“You don’t have too, I’ll––”
“I want to.” His tone warned her not to argue. “I talked to Luke about working off the tire and wanted to see if it was acceptable to you. We decided he’d help me out with shoveling on my jobs. When the weather clears, I’ll also need a hand building a shed for my brother. He’s agreed to both.”
“I think that sounds fair,” she said softly. “When do you want to start?”
“Tonight,” Luke piped up. “I did my homework. Connor said he needs to go out for a few hours and I told him I could start right away. Is that okay, Mom?”
She studied her son’s face, surprised he didn’t look gloomy or despondent about his fate. He actually seemed like he was looking forward to it. Was he lonely? Or did he just crave some company other than hers?
“Of course. I can make dinner for you both, if you’d like. Then you can head out.”
Connor grinned. “Would love to jump on that, but I need an hour to work on my paper. I have this teacher I’m having a hard time impressing. I’ll pick you up at six, Luke.”
“Thanks.”
Connor headed to the door, then swung back to motion to her son. “Don’t forget to give your mom her present.”
“Present?”
“Oh, right. Wait here!” He rushed out of the room.
Connor grinned. “Was your day as bad as mine? Hey, where are your glasses?”
She reached up and touched her naked nose. “Sat on them. My spare is upstairs.”
“Damn, you did have a bad day.”
She laughed. “Yeah, it was a doozy. I’m surprised you don’t have a hot date tonight, though.”
“Nah, they jack up the price for everything and there’s no one special that’s really worth it.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “You’re such a romantic.”
“Yeah, what’s your excuse? Why do you hate V day so much?”
The memory tore through her, but the pain was just a slight throb, a reminder that she hadn’t been enough. “My husband left two years ago on Valentine’s Day,” she finally said. “He said I didn’t inspire him anymore.”
Silence fell.
Why had she told him that? Such a deeply personal fact of her life? Embarrassment made her cheeks hot but she forced a laugh. “He probably just wanted to save himself some money. He’d been buying me all sorts of trinkets because of guilt from his affair. Now, I realized he did me a favor.”
He still didn’t speak. Thank God, Luke came running back in and thrust a huge bouquet into her hands. Shock filled her. She gazed at the beautiful flowers, blood red with perfectly formed petals eliciting just a touch of scent. Her son had never bought her anything before. Her voice trembled. “Luke, these are beautiful! Thank you so much.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom,” he said.
And then he walked into her arms without pause.
She hugged her son and the flowers close to her chest and lifted her gaze.
Connor watched them, ocean-blue eyes filled with an intense longing that stripped away the delicate barriers and dove deep into her soul. She knew in that instant, he’d been the one to get her the flowers. He’d been the one to suggest it to her son.
Her breath caught, and a swirling mass of hot energy sizzled between them, choking her with a want she’d never experienced before. Where had this come from? And why did it feel like it was growing each time she saw Connor Dunkle?
Fighting her rioting emotions, she closed her eyes to try and get back control.
When she opened them again, he was already gone.
Chapter Eight
“The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love.”—Margaret Atwood
“You were right about the flowers,” Luke said.
Connor headed to his last stop of the night, maneuvering carefully on the roads even though his tires were stellar with their grip. He’d never had a kid in his truck before so he drove extra slow.
“I told you, women like to be appreciated. Especially Moms. Especially on Valentine’s Day, even though it’s not my favorite holiday.”
“Mine either. Christmas is so much better.”
He laughed. “Yeah, Christmas is pretty epic. We have one house left and then you’ve completed your parole time for the day. You did well.”
Pride etched the boy’s features. Funny, Connor figured the night would be torturous trying to entertain a ten-year-old, but Luke was good company. He owned a wicked sense of humor and worked hard without grumbling. Shoveling pathways and steps worked muscles most boys didn’t have anymore because they mostly worked out by playing video games. Bet his grades were off the charts, too. He reminded him so much of Nate. “Is this your regular job?” Luke asked.
“No, I just do this as extra side work. I’m in construction. Right now, I’m working on the team that’s building the Tappan Zee Bridge.”
“Seriously? That’s awesome. Do you go up on the crane?”
“Sometimes. Most of the time it’s hard, repetitive type work in the extreme hot or cold. Sometimes it’s real boring, but I like working with my hands and watching a structure rise from nothing.”
“How come you’re in my mom’s class if you already have a job?”
He eased around the upcoming turn and cranked the heat a notch higher. “I want to get into management, and they require a degree. Don’t make my mistake. Go to college after high school. It’s harder when you’re old like me and have to start over.”
Luke seemed to mull over his words. “Mom says people do things when the time is right. Maybe you just weren’t meant to go to college when you were younger.”
Luke’s simple acceptance of fate soothed him. Ella’s words wrapped around him via her son’s lips. He’d never forget her face when she told him about her ex leaving. A mixture of sadness and acceptance had radiated from her and made him want to pull her into his arms and comfort her. He couldn’t imagine how hard it was to hear her husband tell her she wasn’t wanted. The asshole had just walked out on a beautiful family and didn’t seem to care about Luke. Her heart and trust was shattered, yet she seemed more whole than any other woman he’d known. She was truthful, and real and smart. Not to mention strong. She’d kept it all together and was raising a good kid.
