by Lila Rose
Dazed, I nodded.
“Thank you.” He smiled.
Fight it, Mena. Fight that damn smile like you have been since he started torturing you with it for the last two weeks.
I nodded again.
As soon as he stepped back, the spell broke. I shook my head and pulled off my sundress. I was already wearing my black one-piece bathers. With my eyes on Koda, I clapped, and he reached out to me. Kalen gave him right over, and I headed for the solar heated swimming pool.
Slowly, we walked into the water. At first, it took my breath away. Not wanting to scare Koda, I didn’t let it show. He watched with wondrous eyes when we went deeper and deeper into the water. He smiled, laughed, and wiggled in my arms. A couple of times he tried to jump away from me, reaching with both hands out to splash the water. I knew then that Koda was going to love to learn to swim.
Dive
My eyes stayed glued to them. I was glad Mena didn’t look at me when she claimed Koda from my arms because she would have seen the heat in my eyes. Then again, they’d been hidden behind my sunnies, which I was fuckin’ grateful for because I got to watch them both, not just Koda enjoy himself, but also Mena. I got to watch when she slipped out of her sundress to show her hot body with curves in the right places. When she’d first shown on my doorstep, she was skin and bone. Now she had curves I wanted to get to know.
And fuck no, I was not pushing that thought away because of guilt.
Simone always knew I was a huge fan of a woman’s body. Besides, they were only lustful thoughts. I wasn’t in the right place to act on them.
Still, the show was amazin’ to watch.
Even better, when an hour later, they got outta the water and I followed every drip running down her sexy legs.
“He did such a great job, Daddy. You should be proud.” Mena smiled before sitting Koda down on my lap.
Shit. Focus.
Wrapping his towel around him, I said, “Yeah, he looked like he was enjoying it.” I picked him up, turning him to face me.
“Dada.” He smiled before latching his hand onto my beard to give it a tug.
“You’re a real little swimmer, buddy.” Pulling him closer, I blew raspberries onto his neck, making him squeal. Glancing up to Mena, I was disappointed to see she had the spare towel wrapped around her body. “You ready for some lunch?”
“If you want to get going, I can take the bus back home.”
“You’re not hungry?”
“No, I’ll get something later.”
“Woman.” I sighed. “Let me get you some lunch as a thank you for his first swimming lesson.”
“I don’t want to get in the car all wet. I was going to lie out in the sun for a bit anyway, get dry, and soak up the rays before it changes.” She looked to the sky. Dark clouds were coming in even though the temperature was still warm.
“Don’t worry about the car, Mena.”
“Kalen, Iâ”
“Fine. We’ll grab something here at the kiosk. Then I’ll take you home.”
“Um, okay, thank you. But I need to grab something from your place, so I’ll get a lift back there and then catch the bus.”
Standing, I handed over Koda. “I get the feeling you don’t want me near your place, Mena.”
Pink touched her cheeks. “No, it’s not that. I⦠um⦠It’s just⦔
“How about I go get the food while you think of something.”
“Fine,” she snapped and actually stuck her tongue out at me. It took everything in me to walk off and not bite down on that tongue.
There was something goin’ on with Mena, and I was gonna get to the bottom of it. I trusted her with Koda. But I needed to know what she was hiding. It was a guess, but I reckoned it had something to do with where she lived. So while I ordered the food, I activated a plan.
We all ate lunch sitting in the sun. Not much conversation flowed, but it was nice just sitting there with her. Later, she disappeared to the toilet, only to come back with a toy truck.
“Where’d you get that?”
“I ran across the road to the shops. I promised Koda I would get him something.” She sat down next to him. As soon as he saw the truck, he started waving his hands around and squealed.
Fuckin’ lucky she’d put her dress on before slipping out and heading around other people. She was already getting ogled by enough men around the pool. I was half tempted to join her. With me by her side, the other dicks would know not to approach her. Fuck, they’d probably approach her anyway. I clenched my hands into fists in annoyance. Calm the fuck down, it hasn’t happened yet⦠Not unless it has and she just hasn’t said anything to me.
Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I grumbled under my breath with a few choice swear words.
The car ride was quick and when we pulled down the drive, and she saw Mum’s car sitting there, she relaxed. No doubt she thought she was gonna be in the clear and slip away. I’d let her, but little did she know I was gonna follow her. I’d called Mum earlier and told her what the go was. She was all for it.
We pulled to a stop and got out. Koda was in my arms when Mum came out on the front porch.
“Afternoon. How’d he go?”
“He was amazing,” Mena cried excitedly.
“Is that why he’s got a new truck?” She smirked.
“Mena got it for him for saying his first word.”
“What? He talked? What did he say?”
“Dada.” I grinned proudly. I’d been working with him every night, and finally, he’d shocked the shit outta me and came out with it that morning.
Koda mimicked me and cried, “Dada.” Then he smiled.
“Oh, what a sweet voice for such a little charmer,” Mum cooed, grabbing Koda from my arms. “We need to celebrate. Dinner out somewhere, with drinks. No, let’s go take a trip, let’sâ”
“Mum, maybe another day. He’s had a big swim. He’s probably ready for his nap.” She eyed me and then Mena, who stood beside me looking at Koda with a smile on her face.
“Right, of course he is.” She nodded. “I’ll get him to bed. It was nice seeing you today, Mena.” Mum turned and fled into the house.
It was almost comical how Mena paled. She looked from Mum to me, back to Mum closing the front door to me again.
“Um, the bus will be coming soon. I better get going.” She spun and started off.
“I thought you had to get something from the house.”
She waved over her shoulder, and called, “It’s okay; I’ll get it Monday.”
My bet was there was nothing in the fuckin’ house. She was trying to dodge a lift off me again. I stood there, watching her walk down the drive. I didn’t go after her, not yet. I waited until she cleared the corner, and then I took off running into the bush, hoping to catch her before she got to the bus stop. Then again, I highly doubted she even got on the bus, which meant she lived near my house somewhere. The problem with that was there was nothing out there but shrubbery.
Instead of being in my own head, I should have looked into Mena more. Though, what she brought to the houseâa smiling, carefree, stunning womanâwas what kept me from looking deeper. I couldn’t bullshit myself that it was also because I wanted to keep my distance from her. I’d known her for a little over four months now and what I knew wasn’t enough.
Slowing my pace, so she wouldn’t hear me coming, I was about to duck out on the road that led to the bus stop until my ears picked up footsteps to the right. The sound led away from the bus.
Turning, I followed the footfalls. Then she made it easier by humming. What she was humming, I didn’t have a clue. Still, it sounded sweet.
My eyes caught sight of her, and if she turned around, she would have spotted me in the distance, but she didn’t. She was in her own little world. Goddamn it, I’d have to make sure she took more notice of everything around her. You never knew when something could fuckin’ happen, and I didn’t want Mena taken by surprise.
Except by me.
Where in the fuck is she going?
Nothing was in the direction she was heading.
She disappeared behind a tree. I kept walking, and then I heard a fuckin’ car door open and close. Worried I’d lose her, I started running and soon came into a clearing where a beat-up Tarana sat.
My eyes scanned the area; there was no sign of Mena.
Stalking to the car, I threw open the back door. My eyes narrowed on all the shit in it as Mena began to scream.
“What the fuck?” I growled.
“Kalen.” She clutched her heart before tears pooled in her eyes. Her cheeks heated, and then she covered her face with both hands, crying.
Chapter Twelve
Mena
He’d found me. He’d followed me and now he knew what a disaster I was. After he scared the bejesus out of me, I broke down. I was ashamed he’d seen me at my worst. Ashamed he was looking in at everything I owned.
“Out,” he barked.
Great. He was back to barking at me.
