“Their wives weren’t too happy either, but I figured they should know. Good men don’t cheat,” Tina added.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Bailey muttered. Once she started giving in to her addiction to bad boys, she learned the hard truth of what made them so bad. They weren’t faithful. They didn’t like it when she wanted more.
Yet, she couldn’t resist the next one who came along, promising he’d be better than any man she had before.
Getting pregnant with Leo was a blessing in her mind. Not only did it force her to grow up. It forced her to come to the realization that she deserved more than a guy calling her babe while they had sex, because he really couldn’t remember her name.
“Lucas isn’t married, is he?” Tina suddenly asked. “Charles said he was real nice. One of those respectful types.”
“No, he’s not married.” Her stomach twisted. Lucas would probably like it if a woman as pretty as Tina flirted with him. She didn’t have kids or any other responsibilities, so they could go ride off into the sunset on his bike. Except Lucas didn’t have a motorcycle. He never did.
“I don’t care that he served time,” Tina prattled on, clearly encouraged by Lucas’ marital status. “My last boyfriend served time, and he was a big ole’ pussycat. But his ex decided she wanted him back and since they had a kid, I let him go. It was only right.”
Bailey eyed Tina, unsure if she was blowing smoke her way or actually meant what she said. Knowing how much Tina liked to over-share and the fact that she never beat around the bush, Bailey decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“You have a good heart, Tina. You just need the right man to appreciate it.”
Tina beamed, and Bailey wondered when was the last time someone had actually told her that. Heck, she couldn’t remember the last time anyone said that to her. Mostly, her parents would lecture her about finding a man who would be a good role model for Leo, but they never concerned themselves with the fact that she might want a man who could be good for her.
“Don’t suppose you’d let him shadow me this afternoon. I promise not to flirt with anyone. But him.”
“I’m sure he’ll like that.” Bailey swallowed. She didn’t like the thought of Tina and Lucas together. Of Tina batting her pretty eyes at him. Lucas giving her a smile, a real one, not he faint ones that he practically had to—
What was wrong with her? Bailey gave herself a mental shake. Her entire line of thinking was exactly why Tina should work with Lucas and not her. Lucas was here to help out wherever he could anyway. He might as well learn how to take orders and put them in the system.
“Thanks, Bailey,” Tina said as she stood. She smoothed down the short, white apron that covered the front of an equally short skirt. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” Bailey said with a forced smile.
After Tina returned to the main dining hall, Bailey gathered her things and checked the calendar on her phone.
Grocery store. Pick up Leo. Soccer practice.
Yep, she led an exciting life.
One day, she’d like to add something to her daily calendar that had nothing to do with work or family. One day, she’d like to add something just for her.
Mommy Guilt tried to invade her soul, but she firmly held it at bay and grabbed her keys. There wasn’t anything wrong with wanting more.
She walked out of her office and almost ran smack into Lucas.
“Hey Bailey.” His voice rumbled over her, making her knees weak. It made other parts of her hot while his dark blue gaze made her shiver.
“You’ll be shadowing Tina today,” she began. “You’ll like working with her and…there’s not rule against she only nodded in greeting, like any other boss would do. He gave her a strange look, but she kept going.
*
Sometimes, soccer practice was a special kind of hell.
Leo loved it, loved playing with all the other four year olds, but she always felt left out.
The other moms huddled in groups, sharing snacks and most likely gossip. The women had known each other for years, their kids having played on the two-year-old and three-year-old teams previously while this was Leo’s first year and only the fourth practice.
She wanted to share snacks and gossip. She wanted to be in on the jokes and find out what latest television show everyone was glomming on Netflix. But that would mean introducing herself. Explaining that she was raising Leo by herself, which inevitably led to sharing her life story and how lousy she was at picking men.
“You’re Bailey. Leo’s mother, right?” one of the soccer moms said, breaking away from the group.
Bailey nodded, thrilled to finally be included. Although, she hadn’t exactly put herself out there to be included. Most of the time, she kept her nose buried in her phone, using the hour of practice to catch up on reading her favorite romance novels.
“I wanted to talk to you about snacks.”
“I love snacks,” she blurted. Contain your excitement, girl. She’s talking about snacks, not the lottery.
The woman looked at her oddly. “So do the kids.” She held out a piece of paper. “Here’s the sign-up sheet. Everyone else has already picked a date. When you’re finished, give it to the coach. Thanks.”
An embarrassed smile crept onto her face as she took the paper. “Sure. You’re welcome.”
The other mom walked away, then paused. “Oh, Sailor is having a birthday party next Saturday and he’d like for Leo to come.” She pulled an invitation out of her large purse. “It completely slipped my mind. I have to hand out invitations to everyone else here, too.”
“Mommy brain,” Bailey said solemnly.
“Tell me about it.”
She handed the invitation to Bailey and smiled. “Why don’t come over where we are. Anna Jane brought to-die-for brownies. I’m Olivia, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you.” She shoved the invitation into her bag and then slipped her phone inside. “I’d love to have some brownies. It’s been a brownie kind of day.”
Olivia grinned. “C’mon. I’ll introduce you.”