The more he found out about her, the more he liked her. Underneath that drab exterior beat the heart of a very mighty woman. She’d looked different without her glasses. More touchable. More...vulnerable. If she only took more care with her appearance, she could probably meet a nice man who would be good for her and Luke. A conservative type, maybe. A man who was stable and employed, and appreciated all of her qualities.
Nate’s girlfriend, Kennedy, owned a matchmaking agency called Kinnections. She’d teased him mercilessly about not setting him up until he went through social training to be more sensitive to women. Connor had just laughed it off. One thing he didn’t need help with was finding dates. Women had always come easy to him, though he’d only fallen in love once. The memory still stung but it had been his own stupidity thinking he was good enough for more than great sex. He’d been thinking long-term future. She’d been thinking short-term orgasms. Eventually, she’d cheated on him and moved onward, not pausing to look back and see how she trampled his damn heart.
His fault.
But Ella could use some help and Kennedy had a magic touch when it came to makeovers. She’d completely transformed Nate and promptly fell in love with him. Could she do the same magic for Ella?
Connor pulled up to the house and parked. “Okay, dude, you’re up. I’ll plow the driveway and you work on the steps. Last call.”
“Got it.”
Luke slid out, grabbed his shovel from the back, and trudged through the growing mounds of snow. They both worked quickly and thoroughly and finally headed back home.
“Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do when the Little
Rascals show up?”
His statement had the desired effect. Luke grinned. “I like that. The Little Rascals.”
“Thought you would.”
Luke gave a long sigh. “I don’t know. I just want them to leave me alone. I was stupid. I’m just sick of not having someone to hang with at school.”
“Are there any guys you’d like to hang with?”
He nodded. “Yeah, there are two that seem tight and they’re cool. But they kind of keep to themselves.”
“I hear you. You’re not going to want to hear this, but I’m going to say it anyway. They’re not going to approach you. You need to man up and ask if you can hang with them. Either at lunch or recess.”
The boy gnawed at his thumbnail. “I don’t know. I’ll look like an idiot if they say no.”
“If they say no, it’s really not a big deal. It’s not like you’re asking them on a date, dude. You just want to have a few conversations.”
He laughed again. “Maybe. I’ll see.”
“What are they into?”
“Pokémon cards. Basketball, too, but we can’t play outside until it gets nicer.”
“You got any Pokémon cards?”
Luke snorted. “Of course. Got a whole binder full.”
“That’s your in. When you approach them, talk Pokémon. Usually you just need something to break the ice a bit.” Connor mentally winced. Another cliché. Damn Ella and her crazy tyrannical English.
Luke tilted his head, obviously thinking over his suggestion. “Good idea.”
“The weather’s not going to be pretty the next couple of days. I’ll talk to your mom, but are you up for helping me out?”
“Yeah, no problem. I’m alone every day until Mom comes home anyway. I do my homework and stuff but sometimes it gets boring.”
“Same as me. My shifts start early. Other than Tuesdays and Thursdays, when I have your mom’s class, I’m home in the afternoon. If you ever want to do homework together, just come over. And if you’ve ever read Virginia Woolf, come by with your notes.”
Luke laughed. “Okay.”
They drove back in comfortable silence, and Connor dropped him back off at the house. He watched him disappear inside and he parked the truck, his spirits light. Luke was just like his mother. After a while spent in his presence, it became easier to find ways to like him.
He settled in for the rest of the night with a smile on his face.
Chapter Nine
“Love is like the wild rose-briar; Friendship like the holly-tree. The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms, but which will bloom most constantly?”—Emily Brontë
The next couple of weeks, Connor settled in to a comfortable rhythm.
Luke accompanied him when he needed to plow, and they got into a habit of stopping at the diner afterward for cheeseburgers. On Monday and Wednesdays, he showed up with his homework and hung out until Ella got home.
Connor was used to being solitary, so it surprised him how easily he fell into a new routine and began to look forward to spending time with Luke. Through him, Ella had softened and often invited him over to the house for dinner. As the grueling winter hurled its fury in various ice and snowstorms, they huddled inside for warm food, hot cocoa, and sometimes the occasional board game.
His paper began to take shape at a slow, grueling pace. Sometimes, he’d bitch about the convoluted style of feminine whining from her assignments, but now she just laughed and challenged him by offering up various facts and shared stories about their lives that were so vivid, he found himself reluctantly intrigued.
Connor wasn’t sure when it happened, but he knew somehow, some way, they’d become friends.
He refused to analyze the reason or try to dig deeper. He was too afraid if their odd relationship was examined too closely, it would disintegrate under a strong wind and disappear forever.
He usually worked on Saturdays, but he found himself with an afternoon free and no motivation to take on an odd job or do homework. The snow had melted just enough to clear the roadways, and the upcoming March week promised sun and a good thaw. On impulse, he walked next door and rang the bell.
Luke answered, his face lighting up when he saw him. “Hi, Connor. Come on in.”
