“Can I have some of those?” Jason asked, and Mike snapped from his thought to see them all staring at him.
“Yeah, sorry. Guess I was thinking too hard.” He smiled and handed the potatoes to Jason.
“What’s on your mind?” Esther asked as she took a bite of meatloaf.
“My son, I guess.”
“How old?”
“Nineteen,” he said with an immediate smile forming on his lips.
“It shows you’re proud of him.”
“I am. Just as proud of him as she is of this one.” He nodded toward Jason.
“Eh, she’s not proud of me. I hate math,” Jason protested.
He heard Chandra take the breath to argue, so he interrupted. “Math is hard.”
“Yeah, it is. I hate it.”
“Nah, you just don’t like it.”
Jason let out a huff. “That’s what I said.”
“No, you said you hated it. Hate is an ugly word. It’s like a common four letter word. I’ll bet when you put your mind to it you can do the math, you just don’t like to.”
Jason shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”
He could feel Chandra’s eyes on him, and he turned to catch her stare. Silently she mouthed, thank you, and once again that feeling of warmth washed over him.
Chandra listened to her mother talk about the line at the grocery store earlier. Jason said something about throwing the football at lunch recess and everyone started to call him Peyton Manning. Then Mike’s voice broke through her muddled mind.
“Your mom says you could help me on Saturday. I get all my stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“My big moving container arrives.”
Jason groaned. “You volunteered me to do that? I have an indoor soccer game.”
Chandra nodded. “Right. I knew that.”
“Bud, I have enough stuff it’ll last till after soccer,” he laughed. “Who do you play for?”
“YMCA. Nothing big. Just for fun. We can’t afford a real league.”
Chandra pointed her fork at him. “Hey, it’s a good team.”
Jason shrugged. “Yeah.” He looked up at Mike. “You wanna come?”
“To your game?”
“Yeah. What else do you have to do?”
Mike laughed, and so did her mother. “I’d love to. I’ll get the address from your mom and figure out my bus route.”
“I could take you with me,” she said without even thinking about it.
“Then yeah, I’ll go.”
What had she just done? She had to work. She couldn’t take off. Then she listened to the conversation shift.
Oh, they were still talking soccer, but Jason’s voice had a different tone. He was telling Mike all about the last game—which she’d missed. He was on some kind of high. Was it because this man was going to watch him play? That was ridiculous. He didn’t know Mike. She didn’t know Mike. Why should it matter that he—she sucked in a hard breath. He was taking time out for Jason.
Suddenly the past two days became a jumbled mess in her head. How had she let herself be dragged in by this man? Now her family was involved.
Her mother had furnished his apartment and cooked him dinner. Her son was making plans with him and she—well, she didn’t have anything to do with him, really.
This was nothing.
There was nothing to get worked up over.
He was a nice man who was lost in the world right at the moment. She’d offered a helping hand, and he’d repaid her. Story over.
Mike reached out and touched her hand. That zip of electricity ran up her arm and right to her chest.
“Are you okay?”
“Yep. I’m fine.” She pulled her hand away. “I’m all good. I should check on the bar. I need to see what they are—yeah, they need me.”
She pushed back from the table and left the apartment as fast as her short legs would allow.
She hadn’t seen this coming she thought as she ran down the stairs. She liked him. More than just the flirting from the day before. Something had happened to her heart, and now she was at a loss for words or even how to feel. There were too many other important things happening in her life, and even involving a man in them—regardless of who he was or how nice he was—wasn’t that important.
She kept people away from her family, so why had she brought Mike into it? She’d even asked him to tutor Jason.
Now thinking about how Jason reacted to him, maybe that would still be a good thing.
No! She pushed her way behind the bar and took the first order that printed up.
It had to end, right now. If Mike was going to live upstairs, then that’s all he was going to do.
She knew enough people from the restaurant that had great businesses. Maybe she could help get him a job, something other than handyman work.
Chandra pulled out two bottles of import beers and flicked the tops off them. This, she thought, was where she belonged, behind the bar working and making plans in her head.
Calm began to take over again. She wasn’t going to think about Mike for the rest of the night.
Chapter Six
Mike sat in the apartment watching Netflix on his computer since Chandra had kindly offered up the guest Wi-Fi password. In a few more days he’d have some of his own luxuries, but for now, he was grateful for all the things he had.
There was a lot of restaurant noise, but he didn’t figure he’d ever mind that. It was another thing to be grateful for.
