“Are you okay?” I rub his shoulder.
“Just a dream.”
“Wanna talk about it?" He scrubs his hands down his face then looks over at me as if he’s trying to figure out if he can trust me. “It’s strange—sometimes, in my dreams, all the worst moments of my life just all morph into one, big, bone-rattling mind-fuck, y’know?”
“What was it about?” I ask even though I’m not sure that he’ll answer.
He swallows. “Just stuff about Mara walking away and things that happened in combat and my childhood.”
“Your childhood?” I wrap my arm around his waist.
“I grew up in foster care,” he tells me. “My father wasn’t around and eventually, my free-spirited mother got sick of caring for two little boys she never wanted.”
My brows dart up. “You have a brother?”
“Vince…We’re not close anymore,” he says. “He’s somewhere on the East Coast. I haven’t talked to him in a while.” He blows out a hard breath. “I just don’t want Brent to see the things I’ve seen in life. That’s why I’m so protective of him, especially since Mara left.”
Now, his approach to fatherhood is starting to make a little more sense to me.
He reaches over and cups my cheek. “I’m not holding back to hurt you, Reese. It’s just…”
I nod into his palm. “I understand, Leo. I know that you’re a great guy. You just…you have baggage.”
He chuckles. “That’s a bit of an understatement, but yeah—I have baggage.”
“That’s just fine with me,” I say as I tuck my body against his and press my face to his chest.
We all have baggage, right? Maybe I just need to be patient. Maybe he’ll come around in time. Maybe I need to put my heart on the line to find out.
Chapter Thirty-One
Leo
I didn't want to get out of bed. If it hadn't been for Brenton jumping onto the mattress and demanding Corn Puffs at 9:45, I wouldn't have budged.
My little monkey is hanging from my limbs as I go down the stairs, one heavy step at a time. I pad into the kitchen and grab him a bowl then fill it with milk and cereal.
I drop into a chair across from him and I dig the heel of my hand into my burning eyes. I'm tired but I’ve found a new night time hobby that’s far more exciting than sleep. I’m spent after a night of loving up on my beautiful Reese then pouring my soul out to her in the wee hours of the morning. I fell into a near comatose state when she crawled out of bed for work before the crack of dawn. Even now, my eyes may be open but I’m still half-asleep.
It’s a startling bang at the front door that really wakes me up, though. I jump in my seat and Brent’s eyes widen as they zip over to me. Stumbling out of my chair, I make it to the door just as the banging starts again. Brent is practically leaning over the table with his eyes peeled on the door. I look through the side-light glass and find Charlie standing on my stoop.
“Hey—what’s up?” I say as I drag the door open. I should give him shit for showing up without warning again but I think that, in the grand scheme of things, banging his sister nightly is the bigger grievance against our friendship.
He barges right inside wearing faded jeans, a T-shirt and a lopsided smile. “Got tickets to the ball game. Wanted to see if you two wanna tag along.”
Stretching my arms above my head, I yawn. “I’m really not in the mood,” I tell him, “but if I could get Brenton off of my hands for a few hours, maybe I could make a dent in my to-do list.”
Brent swerves around a box in the middle of the floor and charges toward us. “Hi Uncle Charlie!”
“Hey buddy!” He crouches and Brenton leaps into his arms. “You wanna go watch some baseball, little man?”
My son bounces around. “Can we eat hot dogs?”
“All the hot dogs you want,” my friend promises.
I intervene quickly. “One hot dog.” I give Charlie a hard look so he knows I mean it.
“Can I go, daddy? Please?” He clasps his hands together in front of his little chest as he pleads.
“Fine,” I say. “Go change your clothes.”
The child shrieks excitedly as he scampers up the stairs.
“Make sure to brush your hair,” Charlie calls out. “Chicks dig kids with nice hair.”
He grins at me and I narrow my eyes. "You’re gonna use my kid to pick up chicks, aren’t you?" We make our way to the kitchen.