Bailey’s heart lightened. Maybe today would end up being the start of something new for her.
*
Lucas had only been driving along Evergreen Way for five minutes before his steering wheel decided to make a hard right. Then the truck started shaking.
“Son of a gun,” he muttered, pulling off the road and hopping out to inspect the truck. When he found the source of his problems, he glanced up at the sky and thought, “Really, God?”
A flat tire was all he needed to end his day. That and a more than a little pissed off waitress. When Bailey had informed him that he would be shadowing Tina, he didn’t know that entailed a hands-on explanation of waitressing, taking orders, and putting them into the system to generate tickets for the cooks in the kitchen.
By hands on, he meant Tina had her hands on him. He’d been felt up more in three hours than he had in his entire life, and for a man who had, before prison, regularly enjoyed women, that was saying something.
Grabbing the jack and the spare from the bed of the truck, he began working on changing out the tires.
Apparently, Bailey had no desire to work with again since she’d hauled tail out of there like it was on fire. Then again, he’d really stuck his foot in his mouth the day before.
Tomorrow, he’d go in early and apologize. Not only did he not want things to continue to be awkward between them, but he also didn’t want her to have to avoid anyone in her own damn restaurant. He’d quit if he had to, and take a job working for his uncle. Something that had been offered last night at dinner.
But he’d turned down the opportunity to work as a car salesman. The money was better than what he was being paid, but his uncle’s showroom wouldn’t have Bailey in it. Besides, he didn’t want to work in sales anymore. He wanted honest work that didn’t require him to smooth talk anyone out of their money.
Working at the diner didn’t c
ount. Those people were there to eat and the food was excellent.
He rolled the flat tire to one side and let it fall, then picked up the spare.
Honestly, Bailey shouldn’t be a reason why or why he wouldn’t work anywhere. They weren’t anything to each other. She’d showed him kindness once again, and he repaid her with an unintentional insult.
“Leo,” a woman shouted. “Where are you? It’s bath time, you sneaky boy.”
Leo? That was Bailey’s son’s name. Lucas jumped to his feet and scanned the area, zeroing in on her as she ran from the back.
She froze, stark terror on her face. “Leo,” she screamed again, her voice tinged with worry and tears. “Oh God, baby. Don’t move.” That wasn’t the sound of an angry mother—that was the sound of a helpless one.
Without thinking, he dropped everything and started her way. He caught a flash of orange and found Leo playing in a ditch in the front yard. The ditch was dangerously close to the heavily traveled road.
Leo popped up, laughing. “You can’t get me, Momma.”
“We can play later, buddy,” she said, slowing down.
“Catch me, Momma.” Leo turned, running straight into the road.
Lucas broke out into a run, heedless of traffic heading straight for the boy. A horn honked. Brakes screeched. Somehow, Lucas managed to dive for Leo and roll them into the ditch.
The sound of metal crunching made him curse and hold the little boy tighter to him. Pain burst from his head and shoulder when they came to a stop. He had to blink a couple of times before his vision returned to normal.
Leo struggled to get up. “Stay,” he said in his firmest tone, and the little boy stopped.
“Oh my God. You saved him,” Bailey cried as she fell beside them. “You were almost hit, Lucas.”
“The ground hit me,” he said stupidly.
She laughed and took her son from him, holding him close and then examining him. “Not a scratch on him. Only grass stains. Oh my God,” she breathed. “You saved him.” Her eyes widened. “You’re bleeding. Let me call 911.”
Bailey made the call while Lucas stared dazedly up at the sky for a minute. Then he sat up.
The driver of the van that had almost had hit them joined them, his face white. “Shit. Man, I’m sorry. I hit your truck trying to avoid you guys.”
“You hit my truck?” Lucas slowly turned, only to find his truck pinned against the old gas station that was no longer in use.
“Yeah, but better that than you and the kid.”
Lucas agreed wholeheartedly. “You did what you had to. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry,” Bailey said to them. “Leo didn’t want to take a bath. I thought he was hiding in his room. He’s become a regular escape artist lately.”
Sirens blared.
“Looks like they sent out half the town,” the van’s driver muttered. “I hope to God I don’t get a ticket. I don’t need any more points on my license.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell the cops what happened. Kids do stuff like this all the time,” Lucas said. Or at least, he thought they did. He knew that he and his brothers had done stuff like that. When they were little and his mother wanted them to take a bath, they ran away like she’d just suggested they pour acid all over themselves. “Little boys like to stay dirty.”
Leo buried his head in his mother’s chest, his little hands gripping her tight. “It’s okay, buddy,” he said, rubbing Leo’s back.
Leo shook his head, beginning to cry as if he just realized all that had happened. “I’m in twouble. Big twouble.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, he is,” Bailey cut in. “He knows the rules.” She leaned her son back in her arms. “Buddy, you know you’re not supposed to sneak out or play in the front yard.”
He sniffed, wiping his nose on his arm. “Yes.”
She sighed and cupped the back of his head, bringing him to her once more and rocking him.
“Thank you,” she said again. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there. You’re my hero. Leo’s, too.”
