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.
Megan felt completely at ease leaving Pesh to watch Mason. She got them a couple of slices of Mason’s favorite, pepperoni, along with some drinks and then made her way over to a table close to the toddler area. When she caught Pesh’s eye, she waved them over. After several tense moments, he was finally able to convince Mason to leave the play area to come and eat.
As Mason bounced around in his seat, Megan knew she would be doing good to get four bites of pizza down him before he was raring to go play again. She also had a fear that she, Pesh, or the both of them were going to be wearing tomato sauce before it was all said and done.
“This place is very interesting,” Pesh remarked, as he gazed around.
Megan laughed. “Have you never had the pleasure?”
“Sadly no. My brother, Arjan’s, and his children live in Florida, so I’ve really never had a reason to come.”
“You’ve dodged a bullet there. That’s for sure.”
He smiled before taking a bite of his pizza. His expression turned so sour that Megan couldn’t help giggling. “This is terrible,” he muttered.
“I should have warned you not to bother eating. It only seems appetizing to small children who are hyped up on adrenaline.”
He took a long swig from his Coke and swished the liquid around like he was trying to rid himself of the taste. When he caught Mason looking at him, he put on a fake smile. “Mmm, that’s good pizza. You better eat yours before I do.”
“Nice save,” she murmured.
He winked at her as he threw his napkin on his plate. She couldn’t believe when her heart fluttered at his gesture. It was almost impossible to believe that she could be getting feelings for him in the middle of Chuck E. Cheese.
“Done. Go play,” Mason announced, bringing her out of her thoughts.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. You need to eat more.”
Mason scowled at her before grabbing another bite and shoveling it into his mouth. He managed to clean his plate with a little coaxing from Pesh. Then the two of them went back over to the play area. As Megan watched them, the small ache in her chest began to grow. Pesh was completely hands on, hoisting Mason up where he could reach things and then catching him when he came off the slide. He seemed to genuinely enjoy spending time with Mason. Some guys would have played with Mason only to get on her good side. But Pesh didn’t have an agenda when it came to her, unless it was to have her embrace the idea of a relationship with him.
When the last ticket was spent, she rose off her chair. “Okay, time to go.”
Mason’s face scrunched up, and he looked like at any minute he might throw a tantrum to stay. But Pesh took his hand. “We’ll come back another time.”
His reply seemed to pacify Mason, and he happily slung his and Pesh’s arm back and forth as they walked to the car. When they got buckled up, Megan turned back to Mason. “What do you say to Pesh for bringing you?”
“Tank you, Esh,” Mason said.
His words sent a broad grin stretching across Pesh’s face. “You’re welcome, buddy. I had a good time.”
When he glanced over at Megan, she gave him a genuine smile. “I had a good time, too.”
Taking one of his hands off the steering wheel, he reached over to take her hand in his. While the gesture was a little too lovey-dovey for her liking, she didn’t argue with him. Instead, she just enjoyed his touch.
Once they had deposited a sleepy Mason back home at Megan’s, they abandoned her SUV and gotten into Pesh’s Jaguar. “So where exactly are we going?” Megan asked, as she buckled her seat belt.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Seriously? You’re still playing coy about it?”
“For just a little while longer.”
She shifted in her seat where she could look at him better. “Can I try to guess?”
“I suppose. I’m not sure I’d tell you even if you guess,” he teased.
“Are we going to Atlanta?”
He cut his gaze from the road over to her. “Have patience.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she huffed, “I don’t have patience for games.”
“Okay, I’ll give you a little hint. Actually, it’s more of a question than it is a hint.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a fear of heights?”
She snorted. “No, I don’t. Why?”
He gave her a sly grin. “I told you. It’s a hint.”
“I went skydiving when I turned twenty-one, so I’m totally fine with heights. Of course, I seriously doubt we’re going sky diving in these clothes.”