Ashley pressed the dough the way Nick had shown them. Then she rolled her shoulders as if she was training for a marathon before picking up the dough.
Nick moved behind her, remembering she was also a lefty like Sean. “Keep the fingers of your right hand together.” He moved his hands beneath hers and adjusted how she was holding the dough. She jumped at the contact, and he heard the little hitch in her breath. The one she usually made right before he kissed her.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Breathe.”
“I’m good.” She shifted her weight from leg to leg. “You should back up unless you want a face full of dough.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Nick had been on the wrong side of a badly tossed pizza, but he stepped back, nevertheless.
On her first attempt, she didn’t release, and the dough didn’t go anywhere.
“Don’t be afraid to let go,” Sean said. “It’s sort of the same movement as throwing a Frisbee.”
Ashley groaned, and Nick figured that meant Frisbee tossing wasn’t her thing.
Straightening her shoulders, she tried again and this time she released and fell into Nick’s chest, the dough between them.
He held onto her elbows and pulled her against him, knowing there wasn’t a thing he could do to disguise how much watching her was turning him on. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a move like this one, but I like it.”
She laughed. “I warned you.”
“Try again, Mom,” Sean called.
Nick stepped aside and watched her furrow her brow in concentration, noticing the similarity to Sean.
She counted to three, pivoted right, swung left while tossing. It rose a few feet in the air before landing on her knuckles. She looked down in shock. “I did it?” She said it like a question more than a statement.
“Yay,” Sean cheered.
“Nice job. Do it again,” Nick said.
Confident now, she had no problem repeating the steps, each throw a little higher until the dough was large enough to place in the pan.
“I can’t believe it,” Ashley said.
“You did have an excellent teacher,” Nick deadpanned.
She rested a hand on his forearm “You are. Thanks.”
The broad smile she wore lit up her face, softening her features and making her look radiant.
“But you’re much too perfect. You didn’t get messed up at all.” Nick pointed to her pristine black apron.
“Yeah, Mom. Even my apron has flour on it. How’d you manage to stay so clean?” Sean said.
“Beginner’s luck, I suppose,” Ashley said.
Nick raised an eyebrow at Sean and saw a light spark in his eyes a moment before he gave him a nod.
“Well, we can’t have that.” Nick submerged his hand in flour, and after withdrawing it, pressed it on Ashley’s apron, leaving a perfect outline of his handprint in the middle of her stomach.
She jumped back. “Hey, no fair. It’s not my fault you two are messy.” She picked up a handful of flour and threw it at Nick. She was aiming for his chest, but it ended up getting partially on his neck and chin.
Sean laughed.
“Oh yeah? You think that’s funny?” Nick scooped up a handful of flour and dropped it on Sean’s head.
Sean jumped down from the stool, looked at both his parents before grinning and arming himself with two fistfuls of flour.
Laughter and screams of delight ensued along with a flurry of white in a three-on-three flour fight until all of them were covered from head to chest with the powdery substance.
Ashley held up a hand. “Truce.” She bent over at the waist, laughing. “I think I have flour in my contacts.”
“I think I have it in my ears.” Nick banged his hand against the side of his head.
“It looks like you’ve gone gray, Dad.” Sean pointed to Nick’s hair.
“Same goes,” Nick said with a smile. It was nice to laugh and do something spontaneous and silly, despite the mess they’d created. Nick pulled Sean close and swiped at his hair, causing dust to spread to Ashley.
Ashley brushed at the front of her apron. “Hey, I thought we were done?”
Nick met Sean’s gaze, and they both attacked at the same time. Sean hugged her from the back, Nick from the front. Arms and bodies entangled, the trio laughed. Nick held onto the moment, wanting to commit it to memory.
It felt good…better than good.
Sean scooted out of their embrace, and Nick ended up hugging Ashley. He went to remove a flour speck from her cheek but only ended up smudging it with his own dusty fingers.
“We really did a number on your kitchen.” Ashley looked around the tiny space.
“It will clean up, even though I may find flour in places for the next month,” Nick said.
“Sorry,” she said. Her eyes danced with laughter and made him think she wasn’t completely sorry.
Neither was he. The three of them were a family. Sure, they were still getting to know one another, but that would come with time. Meanwhile, he wanted to spend as much time as he could with them. Maybe they could have a chance at making it right.
He looked into the other room to see Sean had vanished—probably into the bathroom to de-flour his hair. Tilting his head down to Ashley, he kissed her forehead. She leaned into him, her fingers curling around his waist, her legs intertwined with his.
Yeah, he definitely wanted more of this.
He leaned down to press his lips to hers but only brushed them when the doorbell rang. Ashley jumped a mile.
“I’ll get it,” Sean called and raced to the door. He looked through the peep-hole before swinging the door open.
“Well, isn’t this a happy family-bonding moment,” Franny called from the doorway where she stood—decked to the nines—beside Gina and Joey.
Chapter Seventeen
Nick brushed flour from his face and hair on his way to the front door. “Hey, guys. What are you doing here?”
Gina stomped through the doorway. “What is he doing here?”
“Hi, Dad.” Joey ran into Nick’s arms.
