Sean grinned as he elbowed Gavin. “She’s getting riled, man. Being irrational about little things usually means love.”

Megan opened her mouth to lay into her brothers, but then found herself speechless, so she closed it back up. Without another word to her brothers, she went into the living room. She found her dad lounging in his chair with Mason snuggled to his side. When her dad looked up, he did a double take. “Don’t you look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said.

She bent down and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Daddy.”

Mason tore his gaze away from the television to look at her. “Mommy, bye-bye?”

This was one question she hadn’t anticipated explaining. “Yes, Mommy is going to go see a friend today, and you’re going to stay here with Grammy and Granddad.”

His tiny brows furrowed. “Mace no go?”

Guilt rocketed through her. How could she spend one of her few off days away from her son? The doorbell rang, and she was forced out of her self-loathing to answer the door. Taking a deep breath, she opened it. Her heart did a funny little flip-flop at the sight of Pesh on the porch. It wasn’t just how handsome he looked in his khaki pants, red button-down Polo shirt, and black blazer. It was also the fact he held a dozen red roses in his hand. “Hi,” she said shyly, after they had stared at each other for a few seconds.

He smiled. “Hello.”

“Would you like to come in?”

As he nodded, she stepped aside to give him room to come in the door. He turned back to her and held out the roses. “These are for you.” After the words left his lips, he grimaced, as if what he had said offended him.

“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“Bye-bye kiss, Mommy!” Mason called from the living room.

She smiled apologetically at Pesh. “I’m sorry. I’ll just be one minute.”

“Take your time.”

She hurried across the foyer and into the living room. She deposited the roses onto one of the tables. “I’ll be back tonight. You be a good boy, okay?” she said, when she got to her father’s chair. She leaned over and kissed both of Mason’s cheeks. “Give Mommy a kiss.”

He gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “Bye, my love,” Megan said, before turning and heading out of the room. She’d just reached Pesh’s side when he glanced past her. “What?” she asked.

“I think we have a potential stowaway,” he replied, with a smile.

She whirled around to see Mason standing in the foyer. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“No go,” he whimpered.

She glanced up at Pesh. “I’m sorry. He usually is fine about me leaving him.” She knelt down beside Mason. “I won’t be gone long, and you’ll have much more fun here with Grammy and Granddad. Pesh and I are doing boring, big people stuff.”

“No go!” he cried, as big tears pooled in his eyes.

Pesh knelt down beside her. “Hey buddy, don’t cry. I’m not going to take your mommy away from you.”

“Mace go?” he asked hopefully.

Megan shook her head. “No, sweetheart, I told you that we were going to do big people things today.”

“That’s true,” Pesh said. Then he smiled at Mason. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a little detour first.”

Megan’s widened her eyes in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“Why don’t we take Mason to lunch at his favorite place?”

“You don’t mean that,” Megan argued.

Pesh cut his gaze over to her. “Sure, I do. I can adjust our reservations.”

She couldn’t help staring at him in shock. How was it possible he was so willing to change his plans simply because Mason didn’t want her to leave? She fought the urge to reach out and touch his shoulder to make sure he was real—he was far too good to be true at times.

“Is that okay with you?” Pesh asked her.

“Of course it’s all right with me. I was worried about it not being okay with you.”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t mean it.” He reached out and ruffled Mason’s hair. “All right, buddy, where do you want to go for lunch?”

“Cheese! Cheese!” he cried, as he bobbed up and down.

Megan groaned as Pesh’s expression grew confused. “He wants to eat cheese?” he asked.

“No, he wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese—every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Pesh chuckled as he rose up from the floor. “All right then. Chuck E. Cheese it is.”

“Go get your shoes,” Megan instructed.

As Mason raced back into the living room, Megan stood up. “You really don’t have to do this.”

“Honestly, I don’t mind. We can go have lunch with Mason, and then we can start our date. I’m sure he’ll be worn out and ready for a nap when we get back, right?”

“Yes, he will.”

“Good. Then he won’t have any reason to miss you if he’s asleep.”

She smiled at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you. I really mean that.”

“You’re welcome.” He reached out and brushed her cheek. When he started to lean in to kiss her, Mason ran back into the foyer with his shoes. Pesh quickly jerked back.

To combat the awkwardness, Megan busied herself with getting Mason’s shoes on. When she finished, Mason bounded over to Pesh and grabbed his hand. “Go! Go!”

Pesh laughed at Mason’s enthusiasm. He held his other hand out for Megan. She slid her hand into his and then they started to the car.

As Megan walked through the doors of their local Chuck E. Cheese, she recoiled slightly at both the ear- splintering noise and the stomach-turning smells. She also fought her embarrassment at the looks she and Pesh were getting for their more formal outfits. “I think we’re a little overdressed,” she said.

He held up his index finger and thumb before pinching them close together. “Just a little bit.”

Tugging on Pesh’s hand, Mason dragged him over to the toddler area of games. Megan quickly dug in her purse for some money for tickets. After she bought them, she went over to Pesh. “I’ll go grab us some pizza.” She waved the tickets at him. “Once these are gone, he’s done.”

“I don’t mind getting him more.”

She shook her head. “Trust me. He’s done.”

“Okay then,” he replied good-naturedly.