Lucas didn’t know what to say to that, so he said nothing at all.
Chapter Six
‡
It was just Lucas’ luck that his brother was the first one on scene. He pulled up in the fire department’s red pickup truck and hopped out. His expression was serious yet calm, like a man who knew exactly what needed to be done.
When their eyes met, Brody paused, his eyes widening imperceptibly. Yeah, Lucas was pretty sure that the last person Brody thought he would find would be him.
“What the hell were you thinking, not paying attention like that?” Brody growled. “That kid could have been hurt.”
His brother turned to Bailey and the driver of the van. “Are you two okay?”
Lucas tried to stay calm, but his hands balled up into fists anyway. “I wasn’t driving.”
Brody jerked his head toward the collision. “I can see that.”
“Actually, you’re not seeing anything.” Lucas brushed off his pants and stood up. He was sore, but the initial shock was gone.
“Actually, Lucas was the one who saved my son,” Bailey said. “He’s a hero.”
Brody let out a disbelieving snort. “He’s something all right. You don’t have to cover for him. It’s not against the law to be stupid, but reckless driving is. I’m sure the cops will go easy on you given your sterling record.”
The driver of the van finally spoke up. “Look, man, I don’t know what kind of problem the two of you have, but he wasn’t driving. I was.”
“Then how did the farm truck get totaled?”
“Because I swerved when he,” the guy pointed to Lucas, “dove through traffic to save the boy.”
Brody’s lips thinned.
Lucas smiled a little, though he really didn’t feel like it. “Two eyewitnesses back up my story, big brother. Guess you won’t have the pleasure of seeing me go back to jail after all.”
The paramedics and the sheriff were next to arrive, brushing his brother out of the way. His cousin, Preston checked them out and pronounced them shaken but not stirred.
Everyone looked at him.
He held his hands up, gloved-covered palms out. “Too soon for jokes. I get it.” He shook his head and packed the bag beside him. “Not sure why it’s too soon,” he muttered. “Not like anyone died.”
Bailey’s face turned white, and Lucas put his arm around her. “Let’s get the two of you inside before Preston starts to tell really bad jokes.”
“I never tell bad jokes.”
“You never shut up long enough to wait around to see if people laugh,” Brody said, breaking into their conversation. “Try that once. I promise it will be life-changing.”
Lucas looked at his brother in surprise. Brody was actually agreeing with him?
Brody turned to him. “So I wanted to apologize. I was wrong. You did a good thing today.”
Something swelled inside Lucas’ chest. Something he’d thought he lost a long time ago. “I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have done.”
Brody eyed him. “Guess you did learn something from me.” Then he walked away.
“That was awkwardly nice,” Bailey whispered. She pressed a kiss to Leo’s head and snuggled into Lucas’ body.
And that was amazingly nice. Hell, she felt more than nice. She felt perfect.
“Can we go inside now? Leo still needs his bath, and I think the two of us could use a drink,” she said, pulling him out of thoughts that were about to go to dangerous places.
He nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.” Gently, he propelled her and Leo around the house and through the gate that was wide-open.
“Did he get out through there?”
“Yeah. The lock on it doesn’t work, and I haven’t been able to get a new one. So, Jess and I have been watching him like a hawk. Until now.” Guilt crept into her voice. “He’s never left the house before. Only the backyard.”
“D
on’t beat yourself up.” He opened the patio door and gestured for them to go inside ahead of him. “Let me go shut the gate, check on my truck, and I’ll be right in.”
She gave him a watery smile. “Thank you. My head’s not on straight right now.”
He touched her face, something he’d been wanting to do again. “Stop beating yourself up. I mean it.”
Not bothering to wait for Lucas, Bailey quickly got Leo in the bath. She sat on the side of the tub, watching him play while she wiped her face with a damp cloth. There was no way she’d let Leo see her continue to cry. It made him cry, which made her cry, and then the entire crying circle would never cease.
“You okay, buddy?” she asked softly.
Leo looked up from his boat and grinned. “Yep.” There was a streak of mud on his face. Her heart slammed against her chest. She’d been so close to losing him. So close to seeing him in the hospital instead of playing happily with his toy boat and bubbles.
She let out a shaky breath. Tomorrow, she’d padlock that damn gate, and start looking for a new place.
No matter how big of a yard, the busy street was too much for her. She and Leo needed a kid-friendly neighborhood. One with cul-de-sacs and block parties. They had those on the outskirts of Jessamine.
They were also out of her price range.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I had a new lock installed on your gate. The van that hit my truck belonged to a locksmith. He was more than happy to do it, free of charge,” Lucas said from the doorway.
Her mouth dropped open. That man had done that for her? “Wow. I never expected…I can’t believe he would do that. Do you think I should pay him, or at least offer him a meal on the house at the diner?”
“Considering you didn’t press charges against him, he should have changed the locks on your entire house for free. So no.”
She glanced over shoulder, astonished at how angry he sounded for her. “Uh, Lucas?”
“Yes?” He wouldn’t look inside, his chin was tipped up and he was staring at the ceiling.
A giggle escaped her before she could stop it.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
Love So True Page 5
