“I could always come stay with you, you know,” he said, his voice all hopeful. The words filled me with dread. One day I actually expected him to show up with a suitcase and a sob story about having nowhere else to go. “My roommates are talking about moving on, and I could use a roof over my head.”
I closed my eyes and counted to ten. “It’s like I said before. I like my space.”
His eyes narrowed. “But I’m your father.”
“Maybe that’s something you should have thought about when I was growing up. You know, when you left Mom and me. When you decided to take jobs that paid you under the table so you didn’t have to pay for child support.”
“Fuck me.” He ran a hand through his still thick hair. The dark strands were finally starting to turn gray, but despite all the hard living he’d done in his lifetime, he wore his age well. “I get it. I wasn’t the best dad.”
“That’s right—you were fucking horrible.” I wanted to put my fist through a window, or better yet, punch him in the face. To my horror, I felt my throat tighten. “You destroyed my mother.”
“She was an uptight—” He clamped his mouth shut. A good thing, because he was two seconds away from ending up on his ass.
My sadness quickly turned to fury. “She worked three different jobs to keep a roof over my head because you didn’t care enough to pay support. Where the fuck were you all my life?”
He stood slowly. “I told you, I own my part, man. I know it wasn’t easy for you…or for her. She’s a strong woman, and I’m thankful that she raised you right.”
My heart pounded in triple time. “She had to be strong, because she had to support me herself.”
“Say it, man.” He thumped his palm against his chest, like some militant fucking gorilla. “Get it off your chest once and for all.”
I took a step closer to him so I could look him the eye. “All the years I was growing up, I desperately wanted your attention. For you to acknowledge me in any way, other than just calling me on my birthday. Hell, sometimes you didn’t even do that.”
“I had nothing to offer you.”
“All I wanted was you. Just you. I didn’t care about things. I didn’t care about anything but having your time.” My voice actually cracked. I cleared my throat. “Not once did you take the time to wonder what I was doing with my life.”
“That’s not true,” he said, quick to defend himself yet again. “I used to drop by your baseball games.”
“You came once and left within two innings.”
His upper teeth brushed over his lower lip and he sniffed. “I didn’t like seeing that dude act like your father.”
Angry, I didn’t check myself, and blurted, “He was my stepfather, and he was more of a father to me than you have ever been.”
He winced like I’d slapped him. “Wow. There it is. What else do you want to say?”
The blood coursed through my veins, ratcheting up with my anger. “You put yourself before everything and everyone. Where were you my entire life? Oh, that’s right—in a bar somewhere, with some sleazy bitch, getting so wasted you couldn’t see straight. And using what money you do make on toys that don’t make you happy, only to sell them because nothing can fill the endless void that is your life. You know why that is? Because deep down inside, you’re a fucking miserable person.”
The punch came within seconds, and I had half expected it. I didn’t flinch, I took it…right on the jaw.
I touched my jaw, tasting the blood pooling in my mouth. He looked like he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. “I think you should go,” I said, walking toward the door.
He lifted his chin and stared at me hard. For a second I thought he might apologize. “Look at this face long and hard, boy…because it’s the last time you’ll see it.”
My heartbeat was a roar in my ears. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that statement. Was I relieved, or was I terrified? Scared that I had finally shut the door on the only chance I’d had to have my father in my life?
Shaking his head, he walked to the door and stopped short. He took the hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and set it on the table, then shut the door behind him.
My heart was still racing. I removed the phone from my pocket and pulled up my mom’s contact information. My thumb hovered over the dial icon.
Since moving to Texas, she had called me less. Her daily phone calls had gone down to two a week, but I understood. She had a new husband and a new life and was finally experiencing a freedom that most mothers waited eighteen years for.
I might be a grown man, but it was moments like this that I needed to hear her voice. She was the one person I could tell anything to, and she wouldn’t judge me. She’d give me hard to hear advice sometimes, but it always made me feel better.
Instead of calling, I sent her a text.
I LOVE YOU, MOM.
Within seconds my phone rang and I smiled…even as tears burned my eyes.
I combed a trembling hand through my hair. “Hello,” I said, my voice cracking at the last second. Fuck!
“Brax, what’s wrong?”
Just hearing her voice put a lump in my throat. I took a deep breath and released it. “Nothing. I just wanted to tell you I loved you.”
There was silence on the line. “Well, I appreciate that, and I love you, too…but what’s wrong?”
I shook my head. She could always smell bullshit a mile away.
“I just had a rough day.”
“What happened?” She sounded alarmed, and I was pissed at myself for making her worry.
I would never tell her about dad. He was a sore subject that would instantly put her in a bad mood, and I didn’t want her to worry about me. She’d spent the past twenty-two years doing that.
“Is the business doing okay? I could send you some money.”
“Business has never been better, Mom. I hired a great crew, and they’re working on that new subdivision I was telling you about while I help Toby’s sister out with a renovation.”
“That’s right. Mandy’s back. How is she doing?” As always, there was concern in my mom’s voice.
