by Hailey Storm
“Go check my closet.”
I considered what she was offering for a split second before deciding against it. Wouldn’t that be an all-time low? I mean, who raided their mother’s closet before going on a date?
“Thanks, but I doubt something from the eighties is going to pull me out of my funk right now.”
This went deeper than not having anything to wear. Everything I owned seemed to fit weird. I was having a fat day.
“You never know.” Mom flashed me a wicked smile. “I’ve bought some cute stuff lately. Besides, it never stopped you when you were in high school. You always used to raid my closet. If it wasn’t my clothes, it was my shoes.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re right, I’ll go take a look.”
“Hope you find something,” she called as she headed the opposite way in the hall. “Don’t wait up, you know how late girls’ nights go for me. Oh, I almost forgot. Did you need me to watch Izzy tomorrow?”
“No!” I shouted from her room. “I’m not working at Dr. Brenner’s. I finished the mural last night and he hasn’t told me if he wants the third room done right away. He was a little busy this afternoon when I went by to pick up my money.”
“Okay. See you later. Have fun on your date!” I heard the front door slam shut behind her.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d flipped through my mother’s clothes, searching for something to wear. It seemed surreal I was doing so now. A soft, red sweater with a deep V-neck caught my attention. I pulled it out and held it up to me in front of her full-length mirror attached behind the closet door. It could work. I could wear my hair up and put in some hoop earrings. Maybe wear my black flats.
I tugged it off the hanger and pulled it on. Perfect. Relief trickled through me as I gazed at my reflection. There was always something about the color red that made me feel fantastic.
A loud knock at my front door startled me. My eyes shot to my mother’s alarm clock. There was still forty minutes until Tex was supposed to be here. Thank goodness. I was nowhere near being ready for him yet. It had to be Erica here to pick up Izzy and do my makeup.
“It’s open!” I shouted as I made my way down the hall. Izzy echoed my words, bringing a smile to my face. She was such a cute little ladybug.
“Hey, ladies!” Erica shouted when she came through the door. There was a silver box tucked beneath her arm. “Oh, I love that sweater.”
“Thanks,” I said, deciding to keep it to myself that it was my mother’s. “What’s in the box?”
“Makeup.”
“Wooo, makeup!” Izzy shouted. My little girl loved to play dress-up.
“After I do Mommy’s makeup and hair we’ll head to my house and I’ll do yours, okay? Sarah and Kaylee are waiting too.”
“Okay!” Izzy was quick to agree before shifting her attention back to the TV show she’d been watching.
“All right, darling. Tell me where you’d like me to set up.” Erica shook the silver box.
“Is the dining room table okay?” We could always go to the bathroom, but it would be a little cramped. I figured the dining room table would give us more room to spread out whatever tools she’d brought with her.
“Perfect!” Erica walked to the table and began setting herself up. “Where’s your brush?”
“One second.” I started down the hall to go retrieve it.
“So, I was thinking you should just let Izzy spend the night with me and Matt tonight. The girls would love to have a sleepover. Plus, that would get rid of the hourglass hanging above your head while you’re on your date with Mr. Cowboy. No time limits for the night.” Erica wiggled her eyebrows as I situated myself in the chair she’d pulled out for me.
My heart thumped in my chest hard before dropping to my stomach. “I don’t know…”
“I’m not saying you have to pull an all-nighter with him. All I’m doing is giving you the opportunity to, should it present itself.”
“I know, it’s just that Izzy has never spent the night with anyone besides my mother.” The thought of her being old enough to have her first sleepover sent me into a motherhood tailspin.
My baby was growing up too fast. I couldn’t believe she’d be starting kindergarten next year.
“I remember when Sarah had her first sleepover. I was a nervous wreck the entire night. My phone stayed glued to my side and I didn’t sleep much. Granted, it was with one of her friends from school and neither me or Matt were close with the parents. In fact, we’d only met them at a school function once or twice. I totally get it if you aren’t ready to let her spend the night with someone besides family yet. I just thought I’d toss it out there,” she said as she parted a section of my hair into three.
While I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, Izzy’s first sleepover was a big deal. She was only four and a half, which seemed a little young to me, but then again Erica was my best friend. I had watched her daughters overnight a couple of times for various reasons.
“Sure, I bet Izzy would love that,” I said before I could talk myself out of it.
Having Izzy spend the night with someone she knew, who wasn’t a relative, might be a good way to test the waters for next year when she inevitably became best friends with another girl whom I didn’t know the parents of. It might save me a trip to some stranger’s house in the middle of the night to pick her up when she realized she wasn’t going to be able to hack it all night without me.
“Awesome, I know the girls will be super excited.” Erica started tugging on my hair and it took me a second to realize she was braiding it. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I’d done anything with my hair besides toss it up into a ponytail or messy bun.
Twenty minutes later my hair and makeup were complete. Erica did a fantastic job forcing my unruly hair into an intricate side braid that swooped over my shoulder, and my makeup was in a neutral palette that didn’t scream sex kitten like I’d feared.