Charlie lifts a shoulder nonchalantly. "I’m paying him in hot dogs and ice cream. I'd say he's getting the better end of the deal."
“Easy on the junk food,” I tell him. “Don’t go overboard.”
He waves me off dismissively. “You worry too much.” He grabs a plastic bowl and pours himself some cereal. Then, he leans on the counter and surveys my face. “You look good, man. You been getting sleep?”
Uneasiness prickles the back of my neck. I shove my hand through my uncombed hair. “A bit, I guess.”
He nods a little. “Good.” His loud crunching fills the quiet kitchen for a long while, then he says. “I won’t ask you about anything else that’s going on in your life because you get all defensive when I check in on you. But you should use this kid-free day to clear your head.”
I chortle shortly. “Thanks. I’ll try.”
Brenton comes barreling down the stairs in jeans and a baseball shirt. He heads straight to the door. “Come on, Uncle Charlie. I don’t wanna be late.”
Grabbing his windbreaker from a chair near the door, I slip the sleeves up his arms and then pull his cap down on his head. I sink down to eye level with him. “You, be good,” I tell him.
“I’ll be good,” he promises as he gives me a high five. He runs out to Charlie’s truck.
My friend glances around at my chaotic surroundings. “Maybe you’ll have a few minutes to clean this place up.” He wears a concerned look on his face.
Not subtle at all. And yes, the place is a mess.
But as he climbs into the driver’s seat, a thought rolls into my mind. I know exactly what I want to do with my kid-free day. And cleaning is not it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Reese
Leo’s hands are in my hair. His lips are on mine. His body guides me in the general direction of the couch. Everything around me is a vaguery on the edges of my consciousness. I'm so lost in this moment, so lost in this kiss, so—
My foot catches on something large and immovable on the floor. My eyes fly open as my body hurtles backward. Reacting before I can even register what's happening, Leo's arms come around my waist and he saves me from crash-landing into the open box of Christmas decorations behind me.
"Oh hell!" He mutters as he deposits me safe and steady on my feet.
Clutching at my thumping heart, I glance back at the box. "Uh, I think it may be time to unpack the boxes. Don't ya think?"
He clasps both hands behind his head and his gaze travels around the room. Boxes take up half of the floor space. There's a lamp without a shade sitting next to a rolled up carpet against the wall. Kitchen chairs stacked one on top of the other. A suitcase bursting at the seams.
And this is just the living room.
He scrunches up his nose. "I've really been procrastinating on this..."
I laugh. I probably shouldn't because he's clearly overwhelmed but it's cute. I step closer to him and lay an arm on his shoulder. "I'll help you. It'll be fine."
His attention snaps to me. "Reese, I couldn't ask you to help me. This is a disaster."
I smile. "You're not asking. I'm offering."
"And why the hell would you do that? Do you see this place?" He waves his arm over the debacle.
"I don't have anything better to do this afternoon." I shrug a shoulder. And I want to spend time with you. No matter what we're doing.
When Leo texted to tell me that Charlie had taken Brenton for the day, this isn’t how I expected that we’d spend our time. But cleaning this place up is a necessary evil.
“I can s
pot at least three housing code violations in this room alone. If we don’t remedy the situation a.s.a.p., the mayor will have this building condemned.” I start tugging at the stubborn packing tape sealing one of the boxes shut.
“Reese, no…”
I head into the kitchen for a knife then slice open the tape holding the box closed. “Leo, yes…”
"You're so stubborn," he groans.
"You're so guarded," I retort. I walk over to him and put my hands on his strong biceps. “Let me help you,” I whisper.
His eyes narrow. "You're a sweet person. You like to fix things. But I'm not something that needs to be fixed."
“I’m not trying to fix you. I’m just being a friend. Can you accept that? Can you accept my friendship?”