I’d love to tell her how much I cared for Mandy, but I wasn’t ready for the barrage of questions that would follow. “She’s doing good.”
“She’s a strong woman. I bet that son of a bitch will rue the day he let her go.”
“There’s no doubt about it.” No doubt the son-of-a-bitch was suffering from regret. “She’s a keeper, that one.”
Again, there was hesitation. “You always liked her, didn’t you?”
The woman was psychic, I swear.
She laughed lightly. “Be careful. She’s your best friend’s sister.”
I didn’t need reminding of that fact.
A ping sounded, signaling I had a message. I held the phone away from my face and saw the text was from Amanda.
My heart missed a beat.
I HAD FUN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE. The rest of the message was off-screen.
My bad mood immediately lightened. “Mom, I need to go. I’ve got an early day, okay? I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you.”
“Okay, honey. I’m glad we talked. It’s nice to hear your voice. I miss it when I don’t hear it.”
“Yours, too.”
“Brax, are you sure you’re alright?” She sounded hesitant. “I could come up and visit…”
I rubbed my jaw, knowing tomorrow I would have a huge bruise there. “Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. I promise. I’ll call soon. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
CHAPTER 6
Amanda
I had been so bummed out last night after Brax left that I had called Kara. She’d seemed really excited to talk, and although I didn’t bring up anything about Brax, she offered to come by and help me today.
At eight o’clock this morning, she showed up wearing rolled up sweat pants and a paint stained t-shirt and holding two large cups of coffee. “Double Mocha Delight. I also bought you a blueberry muffin. Y
ou’re losing your ass, and how are we going to get you a man if you have no ass?”
I smiled, happy to have her around. “Where are the kids?”
“At my mom’s.”
“I didn’t mean to keep you away from them.”
She snorted and shot coffee out her nose. Pulling a Kleenex from her purse, she said, “Are you kidding me? Wild horses couldn’t pull me away from seeing Brax Mitchell swinging a hammer in ninety-degree heat. Though he might be grossed out at me because I’m already raining sweat, and I’ll be a stinky mess come noon, which is as late as you’ll get me today by the way. Well, maybe as far as two o’clock. It depends on the amount of skin in the room.”
“I’m happy to have you at all. Thank you, and thank your kids.”
“Seriously, they’re loving their life right now. Any time they get to see my mom is a bonus for them and for me.” She took a sip of her coffee and set it on the windowsill. “So where is the eye candy?”
I finished taping around the doorframe. “He’s picking up new windows.”
“I think that’s him now,” Kara said excitedly, her eyes lighting up as Brax backed into the driveway.
This would be really awkward. Last night he’d responded to my text with a brief, MY PLEASURE. That was it. I couldn’t read anything into that message, and I almost regretted sending one to him.
I just needed to act like nothing had happened, that we hadn’t kissed and I hadn’t practically begged for him to bone me…and everything would be perfect.
“So I suppose we should act like we’re actually doing something other than standing here ogling him when he walks in?” Kara picked up a roller and handed one to me. “Time for us to look busy.”
Brax knocked, and before I could move Kara was at the door, throwing it wide open. “Good morning!”
He had on dark jeans with a rip at one knee and a white t-shirt that you could see his ink through. “Good morning,” he replied, flashing dimples. He glanced at me. “You managed to talk a friend into helping. Well done!”
I grinned and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Is that a bruise on your jaw?” Kara asked.
He rubbed his jaw. “I ran into a door last night.”
She lifted a brow and glanced at me. I don’t think either one of us bought that story. Of course my mind immediately went to the worst possible scenario – that he rushed to his ex and she’d been so upset, she’d roughed him up.
Setting a paper bag of supplies on the floor, he headed for the door. “I’ll grab the windows and bring them in. Your brother should be by in an hour to help.”
“Tell me you’re not paying Toby,” Kara said, her eyes shifting to Brax’s tight ass.
Brax glanced back, and she lifted her gaze just in time. “I’m paying Toby.”
“Why do I suddenly feel screwed?” Kara’s tone was sarcastic and flirty. God, I’d kill for her confidence.
“Talk to the boss.” He nodded toward me. “She’s in charge of the budget. Maybe she can turn loose a few bucks to pay you.”
“Maybe with a hall pass,” I said under my breath, and her gaze snapped to me.
She actually blushed. A rarity, since I had never seen her embarrassed…ever.
He walked outside, and Kara turned to me with her brow lifted high. “Being that hot should seriously be illegal. Today is going to be an incredible day. Marcus better watch it because tonight he’s getting the special treatment.”
“The special treatment, huh?”
“Yep, better do some manscaping because I feel like going downtown,” she said, wiggling her brows. “I suppose I should be grateful he’s not hung like Mr. Hotpants there, but he’s plenty satisfying for me.”
For the next two hours, I got to hear the local gossip. I had painted the majority of the room, and although Kara did more talking than actual painting, I enjoyed having her around. Time seemed to fly by.
When Brax and Toby took off to get lunch, she turned to me. “So are you going to come clean about what really is happening between you two?”