Esther and Jason had left only a half hour after Chandra had. He again had promised Jason he’d be at his game on Saturday and he’d in turn, perhaps under the slightest protest, agreed to help Mike unload his storage container.
Very cleverly, Mike had slid in the bit about helping with his math, and he’d been responsive. That was all he could ask for.
Mike looked at his watch. It was nine-thirty. On a week night, the restaurant closed at ten, but he knew that meant doors didn’t lock until at least eleven-thirty. He wondered if there was anything he could help with. He’d certainly rather feel useful than alone.
Putting the key to the door in his pocket, he went down the steps only to find that the door between the restaurant and the staircase had been closed and locked.
There was no denying that it was a disappointment, but that was how it was to be. He’d just go through the kitchen.
Mike let himself out of the door that lead to the alley and then back in through the open kitchen door.
The staff was busy cleaning the stoves and the dishes. Another man was mopping the floors and another taking inventory of the cooler.
It was fun to see the other side of businesses.
Chandra was still behind the bar. She had her head down studying that clipboard she’d had in her hands when the rep had arrived earlier that morning. He watched her make notes, check another area, and make more notes.
“Looks like you’ll get home early tonight.”
She lifted her head, but her eyes weren’t as warm as he’d grown accustomed to. “What do you need?”
He realized very quickly it had been a mistake to wander downstairs. Now he was just in the way.
“Just thought I’d offer to help out if there was anything you guys needed a hand with.”
“We do this every single night. This night is no different,” she spat out the words then went back to work on her list.
“Got it. If anything comes up…” He stopped as she lifted her eyes to meet his. “You know where I’m at.”
Something had changed since she’d offered to have his apartment furnished and dinner made for him. Mike turned and headed for the front door this time.
“Wait,” Chandra called after him, and he turned back to her. “I’m sorry. Thank you for the offer. It was very kind of you.”
“Sure. Offer always stands,” he said making sure to attach his best smile—hoping it didn’t look like a dopey dog or something.
“I should ask you if you need anything.�
�
“Me? I think you set me up very well. I can’t imagine I’d ever need anything.”
“The door at the end of the stairs is secure. No one should bother you.”
“I noticed. Nothing will bother me. I’ll just head back up to watch some Netflix and do a little more job hunting.”
“Any luck yet?”
“Few leads I think I’ll follow up on in the morning.”
He watched as she worried her lip. “I’ll be here around nine-thirty if you want to come down for some coffee,” she offered.
Now he knew the smile on his face was genuine. “I’d like that. I’ll see you in the morning.”
This time he left the restaurant, through the front door, walked around the building, and back up to his apartment. The thought crossed his mind as he walked toward the windows and looked down at the street, which still had people out walking in the snow in the dark now, who watched her leave each night? It was silly to think that she’d be alone going to her car, but it bothered him.
Certainly, there was a process. And even more, she’d probably done it for years.
So why should he worry?
But he did.
There was no way he’d get any sleep until he knew she was in her car and safely driving home.
~*~
Chandra had seen Mike’s curtains move as she pulled out of the alley and drove down the street. There should be some comfort in someone keeping an eye out for her, but she wasn’t used to it, and she wasn’t sure she liked it much.
This was all her fault. She’d worked very hard for the past ten years to keep men out of her life. Who would have thought one would waltz right in?
Again, she’d done that to herself. There was nothing between her and Mike. He was a nice guy. He liked his ex-wife and loved his son. Things were just a bit sketchy for him right now, and she’d helped ease that pain a bit.
Why didn’t she see if for what it was—a friendship.
Jason had taken to him, and so had her mom. Why wouldn’t they? He was a nice guy. It seemed her attitude needed a check at the door.
Just because a man walked into her life, off the street, and when he smiled at her, her insides turned to goo, or if he brushed by her and a shot of electricity went through her, it didn’t mean she was in love. All it meant was she didn’t have to be on the defensive with him. Mike was just a nice guy, she considered again.
Her mind seemed to wrap around that explanation of her mood the best. She was just overworked, a little tired, and a whole lot of cranky. Then again, she was known for being just a bit cranky all the time.
As she parked her car, she noticed the kitchen light was still on. Seriously, why didn’t anyone in her house go to bed?
Jason looked up at her as she opened the back door and walked into the kitchen.
“Before you say it, I know, I’m supposed to be in bed.”