I get it. His wife hurt him when she walked away. She obliterated his ability to trust. I don’t expect him to hand over his heart without careful consideration, especially since there’s an innocent, precocious child involved. I just wish that he’d believe that, no matter where things end up between the two of us, I genuinely care about him and Brent.
The purest form of need churns inside of me. Yes, I need to be in his bed but more than that, I need to be in his life.
Sighing roughly, he takes the knife from my hand and sets it down on the fireplace. “I don’t want you to think you have to go out of your way, doing all kinds of things for me to like you. I like you the way you are.” My heart pounds as he says it. These aren’t the words I’d expected to hear from him right now. But I guess that subconsciously, I do always go out of my way for other people in the hopes that they’ll see that I’m good enough.
Doing my best to sound confident, I look him in the eyes. “I know you like me.”
His expression is still sceptical. "Are you sure you’re not trying to prove yourself to me?"
I bob my head with certainty. "I'm sure. I have nothing to prove."
His eyes sweep my face again, looking for any hint of doubt. I hang on to my game face. "Good.” His voice is low and deep as his hand settles on my hip. “Let’s get this unpacking out of the way…and then, I’m gonna lay you out on the carpet and show you just how good a friend I can be.”
My tongue moves slowly across my lips and my voice turns sultry. I lock my arms around his neck. “I love the sound of that.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Reese
I lean my forehead against the cool glass of the display case and blow a breath past my lips.
I just need a minute. To close...my...eyes. Just one...minute...
"Are you sleeping?!"
My head snaps in the direction of Vivian's sharp voice. "Uh, hey!" I jump back, distancing myself from my makeshift bed. That's when I notice the three shy preteens huddled by the cash register, looking expectantly in my direction. "Oh, uh, hi!" I use the edge of my sleeve to wipe the drool from my mouth.
My sister marches in my direction with a rag and a bottle of window cleaner. "You spit on the display case." She's frowning so hard I can feel the laser beams piercing my skin. "Are you crazy? The health inspector will be here in half an hour!"
"I'm really so sorry. So, so sorry." I run my hands down the front of my apron and scuttle over to the counter to serve my customers. With tons of fumbling and awkward apologies, I manage to box up a couple of cakes for them, give them their change and send them on their way.
After Vivian is done disinfecting the scene of my droolfest, she leans against the sink with her arms folded across her chest. She's staring daggers at me. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she hisses.
I wish I weren’t smiling right now because that just seems to be pissing her off even more. I can’t stop myself, though. This grin has a mind of its own.
"Why are you grinning like that?" she asks pointedly. “Are you losing your mind?"
God, I want to tell Viv all about Leo, I want to tell her that I met someone and that I like him and that he makes me feel amazing.
But I'm sort of scared she'll try to slit my throat with a blunt kitchen utensil. I take her threats seriously.
The past few days, I've been struggling to untangle my feelings for him. I think I’m falling in love with him. Does that even make sense? There are so many reasons why I shouldn’t fall for him—we haven’t known each other that long, we haven’t made any commitment to each other, I’m well aware that he’s damaged. But my heart doesn’t care about any of that.
I grab the cloth from her hands and get busy wiping the counters. "I am peachy. Fine. Perfect." My voice is creepily high-pitched. "Just haven't been getting much sleep."
“Are you still spending all your free time babysitting your neighbor’s kid?” Her annoyance is loud and clear.
“I pick him up from school in the afternoon. Why’s that such a big deal to you?”
“Because you still haven’t given me that damn report,” she growls.
“I’m halfway through,” I tell her. That’s a lie.
“Look, I’m gonna need that report by next Friday…Or else we’re gonna have to talk about dissolving this partnership. And I really don’t wanna do that.”
Okay, wow—Viv really means business now. I’m left dumbfounded as the front door swings open and the health inspector marches inside.
Right before she hurries over to greet the old man, my sister throws me a scorching look over her shoulder.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Reese
It’s 3:22 in the morning when I drag myself into Leo’s shower.
