Let's Be Crazy (Oh Captain, My Captain Book 4) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page B

subject. "I guess I'm the worst first date you've ever had?"
    “Not even close to the worst. Has this been your worst? Because if not, then you know what I’m going to do,” I say with a grin.
    "Ashton, come on, you couldn't possibly want a second date?”
    “Oh, but I do. I need to see your fun side next, and definitely before I make any final decisions about future dates.”
    "There’s no point in arguing, so I'm going to ask for a compromise. Mainly because I'm a little nosy and curious. What's the deal with you and Brooke? I mean, she keeps saying you’re friends, but I don't want her mad at me if something does or doesn't happen."
    I laugh at her concern. “She’s one of my best friends, Lexie. That’s all. She would probably get mad at me before she got mad at you. You have nothing to worry about. She’ll most likely still be your friend, and neither of us would keep Reed from playing with Sadie or anything like that. He’s our first priority no matter what, and I know it’s the same for you with Sadie.”
    "I agree. Plus, I don't want to say anything about whatever this is to them either."
    “Of course. As far as they are concerned, I’m just Reed’s dad and you’re just Sadie’s mom.” I stand and grin. “Are you up for some dessert?”
    “Did you seriously just ask me that?”
    A laugh rumbles out of my chest. “You should get your mind out of the gutter, Lexie. I was talking about brownies topped with ice cream. Pretty sure the brownies are still warm too.”
    “Oh. Sorry. You were grinning and looking at me like I was dessert.”
    “You are, just not today,” I wink. She follows me into the kitchen, taking a seat at the bar while I prepare dessert. Something she said, though, is nagging me. “How old are you, Lexie? You keep saying you’re old, but,” I turn and rake my eyes over her again, “there’s no way you’re much older than I am.”
    Lexie groans. “You can’t ask a woman her age.”
    “Yes, I can, so answer me. Whipped cream?” I add, opening the fridge.
    “I should probably say no, but Tiffany told me to go crazy, so I’m saying yes. Do you have any chocolate syrup too?”
    I laugh. “Whipped cream and chocolate syrup is you going crazy? If that’s the case, would you like caramel drizzled on top as well?”
    Lexie licks her lips. Her mouth moves in an answer, but I’m too distracted by her tongue peeking out and wetting her lips to hear her.
    “What?”
    “I said that sounds great,” she repeats.
    “Oh, right.” Caramel too. Of course. I finish adding the toppings and carry our bowls over, setting one down in front of her before I take a seat next to her. “Enjoy.”
    I watch as she scoops a little bit of everything onto her spoon, then wraps her lips around it. The spoon slowly slides back out of her mouth. Her low moan that follows is nearly my undoing.
    “This really hits the spot, Ashton. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome,” I automatically reply. It’s not until she glances over at me that I snap out of it. Clearing my throat, I repeat my earlier question. “How old are you, Lexie?”
    “Old enough,” she mumbles. When I nudge my knee against hers, she blurts out, “I’m thirty, okay?”
    “You do know that I’m only three years younger than you, right? And thirty is not old. Eighty is old.”
    “You’re still younger.”
    “You’re still beautiful and young.”
    Lexie rolls her eyes. I decide to leave whatever issues she has with her age alone.
    “Do you want there to be a second date?” I know what I said earlier, but I also said that if she was still opposed to me that I would leave her alone.
    She glances over at me with surprise. “You’re going to keep asking until I say yes anyway.”
    I shake my head. “Not if you don’t want it. I only asked for one date. A second one is entirely up to you. I’ll ask again. Do you want there to be a second date?”
    To buy herself some time, Lexie scoops up the last of her ice cream and brownie.