He probably saw me as nothing but trash.
Was he about to turn me out like trash as well?
“Mena.” He growled the word. “Get the fuck outta the car, now.”
His snarling tone got me to wipe my face and scoot my butt from the back seat to stand just before him.
And I meant just before him.
Kalen hadn’t stepped back. He was still leaning with one hand on the roof and the other on the opened back door. So when I stood, our chests nearly touched.
My bottom lip wouldn’t quit trembling. However, I jerked my chin out and up, and even though my eyes teared again, I glared up at Kalen Brooks.
“I’m a good person. I’ve never done anything to harm Koda in any wayâ”
“Jesus Christ,” he clipped through clenched teeth. Then he took a deep breath and asked, “What are you talking about, woman?”
“Even though I’m⦠I-I’m living in my car, it doesn’t mean you can fire me.” I sniffed in a shuddering breath.
“Keys,” he snarled.
“Kalen,” I cried. “I promise I’ll go and get away from you all. I won’t do anything, but don’t turn me in for being on this property.”
“Keys,” he demanded.
Sighing, my head dropped forward. “I’m sorry, please.”
“Mena. Fuckin’ keys now.”
Nodding, I knew I was in deep shit. He’d had enough. So all I could do was go along silently. He was probably disgusted a hobo had been taking care of his son. Wanted to take me to the police station and get me away from Koda. My heart plummeted at the thought.
Grabbing the keys, I passed them over. I was surprised when he placed a hand on my waist and moved us back so he could slam the door shut. He grumbled some things under his breath as he moved us to the door of the front passenger seat.
When he opened it, he barked, “Get in.”
My eyes went to the seat, to him, to the seat, and back to him. “Why?” I questioned, my bottom lip quivering again.
I watched a muscle in his jaw tick. He was seriously pissed.
Throwing my hands up in the air, I snapped, “Fine.” And as I ranted, he came around to the driver side, got in, and started the car. “What are you going to do, Kalen? The police can’t do much about me being on public property, except maybe give me a fine I can’tâ Kalen, I’m sorry I applied for the job and didn’t tell you where I was staying. I’m sorry if you think I’ve done anything wrong by Koda. I would never want to do anything⦔ I trailed off when I noticed he’d had the car heading down his driveway.
He parked and got out. I stayed where I was, or at least that was my intention if he hadn’t come around my side and yanked my door open. He leaned in and took my arm in his hand, tugging me out of the car.
The front door opened, and Judy stepped out. “Koda’s asleep.” She stopped and took in her son’s expression. “What’s going on?” Her hands went to her hips, and then she looked at me, saw I’d been crying, and said again, “What’s going on?”
We made it up to the front porch before Kalen said between gritted teeth, “She’s been sleeping in her goddamn motherfuckin’ car this whole bloody time.”
Judy gasped. Her hand went over her heart. “Oh, love,” she whispered to me, her eyes filling with tears.
“It’s okay, really, Judy. It’s fine.”
“Shut it,” Kalen ground the words out.
Pulling my arm from his, I stepped away from him and glared. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’ve had it up to here.” I gestured with my hand to the top of my head. “I know you’re pissed about having a homeless person minding your son, but Iâ”
“Mena,” Judy called. I looked at her and she shook her head.
“I’m making a call. You deal with her,” Kalen ordered his mum and walked into the house.
“He’s not mad at you, love.” Judy tried to reassure.
“It sure seems it.”
She stepped up and wound her arm around my shoulders. At first, I stiffened, but then hugged her middle. “When he sees something he doesn’t like, he gets pissed. He didn’t like seeing you living in your car. He’s not pissed at you, but at your situation, and if I know my boy, he’s in there doing something to fix it.”
“He can’t fix it, and I wouldn’t want him to.” I sniffed back my tears. Only they got the best of me because someone was caring enough to hug me. So I cried into Judy’s shoulder. “He doesn’t even like me.”