Every muscle in my body hurts and I can’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep but I am absolutely blissful. The feel of Leo’s hands and lips still lingers on my skin. The sensation is imprinted in my cellular memory. If I had my way, I’d spend the next week or so barricaded in his bedroom with him, talking and laughing and exploring his body. But I have a pesky little thing called responsibilities and so does he. So, we just have to settle for our secret late-night rendez-vous.
It’s starting to feel like that’s not enough. Which is crazy because we couldn’t actually have more. He’s not ready for a commitment. Besides, Charlie would kill us both.
Get a grip, Reese. Let go of that silly fantasy. It’s not gonna happen. If I don’t get my daydreaming under control, I’m gonna screw up the good thing that Leo and I have going. There’s no reason we couldn’t keep having sex without needing some type of declaration or commitment. This is the 21st century, for crying out loud.
I can do this. I can do this without falling apart.
Wrapped in Leo’s bath towel, I splash some cold water on my face and run my fingers through my hair. I straighten my spine and march confidently in the direction of the bedroom with the gait of an indomitable woman. A woman who can successfully compartmentalize her body’s sexual cravings from her emotional vulnerabilities.
Yes, I, Theresa Hartley, am such a woman! I am the master of my heart and my libido! A woman of the 21st century!
But when I step back into the room, I jolt. Leo has flicked on the bedside lamp. He’s sitting on his bed with my lacy black panties pulled over his face.
“Much better visibility with these,” he tells me, nodding his head approvingly. “I mean—compared to the red hot air balloons you used to wear.”
I slap both hands over my mouth to contain my hysterical laughter. My eyes water and legs won’t even hold me up, I’m laughing so hard.
He speaks in an earnest tone. “Can I be your superhero, baby?” He stretches an arm out to me.
I put my hand in his and he pulls me onto the bed. I collapse on top of him and he grins. “What do you call yourself?” I ask him.
“Orgasm Man, maybe.”
“Oh really?”
His lips graze my ear lobe as he whispers. “Come here, let me demonstrate my super powers.”
My eyes dart over to the clock on his dresser. “Oh my god, you have no idea how much I’d love that but I really have to go. I’m sorry.” Vivian’s been acting like she seriously mig
ht pull the plug on our partnership and I can’t make the situation worse by showing up late for work today.
He slumps back against the pillows and watches me with disappointed eyes. “That’s okay,” he says finally. “But I have an idea about how you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
“Let me watch you get dressed,” he says with a wicked smile.
I furrow my brows. “Huh?”
“You always grab your clothes and sneak off into the bathroom, like you’re self-conscious or something. But I want to watch you put your clothes on. You’re so sexy. I want to watch you.”
I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. But really, I’m thrilled. He makes me feel desirable, irresistible. It’s exhilarating, knowing the effect that I have on him. As flawed and quirky and strange as I am, this gorgeous man wants me.
My heart pounds as I put on a show for him, slowly dropping the towel to the floor and sliding the straps of my bra up my arms. Then, pulling on my short, little dress. I watch the lust on his face as he follows my every movement.
When I strut over to him to snatch my thong off of his head, he ducks out of my reach. His fingers lock around my wrist and he gently tugs me forward. He whispers against my earlobe. “These panties are mine, Cupcake Girl.” He balls up my underwear in his hand. “This lacy, little thing stays with me.” He tilts his face and his lips capture mine in a stirring kiss.
“Panty sniffing fetish?” I ask cheekily as I pull away from him.
“Yes, unfortunately. It’s a habit I can’t kick.” He grins. “I need to sniff them in between bites of my bologna sandwich at lunch time, y’know? Really awakens the palate.”
He's so ridiculous. I stifle on laughter. "I'll let you keep them for the day but you're gonna need to return them this evening. I've been selling them to this online panty-sniffing community based out of Bulgaria—the International Panty-Sniffers Association.”
The Blue Collar Bachelors Box Set: The Complete Blue Collar Bachelors Series Page 16