I felt incredible.
“You look smoking hot!” Erica gushed as she stood back to examine her handiwork. “What shoes were you planning to wear?”
“I have a pair of black flats. Hold on.” I headed to my room to retrieve them.
When I came back wearing them, Erica scrunched her nose up in disapproval. “No, don’t you have anything with a little heel?”
“No, not really.”
“Damn it, I knew I should have brought you my hooker heels.”
There was no way I would have worn anything she’d deemed as hooker anything. I was glad she’d left them behind. “My mom might have something in her closet. Probably not a pair of hooker heels, but definitely something with a little more heel at least.”
“Anything would be better than nothing.” Erica took off down the hall.
I flipped on the bedroom light and pointed toward my mom’s closet, allowing Erica to have at it.
“Oh wow, your mom has great taste.” Erica flipped through some of my mom’s tops and dresses. “These are perfect! Try them on.”
I took the pair of black ankle boots she held out to me, wondering when my mom had bought them. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her wear them before. They were cute. Too cute to come from her closet. What was happening? My mother’s closet had produced two super-cute items tonight and my closet didn’t do diddly squat.
I slipped the boots on and glanced at my reflection in the mirror again. They went with the outfit a hell of a lot better than my flats did. Thank goodness for Erica’s fashion expertise and her awesome hair and makeup skills.
“Okay, now you look smoking hot!”
“I do look good.” I glanced at my mom’s alarm clock to check the time. It was almost time for Tex to show up. “Oh crap, he should be here any minute. I should probably get a bag together for Izzy and explain to her she’s spending the night.”
“You do that. I’m going to hang out right here and go through this fantastic wardrobe. I wasn’t kidding when I said your mother has great taste. I need
to ask her where she got this top.” She held up a gray sweater that had a decorative pattern cut out along the shoulders.
“She gets a box every month. It’s always filled with accessories and clothes. Sometimes shoes. It’s like one of those monthly subscription things,” I called from Izzy’s room.
“What’s it called?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask her.”
“Do. That’s genius. I have two kids and absolutely no time to shop for myself. I’d feel like a freaking princess if awesome clothes like this showed up at my doorstep every month.”
“Okay, Izzy’s bag is packed. Now I just need to tell her she’s spending the night and y’all are all set.”
While I was positive Izzy would be excited, there was a little part of me that worried she might be against it.
“We’re going to have fun. Don’t worry about it.”
“Just promise that you’ll call if she gets to be too much or if she gets upset and says she wants to come home.”
“Of course.”
“Okay, give me a second. Let me explain it all to her,” I insisted, trying to not sound too pushy.
“Yeah, sure. No problem. I need to gather my stuff anyway. We’re going to have to get out of here soon, before your date shows up.”
My date. Holy hell, I was going on a date. I glanced at the clock in the living room. Time was ticking away fast. They did need to go. I didn’t want to have to explain to Izzy why I was going out with a strange man she’d never met before. Plus, I didn’t know if Tex knew I had a kid. Had I ever mentioned it? While I was sure it wouldn’t be an issue, after all this was the Twenty-First Century, I was positive introducing your kid to a guy on the first date probably wasn’t the best idea.
Izzy was on the couch with her favorite TV show playing still. There was a coloring book in her lap and a pack of crayons beside her. She looked so small and fragile. It was insane to think I was getting ready to allow her to have her very first sleepover at someone’s house.
“Hey, baby girl,” I said as sat beside her on the couch. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?” Her big green eyes left the TV to look at me. They were one thing there was no doubt she’d gained from me. That and her cute little button nose.
“You know how I told you that you were going to spend some time at Mrs. Erica’s house playing with Sarah and Kaylee tonight?”
Izzy dropped her crayon and reached out to touch my braid. “Uh-huh.”
“Well, how would you like to maybe … spend the night with them tonight too?”
Excitement pooled in her eyes and she dropped my braid. “Like a sleepover?”
“Exactly. Would that be something you want to do?”
“Yes!” She pushed her coloring book to the side and grabbed the strap on the bag in my lap. “Let’s go!”
“I’m staying here; you’re going with Mrs. Erica. Don’t you want to give me a hug first though?” I laughed, shocked by her enthusiasm and eagerness. My little girl was becoming such a big girl.
When did that happen?
Izzy wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed with all her might. “See you later, Mama.”
“Well, it looks like somebody is ready to get on the road and enjoy her night.” Erica laughed. She stood near the front door with her makeup box in hand.
“Yeah, looks like.” Suddenly it didn’t seem so funny that my daughter was as eager as she was to get away from me. It hurt my heart.
“She’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Erica flashed me a soft smile. “You can call later and check on her if you want.”
“Actually, I think I might take you up on that.” I laughed as tears began to fill my eyes.
“No, don’t you dare cry. You’ll ruin all the time I spent on your makeup.” She wagged her finger at me.
I inhaled the deep breath and sniffled, then wiped beneath my eyes carefully. “Okay, I’m fine. No crying, promise.”