He stepped inside and Ella came around the corner. Her hair was twisted up in a messy knot, and she held a broom in one hand, with a dirty rag in the other. She gave him an evil smile and crooked her finger at him.
“Ah, he’s stepped into our lair, Luke. You know what that means, right?”
“It’s a fate worse than the plank. Worse than the guillotine.”
Connor glanced between them, grinning at their silliness. “You guys are seriously scaring me.”
“Any brave soul who ventures forth in the Blake household has to clean!” Ella declared.
“I’m outta here.”
Luke laughed and blocked the door. Ella held the mop out like the Wicked Witch about to cast a spell on him. “Too late, Dunkle. You get the bathroom.”
“Forget it. I came to see if you guys wanted to go snow tubing, but since cleaning seems more fun, I’ll go check with someone else.”
“Snow tubing!” Luke jumped up and down. “Mom! Can we go?”
Ella wrinkled her nose. “But we didn’t finish cleaning.”
“Mom! Please, oh, please. I swear I’ll finish later when we get home. Some of the guys at school were talking about it, oh, please.”
Connor crossed his arms in front of his chest. “That’s some mighty fine begging, Mom. But I don’t want to break up you and Mr. Clean.”
Ella made a face. “Cute. What do you need? Snow pants and boots?”
“Yep, that’s it. We rent the tubes there. Up for it?”
“Mom?”
The whine was perfectly pitched and coincided with puppy dog eyes. Ella let out a breath. “How can I say no when I’m outvoted? Let’s go.”
Luke gave a whoop and raced up the stairs. “I’m gonna change!”
Ella looked down at her mop in mourning. “I guess no one ever died from dust bunnies, right?”
“If so, I would have suffered a horrible death years ago.”
She punched his shoulder in a playful motion and touched her hair. “Ugh. Give me a few minutes to freshen up.”
“Sure.”
She came down in record-breaking speed, gliding down the stairs in black snow pants, a baggy sweatshirt, and snow boots. He was used to women who spent hours creating a palette on their face and a runway look for their wardrobe. Ella was comfortable in her own skin, didn’t care what she wore, and owned both with a confidence that had originally puzzled him, but now he admired. Still, he much preferred her pale pink natural lips than the orange she sported. He wondered if he could steal it from her purse and help her lose it permanently.
They drove to the snow tubing park and hit sheer chaos. Kids swarmed the hills with giant black tubes, and a contraption that worked like a ski lift pulled them to the top of the hill. Screams and laughter cut through the air. The mountains shimmered in the distance, jagged white rock framing blinding blue sky. The air rushed deep and clean in his lungs as they trudged to the cabin to register and get tubes and got in line to wait.
“Mom, you’re not going with us?”
She shook her head. Cheeks flushed from the cold, she laughed and slid her glasses back up her nose. “I’ll pass on this one, guys. You two causing a spectacle is enough for me.”
“A spectacle, huh?” he said. “Never pegged you for a snob, Ms. Blake, but I may need to rearrange my original opinion. When was the last time you did something completely undignified?”
She rolled her eyes at his deliberate language. Luke chuckled.
“Yeah, Mom, you should go. It’d be a riot to hear you screaming as you slide down the hill.”
Her brows snapped down in a frown. “Are you both baiting me? I would not scream.”
“Care to make a bet on that?” Connor drawled.
Her lips pursed and irritati
on simmered around her. He’d learned she was kind of a sore loser. When he won at Monopoly, she accused him of using the green real estate to drive them out of business. When he beat her at Bananagrams, a game similar to Scrabble, she claimed he’d used abbreviations and slang. When he found poop in the actual dictionary and reigned champion, she got all snarky and muttered under her breath the rest of the night. It was kind of cute.
“What bet?”
He pondered her question. “You go down the hill once without screaming and I’ll take you both out to dinner. Your choice.”
Luke whistled. “That’s a good bet, Mom. You’ve been craving Italian for a while now but said that place was too expensive.”
Connor raised a brow. “Care to take the bet?”
She glared at both of them, then stomped her feet. “This is the stupidest thing ever. I’m going to get wet and be miserable, but the lasagna will be worth it. Also the literal egg on your face.”
Connor smiled slowly. “Nice cliché.”
Her mouth fell open in shock.
“Save our place. I’ll grab you a tube,” he told her. Laughing the whole way, he got another one and when he rejoined them, they were almost to the top. The attendants were brisk and efficient, setting them up on the lift and showing them how to hold the tube as they were pulled along. When they reached the summit, they were each set up in their own row, with Luke all the way to the left and Ella on the right. Connor was in the middle.
They waited their turn and then the attendant gave them the thumbs-up signal.
Everyone pushed off at once.
Connor slid down the hill with decent speed, especially since his arms and legs were dangling over the tube, slowing him down. He spun in a full circle, the wind whipping at his face, stealing his breath, and laughter poured out of him as he reconnected with childhood memories of him and his brother spending a snowy day together.
Luke got up first. “That was awesome! I’m getting back in line right away.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Luke rushed back to the line and Connor looked for Ella. Where was she? His heart started to pound furiously, and finally he spotted a tag of black to the far right of the hill. How had she gotten over there?
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Nine Page 25
