wall. “John Wayne never wore a helmet.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t John Wayne’s mother.”
Multiple conversations and the clanking of silverware and dishes filled the subsequent silence.
“I’ll think about it,” Blakely finally said, brightening Austin’s mood.
He straightened, a smile lighting his face. “It’s not as dangerous as the fire hose water fights.”
“I love the fire hose fights.” Trent set his burger down, recalling the only Independence Day he’d ever spent in Ouray but would always be remembered as the best. “Next to the fireworks, that’s the best part of the Fourth of July.”
Austin leaned his arms on the table. “I know. And Mom’s gonna be in ’em again this year.”
His gaze shifted to Blakely. “You mean you’re in the fire hose fights?”
Her chewing slowed. She nodded.
“Yeah. She did it last year. Only her team lost,” Austin filled in for her.
“We’re planning on a different outcome this year.” She reached for her water. “Taryn and I have a new strategy.”
“Which is...?” Trent lifted a brow in anticipation.
“Pffft. Like I’d tell.” And there it was. The old playful Blakely he’d fallen in love with. Her guard was down, and she was enjoying the banter.
“You shoulda seen it, Trent. Mom had like this giant black bruise on her leg.”
“Sounds kind of dangerous.” He turned a concerned eye her way.
“Not really.”
“Yeah. She’s a tough cookie.” Austin smiled up at her.
She winked. “That’s what Granddad used to say.”
Austin’s attention shifted back to Trent. “My mom does ice climbing, too. And she’s an artist.”
Trent didn’t need Austin to tell him how wonderful his mother was. He knew firsthand. And, if he had his way, he wouldn’t mind getting to know Blakely all over again. But that would require forgiveness. Something she wasn’t likely to offer him anytime soon.
* * *
Heat rushed to Blakely’s cheeks until she was, no doubt, as red as Trent’s button-down shirt. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what her son was up to. The kid was trying to fix her up with Trent. Never had she seen him so enamored with someone.
Staring at her second taco, she all but lost her appetite. The little guy didn’t have a clue. All he knew was that he liked Trent. Enough that he wanted to play matchmaker for his mother.
“Fancy running into you folks again.”
Blakely jerked her head up to find Ross Chapman standing next to them. Beside him, his daughter, Nicole, struck a pose in her hip-hugging jeans and too-tight T-shirt.
Blakely’s first taco morphed into a lead weight in her stomach.
“Ross.” She forced herself to blink. “Nicole.”
Trent stood. “Mr. Chapman. Nice to see you again.”
“No need to be formal. Call me Ross.” He swiveled toward the young woman. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Nicole.”
Slightly younger than Blakely’s twenty-nine years, Nicole was her daddy’s pride and joy. And forever trolling for a husband. Preferably one with big biceps and an even bigger wallet.
Blakely stole a glance at Trent. Hmm...a doctor would fit that bill just fine. And Trent certainly had the biceps. The man obviously never missed a workout.
The platinum blonde struck a flirtatious pose and held a perfectly manicured hand in Trent’s direction. “I hear you’re a doctor.”
Bingo!
“That’s correct.” Trent barely shook her hand. Then again, it was kind of like shaking hands with a wet noodle.
Nicole’s gaze lingered a little longer than necessary—stirring emotions Blakely refused to own up to—before turning her heavily made up face Blakely’s way. “Blakely. Austin. Good to see y’all.” If that Texas twang got any thicker it would drip like honey.
“You, too.” Blakely nudged her son. “Austin, can you say hi?”
“Hi.” He waved.
Nicole waved back, watching him a moment before her green eyes returned to Trent.
“I swear, Blakely, that boy of yours gets bigger every time I see him.” Though Ross’s words were polite enough, she’d had enough dealings with him to realize they weren’t sincere. “He’s at that age where they change so quickly. Better make sure you enjoy every moment.”
And there went the zinger. Ross’s not-so-subtle hint that she should sell Adventures in Pink so she could spend more time with her son.
“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Blakely draped an arm around her son. “Austin’s my right-hand man.”
Nicole’s gaze flitted from Austin to Trent and back again, shifting Blakely’s panic into full throttle. Nicole might act the part of a dumb blonde; however, she was anything but. More like shrewd and discerning. And definitely not one to dismiss the similarities between Austin and Trent without digging further.
“As it should be.” Ross placed a hand on the small of his daughter’s back and urged her away. “You folks enjoy your lunch.”
Too late. He’d already ruined it.
Trent settled back into the booth. “That was...awkward.”
“Trust me. It could have been worse.” Blakely moved her shaky hands to her lap. If the Chapmans had the slightest inkling that Trent was Austin’s father, they’d find some way to use it against her.
Trent lowered his head a notch. “You okay?”
Far from it. But she couldn’t let on in front of Austin. “Fine.”
“You’ve barely touched your other taco.”
“I think I ate the first one too fast.” She grazed a hand over her stomach. “I’ll take it home and have it later.”
“Excuse me, please.” Austin wiggled next to her.
“Too many sodas?” She stood to let him out.
“Yes, ma’am.”
In Austin’s absence, Trent tucked his paper napkin beside his empty plate. “There’s a lot we need to talk about.”
If it involved custody of Austin, she wanted no part of it.
Her