“What do you mean?” Oh my God, was I that transparent?
“You two were practically eye fucking each other all morning. I’m a bit surprised your brother didn’t catch on. There were a few times when you were bending over to roll your paint in the pan where I thought Brax was going to put a nail through his thumb.”
Really? I hadn’t noticed he’d been checking me out. I’d been careful not to stare too hard at him. Sometimes I couldn’t help myself though and I’d chance a lingering glance. Eye fucking though? I didn’t think so.
“You have to spill the goods before I leave here. Seriously, I’m not leaving without a play-by-play.”
I hesitated. “Okay, maybe we had a moment when he took me for a ride on his Harley.”
“Wait, what? Why didn’t you tell me he took you on a motorcycle ride?” She set the roller down into the pan. “Seriously, you can’t withhold those kind of details. I’d tell you anything, you know that, right?” It had been a long time since Kara and I had been the best of friends, where we could talk about anyone and anything. I wanted to trust her, but I was afraid to say too much to her about Brax. I knew how small towns worked, and especially hearing that Brax was a hard guy to tie down—the last thing I wanted was word getting out to anyone that we were seeing each other, dating…or whatever it was we would be doing.
Last night, I’d had another intense dream. Although it hadn’t been quite as sexy as the previous dream, the fact remained that I went to bed thinking of Brax and I woke up thinking about Brax.
Truth be told, Brax was in my every waking thought, and that concerned me.
I told Kara everything. She hung on to my every word and every few sentences she muttered, “You lucky bitch.”
The boys returned and we all worked in relative silence until Kara left. Toby chatted incessantly until he went to meet his girlfriend, which left me alone with Brax.
I played a few songs on my phone and smiled when I heard Brax singing along to it. To my horror, my dirty thoughts of him returned in full force. It didn’t help that he had stripped down to his shorts.
“I brought you something,” Brax said, nearly startling me out of my skin.
“You did? What is it?”
“When we were at the falls, you mentioned to the gentleman that you liked his camera. I have one that’s just been lying around.” He handed me a nice Canon. “It’s older and not as nice as his, but you’re welcome to it.”
The gesture was incredibly sweet. During my years with Ross, we had been so frugal that it had become a way of life. Even with both of us working, we had taken to putting money away versus blowing it. During all those years, I’d learned to be conservative and live within my means. To receive such a heartfelt gift meant everything to me.
“It has a new memory card in there, too,” he said, looking anxious. “So you’re good to go.”
“Thank you, Brax,” I said, taking the camera from him. “How generous of you.”
He shifted on his feet. “Maybe you could take some before and after photos of the house, so you can one day look back and show your grandkids what you did.”
The thought of kids and grandkids made me smile.
Hopefully one day. I immediately snapped a few pictures, getting familiar with the camera as I went. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed taking photos, of the creativity that coursed through me as I snapped one shot after another. I had a lot to learn. Those high school lessons had seemed like a lifetime ago.
I snapped a picture of every single room of the house, then went outside and took a few of the porch.
“Here, let me get a picture of you,” he said, nodding toward the front of the house.
I handed him the camera and walked to the porch, feeling awkward as I tried for a casual pose. I had this tendency to have a deer-in-the-headlights expression whenever I was being photographed. Forcing myself to relax, I smiled for the camera.
After he h
ad taken a few shots, I grabbed the camera from him. “Now let me get some of you.
“Really? I can’t guarantee what kind of model I’ll be, but I’m down if you are.”
* * *
Brax
What the hell was I doing?
I had told myself to be careful with Mandy. To treat her with kid gloves, and here I was going down the same pathway again.
I modeled for her, mostly campy pictures of me in gutted rooms. Before and after pictures, she said, although I wasn’t quite sure why she needed me in every shot. I wouldn’t complain though. The sexual tension between us seemed even more amped up than before.
“Tell me about your life…” she said, leaning against the doorframe that led to all things, her bedroom.
I shifted on my feet, surprised she wanted to know what I wanted out of life. I don’t think any girl had asked me that question before.
I hated talking about myself. Despised it, actually. It always made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t know why. Then again, I didn’t want to come across as a dick. I shrugged. “You know a lot of it. I started construction at sixteen, and after I graduated I started flipping houses. I wanted to start my own company, so that’s what I did while still working for Drake’s Concrete. Obviously construction is in my blood. God willing, it’s what I’ll do until the day I die.”
Seemingly interested, she watched me with a soft smile. “Most of your work is here in Maple Creek?”
I nodded. “I have a house over in Camas that my subs are working on. This house, and you, is my priority right now.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She looked pleased by the admission. “So the jobs are pretty local. You’re a hometown boy, huh?”
“I am. Always have been. I have no desire to live in a city. In fact, I hope one day to have a log home and a shop on at least ten acres.”
“I can see that,” she said, her grin putting me at ease.
I hoped she was finished with the questions.
“So…when did you move out of your mom’s house?”
Bad Boy Rebound Page 6