“Hey, big guy.” Nick looked at Franny. “What’s up? This isn’t my weekend.”
“I should hope not since they’re here.” Franny scowled at Ashley and Sean.
“Your point, please. You’re interrupting our dinner,” Nick said.
After the laughter he’d shared with Sean and Ashley, dealing with Franny was like a bucket of ice water over his head. Who needed the ice bucket challenge?
“Something came up last minute, and I need you to take the kids overnight,” Franny said.
That was clear by her black cocktail dress and four-inch heels. She was taking a hell of a chance wearing a neck full of diamonds in this neighborhood.
“Sean’s staying the night. Your mother’s not available?”
“She and Daddy are away for the weekend.”
Nick was thrilled about seeing Gina and Joey, but the timing was off. The last thing he wanted was for any of his kids to think he didn’t want them. But tonight was his and Sean’s first time together, and Nick didn’t want that marred by Gina and her bad attitude.
“Let’s take this out in the hall.” Nick turned to Ashley and Sean. “I’ll be right back.” He opened the door and allowed Franny to step through.
When the door closed, he rounded on her. “You know our agreement, Fran. You’re supposed to make arrangements in advance. I don’t have to agree to this. What’s so important?”
She fluffed her curled hair and picked at her dress as though she may have gotten it dirty in his apartment. “Danny and I have an award function to attend.”
“Why didn’t you make other arrangements? I’m sure Gina could have stayed at a friend’s house tonight. Same with Joey.”
Franny crossed her arms over her middle. “Plans with their friends fell through.”
Like hell.
“My guess is you got word Sean was spending the night and decided to fabricate a funct
ion so you’d be in dire need of a babysitter.”
She cocked her hip to one side. “I have better things to do with my day than worry about what you’re doing with your new family.”
It was times like now Nick didn’t know what he ever saw in her.
“The fact remains you’re supposed to give me at least twenty-four hours’ notice of a change in plans, unless there’s an emergency, which there clearly isn’t.”
“Always the rule follower. You’d rather me leave our children home alone overnight?”
Would she really do that?
“I’d rather you be a responsible parent and skip out on your function, since you didn’t make proper plans.”
She blinked at him. “I have to be there for Danny. He’s accepting an award for his firm. His boss was supposed to accept it but got called away for a family emergency. I thought I had it covered, but Gina and Joey’s friends—Tommy and Chloe—got hit with a stomach bug and left me in the lurch. Can you help me out?” She waited a beat. “Please.”
Now it was Nick’s turn to blink. This was the closest to groveling Franny got, and she actually sounded sincere. If he turned the kids away, who knew what she’d do, and Nick was worried he’d end up looking like the bad guy. Again. Which is likely why she showed up on his doorstep rather than calling.
“You’re putting me in an awkward position. Don’t make me have to choose between my kids. I won’t do it.”
Franny looked at her phone when a text message beeped. “I’m really pressed for time. Can you help me out?”
Nick would have bet a month’s salary Danny was double-parked outside the apartment building in a limo to take them to New York or Atlantic City or God knew where.
“I’ll do it this one time, and I’m letting my lawyer know.”
“Thanks, Nicky. I appreciate it.” She stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. Then with a wave, she headed down the stairs.
She didn’t even say goodbye to the kids. Probably afraid he’d renege on watching them.
Nick pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. Now he had to find a way to salvage things with Sean and keep peace between him and Gina.
Yeah, it was going to be a fun night.
****
Ashley shut off the vacuum after clearing up the flour that covered Nick’s kitchen floor. After introducing herself to Gina and Joey, Sean helped her wipe up the counters, and the tiny space was back to its original state before the pizza-toss lessons.
She couldn’t refrain from smiling at the fun the three of them had. Sure, her hair still had flour in it, but for the first time ever, she got a feel of what it would have been like to have her own family.
And she liked it.
Too much.
It was dangerous spending time with Nick and Sean together because she didn’t want their son to get ideas they’d be a family. That wasn’t in the cards for them.
Joey jumped onto one of the stools and examined the counter. “Cool. You’re making pizza. Can I help?”
Ashley wasn’t sure what would come of the conversation between Nick and his ex, but based on how Franny was dressed, the likelihood of Gina and Joey going home was low.
“Sure. We spread out the dough and are waiting for your dad to return and tell us what to do next,” Ashley said.
“It’s not hard.” Gina stomped over. “You toss sauce, cheese, and toppings on a pie and put it in the oven. Don’t you know how to cook?”
The condescending tone sounded like Franny. It was a sin to hear a young girl already with a bad attitude. But it wasn’t Ashley’s place to judge or comment.
“We’ve never made pizza. Since you know how, why don’t you show us?” Ashley stepped to the stove and brought one of the pies to the counter along with the pot of sauce.
Gina huffed but put her smart phone in her back pocket and moved next to Ashley. Sean gave her wide berth and hopped onto the other stool next to Joey.
Gina turned to the counter and set her shoulders as though she were focusing and trying to recall what she’d been taught. “Since the dough is spread in the pans, we can add the sauce.” She took a ladle and poured a scoop into the center of the dough, spreading it across the surface. She did it another two times before she was satisfied.
