by Jacob Chance
My head swings to look out the window and give him some privacy. Once he pulls the truck out onto the road, I face forward once more.
“What did you do yesterday?” he asks.
“I had to catch up on laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning. You know, all the fun adult stuff.”
He nods. “Unfortunately, I do know all about laundry and shopping. Ruby’s pretty good about helping out with laundry. She won’t fold anything that’s mine, but even washing and drying it for me is a huge help.”
“Does she cook for you?” I study his strong hands gripping the wheel. They can be so soft on my skin when he touches me.
“Occasionally, she will. She insists she likes my food better, and of course I’m flattered and want to believe her. For all I know, she could be playing me, so she doesn’t have to do it.”
“I’m sure she’s not. She doesn’t seem like the deceptive type.”
“Aren’t all teenagers?”
“Nope. I wasn’t.”
His eyes skim to me before returning to the road. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? Wish I could say the same, but I was a teenager from hell. You name it and I probably did it.”
“Did you skip school?”
“Of course.”
“Did you get into fights?”
“All the time. I didn’t start them, though.”
“You just finished them?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Did you drink in high school?”
“Are these questions for real? Of course I did.”
“You smoked pot?”
“Yep. And I had sex, lots of it. I drag raced, I raced on my motorcycle. Totalling cars was practically a profession for me. Give me some time and I can come up with more misdeeds for you.”
“Jesus. I think you’re lucky to be alive.”
“Cats have nine lives and I’m pretty sure I’ve used up more than that.”
“So you’ve always been reckless?”
“Yes, Dr. Putnam. I have.”
I study his handsome profile. “Do you know what made you reckless in the first place?”
“Not really. We lived in a busy area without much supervision. My brothers and I spent every day running around the neighborhood getting into all kinds of trouble. Maybe my mother was too busy raising all of us to notice that I was the resident wild child. I’m not sure how she missed it, but she did. And in the end it’s okay because I made it through mostly unscathed.”
“Mostly unscathed? What does that mean?”
He pulls into a lot and parks the truck in front of a cafe. He raises my index finger to his lips and rubs through the soft hairs. I can feel a small indentation. “I split my lip in a fight when I was twelve.”
“Is that why you have a moustache and beard? Are you a jumble of battle scars underneath all that hair?”
“No, it’s barely noticeable. I just hate shaving.” He raises my finger to the side of his forehead, dragging it over an inch long scar. “This one was a cinder block to the head when I was twenty-two. It almost knocked me out, but not quite. My head’s pretty hard. Come on. Let’s go eat. I’ll share the rest of my war stories with you some other time.”
“The rest of them? Isn’t that enough?”
“Well, some involve taking off my clothes.” He spreads his hands. “It’s your choice.”
I hang my head before meeting his eyes. “Never a dull moment with you, Winters.”
“Stick with me, kid, and you’ll never be bored.”
He opens my door and catches hold of my hips, lifting me from the seat. Once he sets me on my feet, he doesn’t back up. His hands remain on me and his eyes reveal his intent to kiss me. My body vibrates with anticipation as he leans forward. Our lips connect and it feels like a live wire of electricity buzzing through me.
His hands slide up my back, crushing me to his chest and my fingers slide to his jawline, burying in his beard. I’ve never been a fan of facial hair, but I can’t seem to get enough of his.
Our tongues stroke and dance, Rex hums from deep in his chest. The sound is so manly and primal, I almost beg him to take me back to my place and make love to me. Slow plumbing be damned.
A car pulls into a nearby parking spot, breaking us apart. Rex stares at me with heated eyes, and I know it’s a reflection of what he must be seeing in my own gaze. With the way we’re going, it won’t be long before we cross a line we can’t uncross. With every moment we spend together, I realize there isn’t anything I want more. And surprisingly, it doesn’t scare me as much as it should.
17
Rex
Since it’s such a beautiful day, I order us coffee and breakfast sandwiches to go. Danika and I stroll over to Newbury Street while we eat our breakfast, both of us enjoying the beautiful scenery this part of Boston offers. We walk off our breakfast while doing a little shopping. Watching Danika get excited about various items in the stores is fun for me. Her face can be so expressive sometimes. I noticed her admiring a Red Sox cap and purchase it for her when she isn’t looking.
When we step outside into the bright sunshine, I hand over the white bag. “I got you a little something.”
“Rex, you shouldn’t have.”
I raise my palms. “But I wanted to.” She reaches into the bag and pulls out the baseball cap, immediately tugging it on. She looks adorable.
“Thank you, Rex. I love this. I’ve never seen a purple one before.”
“I’m glad you like it so much. And it will keep your fair little face from getting burned.”
“It’s hotter than it was supposed to be. I’m glad I wore shorts,” she says.
I glance at her endlessly lean legs and swallow over the lump in my throat. “I’m glad you wore shorts too. You have a great pair of legs.”
She taps my stomach with the back of her hand. “Rex.”