“Good.” Erica grinned. “Alright, Little Miss. It’s time to give your mommy a hug. We’ve got to get going. Sarah and Kaylee are probably pulling their daddy’s hair out by now.”
“Bye, Mommy.” Izzy reached out for another hug.
“Bye, sweet pea. You be good for Mrs. Erica, okay? I’ll call and check on you later.”
“Okay.” She released me from our hug faster than I would have liked, and hiked her bag up higher on her tiny shoulder.
“My car is unlocked. Do you want me to grab her car seat for you?” I asked Erica before she slipped out the door.
“No, I can grab it. You take a few calming breaths and chill out before Mr. Cowboy gets here.” She winked then reached out to steer my little girl through the front door.
“Ha, yeah right,” I laughed. “Thanks for this, though. Seriously.”
“You’re welcome. We’re glad to have her spend the night. When you already have two, what’s one more?”
She closed the door behind her and I was left alone in my mother’s house, trying not to hyperventilate at the thought of having my first date in years on the same night that my daughter was having her very first sleepover.
Chapter Eight
Tex
I checked the address Lilla had given me to the one on the house I was parked outside.
They matched.
I was here, and I was nervous as hell. Dating wasn’t something I’d ever done regularly. I tended to keep to myself. Lately, my wolf had me doing things I normally wouldn’t, though.
My boots thumped up the stairs leading to Lilla’s front door. She had a nice place. While it wasn’t massive, it was larger than my cabin. It was modern, with gray vinyl siding and painted white bricks. The front door was pale yellow and the welcome mat had bright sunflowers printed across it. Yellow must be her favorite color. I made a mental note to ask at some point tonight. It seemed like a legitimate first date question. Plus, it was something to talk about.
I pulled in a long deep breath in an attempt to calm myself and my wolf before I knocked on her door. It didn’t work. My skin felt too tight as my wolf paced back and forth. He didn’t want me to screw this up. His energy was overwhelming.
I knew I should’ve taken Ryan up on his advice and ran last night with him and a few others from the pack. He’d said it was the only thing that helped keep his wolf in check when he first started dating Amber.
Why hadn’t I listened to him? I exhaled a long breath. It was too late now. I was already here, and there was no way in hell I’d be late for a date with this woman.
My knuckles rapped against the wooden door. I listened for any sound inside, but found it hard to hear past the throbbing of my heart. What was I so damn nervous about? It took me only a second to pinpoint the issue—I was scared shitless I’d be meeting her kid tonight. What was I supposed to say to a kid? I’d never dealt much with kids before. Part of me wished Gabe and Ava had adopted already so I’d have experience with them under my belt.
I closed my eyes, deciding I’d have to get myself together. Lilla being in my life was a must, and so was her kid. They were a package deal.
I could handle this. I could learn to be good with kids. I would learn. For her.
Heels clicking against hardwood floors caught my attention. Lilla opened the front door, revealing her beautiful self to me. I’d only ever seen her in jeans and a plain white T-shirt with her black aprons tied tight around her curvy waist. Her hair was always pulled up into a ponytail or a messy bun, and her face was generally free of makeup.
This … this was something else…
Lilla had taken the time to braid her hair in an elaborate design. She’d applied just the right amount of makeup. Her red sweater showed enough cleavage to drive me insane and her jeans hugged her curves well.
Good God, this woman was beautiful.
“Hey, give me a second to grab my purse and a jacket,” she said, backtracking into the house.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. My gaze
drifted around the house, taking in the open floor plan and searching for a little kid sitting somewhere. While there were signs of a child living here, I didn’t see said child sitting anywhere.
Relief trickled through me.
“So, where were you planning on taking me tonight?” Lilla asked as she grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter along with a set of keys.
“There’s this little café I go to sometimes. I figured we could go there. Unless you have some other place in mind.” I crammed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans as I took in the sight of her again. She was breathtaking. How the hell had I gotten so damn lucky? “We could always go out to dinner first, if you’re hungry?” I realized too late tonight was Valentine’s Day. I figured I should do more for her than coffee, but wasn’t sure what.
“Actually, I’m not hungry. Coffee sounds good. Maybe something sweet to go with it would be nice, though.” She brushed past me to retrieve her coat from a hook on the wall. Her lavender scent wafted to my nose, causing excitement to course through me. I couldn’t wait to determine where the scent stemmed from on her body. Was it her shampoo or a lotion? Perfume maybe?
I moved to open the door for her. “I think that’s possible.”
After she’d switched on the porch light and locked the door behind us we started toward my truck. A slight chuckle slipped past her lips.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, trying to keep a nervous smirk off my face.
She shook her head. “It’s just that this is the exact type of vehicle I pictured you driving.”
“Oh, really?”
“Well, either that or some kind of horse.”
I popped the passenger door open for her. “A horse? That’s a first.”
She laughed. There was an edge of nervousness embedded within it, but I found it cute. “Don’t judge. You’re the only cowboy I’ve met in real life. Sorry if I sound stereotypical with the horse bit.”