“Next is the cheese,” Joey added. “Why are there so many?”
“There’s shredded and fresh mozzarella,” Sean began. “And a dairy-free cheese for me.”
“You can’t eat cheese?” Joey asked.
“I’m allergic to milk.”
“Wow, that stinks,” Joey said.
Gina snorted. “See, I knew you were a freak.”
Ashley tensed. “Lots of people have food allergies. That doesn’t make them or Sean a freak. Just different.”
Gina rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Why don’t you and Joey make one the way you like it and Sean can make the next?” Ashley suggested.
“Yeah.” Joey jumped down and took a place next to his sister.
Together, they added cheese, pepperoni, and sausage to the pie. Gina opened the oven, slid the pie inside, and set the timer for fifteen minutes.
“Your turn,” Gina said to Sean.
Nick came in as they switched places. “Sorry. What did I miss?”
“Gina showed us how to fix the pie, and I’m working on this one,” Sean said.
“Nice job, G,” Nick said.
Gina acted like she didn’t hear him, but Ashley caught the brief flicker of pleasure in her eyes before she stomped to the living room.
Sean took the second pie and mimicked what Gina had done with the sauce. “Should I put my cheese on the entire pie?”
“It’s up to you. You can or can leave part with just the sauce and toppings. Tomato pie is good, too,” Nick said.
Sean opted to spread dairy-free cheese on half the pizza. Then he added pepperoni to one section, sausage and peppers to the other section, and broccoli to half the side with only sauce. “What do you think?”
“It looks good to me,” Ashley said.
“Perfect.” Nick added it to the oven and grabbed the last pie.
“Last but not least. I was going to do this one a little differently.” He selected a glass bottle of olive oil, removed the cap, and poured the golden liquid over the surface, using a spoon to spread it across the dough.
“What kind is that?” Sean asked.
“White pizza,” Joey called out. “Yum.”
“Now we add salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary,” Nick said.
“It looks so plain. Anything else?” Sean said.
“If you want, we can add broccoli and cheese to part,” Nick said.
Sean nodded and did as Nick instructed. Ashley took a picture of the finished products, along with father and son.
The timer beeped, and Nick switched out the pies.
“Want to play Xbox while we wait?” Joey asked Sean.
“Sure.”
“Give him two minutes, okay, bud?” Nick said.
“Sure, I’ll set it up.” Joey trotted over to the TV.
Nick glanced at Gina, who had situated herself at the far end of the apartment, before turning back to them.
“Is everything okay?” Ashley asked.
“That depends.” Nick rubbed his neck, something Ashley had seen him do when he was frustrated. “Franny has an event tonight. She had childcare lined up, but it fell through.”
“So Gina and Joey need to stay over,” Ashley said. The first time Sean can stay with his father and Franny interferes. What was it with the woman? No wonder her daughter had issues.
“You mean I can’t stay?” Sean asked.
Ashley’s heart dropped at the thought of Nick sending Sean home. It would crush him.
Nick placed his hands on Sean’s shoulders. “I promised you a sleepover, and that’s what we’re doing. I can call Grandma or Aunt Vicky to see if one of them can watch Gina and Joey but wanted to ask if you’d mind if they stayed here
along with you.”
Sean’s gaze flicked over to his half-siblings. “Are you sure they’ll be okay with me being here?”
“They’ll be fine. You and Joey get along. You and Gina are having issues, but maybe if you’re around each other more, that will start to fade,” Nick said.
“I don’t know…” He trailed off, running his hand over his neck like Nick did. Had Sean always done that?
Ashley took a protective step toward Sean. “It’s not right for you to pin this decision on him.”
“I’m sorry if that’s what I’m doing.” Nick pressed the bridge of his nose. “I’m trying to find a win-win here.”
“It’s fine, Dad. Really.”
“Sean, you don’t have to agree to this. You can stay over another time,” Ashley said.
“I said it’s fine, Mom,” Sean repeated. “There are going to be other times when the three of us are together. We need to figure it out.”
She wanted to argue more, but he was right. That he could make a mature decision filled her with pride.
Nick reached into a cabinet and grabbed two more plates. “Don’t look so worried. We’ll be fine.” He flashed a smile.
Ashley wasn’t as optimistic as Nick, but she smiled back. When she lived in California, she had experience with kids like Gina who were going through a difficult transition. Her emotional state was fragile, and Ashley hoped rather than seeing Sean as a threat, the girl would find a way to see another ally.
As Gina sneered at Sean from across the room, Ashley saw the road ahead as long and uphill.
****
Ashley pulled a waist-length rust jacket over a cream sweater and wound a matching patterned scarf around her neck.
“How did I let you talk me into wearing this?” she asked Patty, adjusting the neckline, which plunged a little lower than she’d prefer and exposed her cleavage. Ashley buttoned two of the brass buttons on the jacket and arranged the scarf to hide said cleavage.
“Stop fussing. You’re ruining the look.” Patty undid the button and moved the scarf to where she’d originally placed it. “You’re gorgeous and sexy. I love the boots.”
Awaken My Heart Page 21