“What? I’m merely stating the truth. I have shorts on too. You can tell me what you think of my legs.” I stick one out, tipping it from side to side before doing the same with the other. Turning my back to her, I rise on my toes. “How do my calf muscles look?”
She laughs and I spin back around to find her nodding. “Those are some impressive calves.”
I lean closer to her. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I never skip leg day at the gym.”
“I can tell.” Her eyes trace over every inch of me, lingering on my chest before connecting with my blues. “From what I can tell, you don’t skip any days at the gym.”
“My work helps me stay in shape too.”
Her tongue slowly drags across her lips like she wishes she was licking me, and my dick twitches in response. She edges toward me, and my stomach leaps with surprise. Is she about to make a move first?
Her phone chimes, interrupting the moment. Fuck me. Of all the bad timing. She tugs her cell from her pocket and grimaces when she looks down at the screen.
“Is everything okay?”
She nods. “It’s my mom. Let me take this and get it over with. Mom, hi. What’s up?”
I can’t hear what her mother is saying, but Danika doesn’t look pleased. “I can’t just run home on a whim. I have a job and responsibilities.” She rakes her teeth over her bottom lip. “I’ll see what I can do.” She sighs and closes her eyes. “Mom, that’s the best I can do. I’ll call you soon. Okay, bye.”
She pushes the phone back into her pocket. “Sorry about that. Family problems.”
I put my hands on her shoulders and gently squeeze. “Are you okay? You seem upset.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. My mom thinks I should be able to head home whenever they want me to. It’s a long drive for me. It doesn’t matter to them if it’s a weeknight and I have to work early the next morning. My parents think my place is with a husband and children, living within a ten mile radius of them. Like my siblings do.”
“I’m sure they’re proud of you and your career. Maybe they just don’t know how to say it.”
“I know you’re tryi
ng to console me, but you couldn’t be more wrong about my parents. But like I told you the other night, I’m okay with all of it.”
“How do you feel about frisbee?”
“Frisbee?”
“I’m trying to distract you. Go along with it.”
“I love frisbee.”
“I have one in my truck. Let’s head to the Common and play a little.”
It’s a short walk for us to get there. We start out easy, and before we know it we’ve got a nice rhythm going between us. Danika is great at throwing and catching the frisbee. Is there anything this girl can’t do?
“Dad. Dad,” Ruby shouts my name. I find her waving as she and her cousin Maddie make their way over. I wave back at her and sail the frisbee to Danika one final time without looking fully. My aim is a little off and it slams into her cheek. Oh shit. Her hand immediately covers the area. I run over and pull her hand away expecting to find a sea of red. But luckily, there’s just a nice sized egg rapidly growing. Gently, I prod the bump with my fingertips and she sucks air in through her teeth.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Is it bad?” she asks.
“It’s not good. There’s no cut at least. But you’ve got a nice lump under your eye.”
“Hey, Danika,” Ruby calls out, jogging over with Maddie. “Ouch. That looks bad.”
“Honey.” I give her a quick squeeze and then look back at Danika to make sure she’s steady on her feet. “What brings you guys here? I thought you were at your mom’s house?”
“Yeah, I was, and then Maddie stopped by. We got bored and decided to get some fresh air.”
“We’re doing the same,” Danika mentions. “Or at least that was the plan.” She sighs. “Had to exercise off all the breakfast we ate. Maddie, are you done with school for the year now?” Danika asks.
“Yes, thank God. I’m actually transferring to Boston University for sophomore year, but I’m not telling my brother yet. He’s going to have a breakdown.” She shrugs with a mischievous grin.
“You don’t have to worry about him hearing it from me.” Danika holds her hands up.
“Or me,” Ruby rushes to say.
“Yeah, that’s none of our business,” I state. “My brother should have some fun with that, though.”
“So, Dad, are you still using that frisbee?” Ruby questions.
“I take it you’d like to borrow it?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“It’s all yours, but make sure you bring it home later. It’s hard to find a good frisbee these days.”
Ruby giggles. “Dad, you sound ancient.”
“And pay attention when you throw it. As you can see from my mistake, it’s easy to get distracted.”
“See you later, Dad. Hope you’re okay, Danika.”
“Thank you, Ruby. Have fun, girls.” Danika smiles through her pain.
“Is your phone charged?” I ask. Ruby gives me a thumbs up.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Rex, we’ll be together.”
“Have fun.” I take Danika’s shoulders in mine so we’re facing one another. “Let me check your pupils.” I glance between them, and everything seems fine. “How many fingers am I holding up?” I raise my middle finger and Danika laughs.
“One.”
“I think you’re fine. But we better not take a chance.” I scoop her up into my arms and leisurely walk back toward my truck.
“Rex, I can walk. I’m fine, really. I just have a bit of a headache now. Once I get home and put an ice pack on it, I’ll be good as new.”
“I’d rather be too cautious.”
“You just want an excuse to get me in your arms. Are you sure you didn’t aim at my face on purpose?” she teases.
I bark out a laugh. “If only I’d have thought of it.”