Judy chuckled and said, “You’ll have to take that up with him, love.”
The front door opened with force making us both jump. Kalen stepped out and said, “You’re on the couch tonight. Tomorrow, I have some brothers coming up to help me shift some shit around in the shed. It used to be an art studio of some sort. You’ll live in there until you’re back on your feet. If you think you’re not gonna listen to me, start thinking again. I have your keys to your shitheap of a car. You can’t go anywhere.”
My body froze.
My mouth wouldn’t work for words; it just kept opening and closing.
I was glad he turned on his heels and went back inside, closing the door behind him, because then my body unstuck, and when it did, it hurt.
A sob ripped from my throat, my eyes closed, my hands went to my belly, and I bent over as tears fell freely.
I wasn’t alone.
Someone cared.
I wasn’t alone.
He was doing something to help me.
He didn’t hate me.
I wasn’t alone.
“Oh, God, oh God.” A body folded around me, arms around my back and waist. I was feeling too much all at the same time. My head didn’t know where it was at, as well as my heart.
“Oh, lovely Mena. My dear girl. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay,” Judy whispered into my ear, only I couldn’t answer her.
Life had thrown me a hard one, so I couldn’t agree I was going to be okay.
Still, right then, I did feel it. I grabbed hold of that hope, the strength Kalen offered, and I held on. I cherished it while I could.
Judy’s weight left my back, and next I was being lifted into strong arms. I knew it was Kalen. Hiding my face into his neck, I curled my hand around the other side of his neck. I wanted to say thank you. I wanted to tell him how much it meant he cared enough. But I didn’t. The emotions were still working their way through me, causing me to cry nonstop. He carried me in and planted my butt on the couch. As he was still crouched over me, he slowly dragged his hands from my body. His warmth left me until I felt his hand on my neck, where he gave me a gentle squeeze. I offered a nod, hoping he would take that as my reassurance I’d try to get myself under control.
Seeming to understand, he stepped back and mumbled low to his mum, “I’m gonna get shit ready for dinner.”
“Okay, my boy,” Judy whispered. She sat next to me, slipping some tissues into my hand.
When Koda woke later, it was a so
und that woke the house. Judy and I had been sitting on the couch quietly. I’d eventually stopped crying and was cleaning my face. Kalen had been in his own silence in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but from the sound of it, it was nothing. No pan or dishes clattered as if he had been getting things ready for dinner.
Judy was the first to move to get Koda from his room. When she came back out with him, she placed him in my lap. It was just what I neededâto see Koda groggy and grumpy. I loved it when he woke like that because each time, he curled into me for a hug until he was awake enough to run amuck.
That time, I wasn’t sure if he sensed I needed a longer hug. But he stayed on my lap for a while. Eventually, he pulled back and patted my face before giving me an open mouth, sloppy kiss on the chin. Once he did, he wiggled free to the floor and crawled off, looking for his dad. I knew when he found him because he cried out, “Dad.” Looking to Judy, we both shared a smile.
The afternoon was spent in our own heads while we watched and played with Koda. Kalen kept his distance and did his own thing until he took Koda with him down the street to get some takeaway for dinner. Judy let me have my mind. She didn’t ask questions; instead if we did talk, it was about Koda and her next trip, which was coming up soon.
It wasn’t until later when Koda was tucked into bed, and Judy had left, that the fluttering in my stomach started. It was because Kalen and I were alone. I’d never really been alone with Kalen.
Hearing his footsteps coming my way, my heart skipped a beat. He came out carrying a pillow and blanket, placing them on the end of the couch. My eyes stayed on the bedding. I wasn’t ready to look up into his eyes.
“Want a beer? I’m havin’ one,” he asked, which shocked me. I thought he would head back to his room to leave me alone. Then again, he saw what a wreck I’d been and probably thought I wasn’t stable alone, or there was still a chance once he got a beer, he could retreat to his room.
