      “I think today you will be both,” Riley said. “I will be,” she said.

      “Remember how I showed you to move your arm. Get ready, Riley.”

      “I’m ready, Nate. Come on, Auntie Jen, throw it to me.”

      Jen wound up and threw the ball. This time it went all the way to Riley who caught it and then whooped with joy. Nate put his arm around her waist and pulled her back against him for a quick kiss. “Great throw. You have the makings of a real player.”

      “I doubt that,” she said.

      Riley tossed the ball back and he and Nate played while she watched. Jen didn’t want to risk messing up her record after that perfect throw. She had so much fun that she forgot that she was going to be cautious around Nate.

      Her cell phone rang and she glanced at the ID to see that it was Marcia.

      “Hey, there,” Jen said by way of greeting.

      “Hello. Where are you guys? Your car is here but you aren’t.”

      “We are at the park playing catch.”

      “Catch? You stink at that.”

      “Ha, that’s what you know. I’m much better today.”

      “Is Nate with you?”

      “Yes, he came for lunch and then took Riley here to play.”

      “Really? That doesn’t seem like the man I met last night,” Marcia said.

      “There’s more to him than meets the eye,” Jen said, watching Riley and Nate toss the ball back and forth. “We’ll be home in a little while.”

      “Okay. Thanks for watching Riley this afternoon,” Marcia said.

      “I enjoy it. I love him.”

      “I know, but thanks all the same.”

      “It’s no biggie,” Jen said, hanging up the phone.

      Nate led the way back over to her. “Was that your sister?”

      “Yes. Mommy’s home, Riley, you ready to go and see her?”

      “Yes! I can’t wait to show her how I can throw.”

      “I’m sure she will be very impressed,” Jen said.

      “Will you stay and throw with me, Mr. Nate? I don’t think Auntie Jen will be a good partner for that,” Riley said looking up at Nate.

      “I’d love to, bud. I can’t stay long, though. I’ve got a busy night ahead of me.”

      Riley tipped his head to the side. “Do you work at night?”

      “That’s when the club is open.” “You work with Auntie Jen?” he asked. “Are you a dancer?”

      Nate laughed. “No. I own the club with my brothers.”

      Riley nodded. “Sounds like a good job.”

      Nate patted the little boy on the shoulder. “It’s pretty good but there isn’t enough time for baseball or fishing.”

      “But you are the boss,” Riley said. “You should change the rules.”

      Jen laughed at the way Riley said it. That made perfect sense to him, but she’d love to see Nate tell Justin and Cam that they needed more time for fun. She was pretty sure those two would think he’d gone off the deep end since Nate’s life was already one big party.

      “I should do that,” Nate agreed. When they got back to the house Nate walked them to the door.

      Jen watched her nephew go inside, then turned to Nate. She couldn’t read his expression but he’d kept his keys in his hand and had almost turned to walk back to his car. It was as if he couldn’t wait to get away from here.

      “Nate?”

      “Hmm?”

      “Thanks for everything you did with Riley today.”

      “No problem. I think he’s the first kid I’ve been around since I was a child.”

      “My life is so different than yours,” she said. But hadn’t she truly known that from the beginning? They came from different worlds and that was part of why she liked him so much.

      “Yes, it is. Well, I’ve got to go,” he said.

      “Bye.”

      She watched him walk away, realizing how good Nate was at making himself fit into whatever the situation was. Because it was only as he drove away that she realized he’d been the perfect uncle figure to Riley the way he’d been the perfect date to her last night.

      She thought he was multifaceted but now she was afraid he was simply a chameleon used to changing his colors wherever he was. No matter how

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