We fall silent for the rest of our walk. I don’t want to make her head pound worse with my voice. I set her into my truck and focus on getting her home as quickly as possible. Through some luck, there’s a parking spot at the curb right in front of her building. I’ll help her inside and won’t hear anything about her being fine on her own. I’m not leaving until I’m sure she’s not concussed.
We step inside her building and she leads me up a wide flight of stairs. The detailing on the woodwork is true to the period of time this place was built. My eyes scan the space, taking in the high ceilings and nice lighting. I follow Danika until she leans back on her door. “I know you’re a builder, but I don’t want you to look at my place through your work eyes.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My condo needs a lot of renovating, but I don’t want you to notice.”
“I can’t really separate the contractor from the man, they go hand in hand. But I’ll keep my opinion to myself if that helps.”
She nods. “That could work.” She unlocks the door and gestures for me to walk inside. Of course my gaze wanders around to every nook and cranny I can see. Small and charming, the living area is inviting. The brown leather couch is worn and looks soft as butter. The whole place could use a new coat of paint and the floors need to be sanded and restained. But I’m zipping my lips.
“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get you some ice.”
“Okay.” She reclines on the couch, kicking her sneakers off and removing her new hat. “This place is so small, you can’t miss anything.” She sniggers.
“Be right back.” I find the kitchen on the other side of the living room. Searching through the freezer, all I can find is a bag of mixed vegetables. Guess it’ll have to do. I find a dish towel to wrap around it and I carefully place it down on Danika’s rapidly bruising cheek.
She grimaces. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to be gentle, but I’m sure it’s going to hurt no matter what.”
“No. It’s not bad now that I’m getting used to it. So, are you regretting taking me out yet?”
“No way. This was the most interesting date I’ve been on in years.” I sit next to her.
“You must’ve been on some sorry dates then.”
“I think it has more to do with the company I was with today. It doesn’t matter what we do, I just enjoy being with you.”
“That’s really sweet of you to say. I enjoy your company too. Except for when your aim is off throwing frisbees.”
“Hey, I wasn’t going to say anything, but you could’ve caught it with your hands instead of trying to showboat and use your face.”
“Oh sure. Pick on the injured girl.”
“Is there anything else I can get you? Some pain meds or some water?”
“No, I’m all set. I’m going to relax and watch some pointless television.”
“Hey, that’s the best kind.” Rising, I shove my hands in my pockets and study her.
“What?”
“I’m making sure you’re okay before I go.”
“Rex, I promise I’m fine. This is just a small bump on my cheek. Honestly, you’ve made too much of it already. If it were just me, I probably wouldn’t have even bothered with the ice.”
“I’m glad I was there, then. You should always use ice when there’s a possibility of a concussion.”
“Yes, doctor.”
I smile and lean down, brushing a kiss on the tip of her nose. When I go to straighten up, Danika clutches the neck of my t-shirt, pulling me toward her lips for a languid kiss. “Now I feel much better,” she says with a smile.
I caress the back of my fingers over her uninjured cheek. “Get some rest and I’ll check in on you later.”
“Thank you, Rex.”
“For what? Wounding you?”
“I still had a great time.”
“I did too. We’ll do it again soon, minus the frisbee.” I wink. “I’ll see myself out.”
18
Danika
After Rex left, I took a nap, which I know you’re not supposed to do when you have any kind of a head injury. But I know that I’m fine. And now I’m catching up by putting my clean dishes away. Since R
ex left, my house has seemed so quiet. Am I becoming so accustomed to his company that I’m no longer enjoying my alone time?
The doorbell rings, cutting into my thoughts, which is probably for the best. Thinking too much has never been a good thing for me. Opening the door, I find a delivery man.
“Are you Danika Putnam?”
“Yes, I am.” I sign his electronic device and take the cellophane wrapped package from him. “Thank you.” I find a dollar in my pocket and hand it to him before slipping back inside. Setting the large bundle down on my coffee table, I find the card stapled to the outside of the cellophane.
Danika,
Please accept this gift as a token of my apology. I hope you will find all these things useful tonight. You deserve a night of relaxation. I promise not to injure you on our next date if I can ever convince you to go out with me again.
Love,
Rex
I’m already grinning as I tear the orange cellophane open and get to the large basket inside. There’s a reusable ice pack with the Patriots logo on it, a box of microwave popcorn, and a pillow that says HEADS UP. As I dig deeper, I find a pair of fuzzy socks, a lavender candle, and a book I’ve been wanting to read. And at the very bottom is a large bag of M&Ms.
I collapse back onto the couch with my hand over my heart and a sigh on my lips. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I can’t believe Rex has such a thoughtful side to him. Actually, that’s not true. I’ve seen him be thoughtful, but in this case he went out of his way to do something special for me. And no one’s ever done that before. Not even Pete. I guess that should’ve been a red flag in our marriage, but sometimes it’s so easy to dismiss things you shouldn’t.
Picking up my phone, I call Rex’s number.
“Hello.” His deep voice makes my insides pleasurably curl.
