TooHottoTouch by Samantha Cayto Page A

How can they
keep up those intricate steps at that age?”
    “We teach them young.”
    “I bet you were awesome as a little girl.”
    “Of course. I’ve always loved to dance. When the rhythm
grabs you, it’s like you’re flying.”
    He grinned up at her. “I bet you were cute as hell too.”
When she rolled her eyes in response, his smile widened. “Did you look like
that?” he asked, jutting his chin at a girl whirling by them with long black
hair and a seersucker dress. “She’s adorable.”
    Zoë shifted her gaze from the child to Sean’s face. His
delight was obvious. Something tightened inside her. A thought she hadn’t
allowed herself to have before suddenly made itself known. “You like kids.” It
wasn’t really a question.
    He answered her anyway. “Sure. What’s not to like?” He
looked at her. “What? You look kind of serious there.”
    She tried to shake off the feeling of unease. With a shrug,
she said, “Nothing.”
    “Zoë?” he persisted.
    She sighed inwardly and pasted a smile on her face. “I was
just thinking you must want to have kids of your own someday.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it much.
I’m not sure a lot of guys my age do unless they’re in a relationship.” The
penny dropped noticeably in his head. “Oh, I get it. You’re done raising kids
and you think we’re doomed because I must want them.”
    “We-ell,” she hemmed.
    He tightened his grip. “Honestly, sweetheart, kids are not
on my radar screen. I’ve got nothing against fatherhood or anything, but I can
barely take care of myself, let alone a child.”
    “Now, yes. Things will change. You’re going to want to get
married someday and have a little girl like that or a boy like you. Even my son
talks about having kids and he hasn’t yet finished college.”
    He shook his head. “Maybe. I’m not sure I could handle the
stress and worry of raising a family. Not everyone is cut out for it, you
know.”
    “I know,” she said quietly, her finger tracing a line along
his jaw. He was so damn sexy. She could easily picture him in her bed for the
rest of her life, which, of course, was going to end a lot sooner than his.
What if he stuck with her and regretted not having the kind of family most
people created in their lives?
    He nudged her chin with his own. “Zoë? You’re thinking too
much again.”
    “I suppose,” she reluctantly agreed with a sigh, except she
didn’t really think so.
    Later in the night, with Sean’s body wrapped around her, his
softening cock still inside her, the worry came back. This time Sean wasn’t
awake to argue her out of it.
    * * * * *
    A week later, the concerns she had raised at the picnic
still pricked at her conscience. She hadn’t brought it up again with Sean,
knowing he would dismiss them again and fuck her into forgetting her doubts for
a while. So she kept quiet and tried to ignore them and enjoy their time
together. Diego was back to work, although still not completely healed. Summer
was drawing to a close. Sean would soon not be needed in the dishwashing room and
although she would gladly keep him on, she knew he wouldn’t let her. He didn’t
want what he would see as charity from anyone, let alone his girlfriend.
Besides, he would start a class in a few weeks for truck engine repair. He
would be on his way to restarting his life in a long-term fashion.
    Working behind the counter in between the lunch and dinner
rush, she looked up when she heard someone enter. The middle-aged man in jeans,
t-shirt and scuffed boots was an older version of Sean. He was obviously Sean’s
father and the sight of the man coming into her diner sent nerves fluttering in
her stomach. She had asked to meet his parents a few times and Sean had put her
off with vague promises. She wasn’t sure if it was because he was embarrassed
by her or them. Probably a little of each, especially as it was obvious that
his father at least was only a few years older than