She set her bag on the kitchen chair in front of her. “Okay, I won’t say it. So why are you up?”
“The game on Saturday is a big one. Do you think I’ll score?”
She swallowed hard. He hadn’t scored in nearly two seasons. “This could be the game.”
“But I want to. I want to score so Mike can see it.”
That stung a little, she thought. Didn’t he want to score for her?
“I suppose you’ll have to focus then. And I don’t think he’ll be disappointed if you don’t score.”
He nodded. “I know. I told him I’d let him help me with my math this weekend too.”
And that was when she’d decided Mike was the master at parental manipulation. He’d convinced Jason that it was a favor to him. “I think that’s a great plan. You have to help him move too.”
Jason shrugged. “I’m strong enough for that.” For a moment there was silence, but Chandra knew it was only because Jason had more on his mind. “He said you’re not dating him.”
Chandra gripped the back of the kitchen chair. “I never said I was.”
“I know. You just don’t introduce us to guys.”
“None of them are as important as you.”
He smiled at that. She was fairly sure he knew it to be true.
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever find a wife as awesome as you either, Mom.” And the kid had a way with words. She kissed him atop his head.
“Thanks. Now go to bed. It’s late.”
Jason stood and pushed in his chair. “So that you know, if you want to date him, it’s okay.”
He’d stunned her into silence as he walked away.
What was she supposed to do with that?
She pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. Right now wasn’t even the time to think about all of this. Maybe if Mike was still around after Gabe came back to work and if she decided that it was a good idea, then she’d think about Mike in that way. But since she’d just convinced herself that there was nothing between them, she wasn’t about to let herself get worked up over what her kid thought.
She sat in the quiet of the house and closed her eyes. Every single part of her was tired. Maybe after Gabe came back to work, she could take a week off. Of course, she’d have to convince him to pay her for that week off, but maybe it would happen.
The thought humored her as she stood and walked to her bedroom to put another day behind her.
Chapter Seven
Mike had been in town long enough to know that the city woke early. He’d never known a trash dumpster to be emptied at six o’clock in the morning, but the one behind the restaurant was.
It didn’t matter much the time. He’d been awake since three. Lack of sleep could be blamed on the new living area. That fear that when you woke and you didn’t know where you were. But he knew that wasn’t it. Chandra had been on his mind.
No sleep had proven to be a benefit. He’d located four jobs he’d be sending his résumé in for and, it was hard to believe, but somewhere between ten o’clock the night before and three that morning, he’d had someone ask for an interview.
He’d mapped out his plan to get to the Denver Tech Center, which wasn’t even close to where he was. Light rail could get him there, but he’d have to walk a bit to get to the building he needed. In the end, most of his day would be spent getting to this one interview, in the cold, and in the snow.
Was it worth it? He pondered that for a while. Yes. It was absolutely worth it.
Luckily the interview wasn’t until two o’clock. That would give him the better part of the day to get there.
He was missing his coffee maker. At least it would arrive tomorrow, he hoped. For now, he decided to walk down the street for a cup of coffee. By the time he returned, Chandra should be at the restaurant. Maybe she’d have some helpful tips as to how to get to his interview.
~*~
Chandra signed for the beer delivery, which was early for a change. She started a pot of coffee and turned on the TV over the bar to watch the news. For some reason, this morning she needed the distraction.
It was nearly ten o’clock, and she was sure Mike would have been down to see her by now—not that it mattered.
Gabe had emailed her the list he’d made of things he wanted to be done to the apartment. She’d give it to Mike if he ever came down.
A moment later there was a knock at the front door. There he stood. His cheeks were red from the cold. She walked to the door, unlocked it, and let him in.
“You can come in the back door. You don’t have to walk around.”
He handed her a small bag. “Went to get coffee this morning. Had one of these muffins and thought you’d like one too. Have it later if you’d like.”
He pulled off his coat and draped it over his arm.
She looked him over. “You’re dressed nicely.”
“I have an interview.”
“Today? Where?”
“Denver Tech Center. Software development company.”
“Tech Center? How are you getting there?”
He pulled a folded piece of pa
per out of his pocket and opened it. “I figured this all out. If I catch the light rail from the station, I should get a direct train out. Now, I still will have nearly a mile to walk, but…”
“This is not a plan.” Her voice shook just as it did when she disagreed with Jason or her mother.
His eyes were wide. “It’s the first interview I’ve had. It’s a plan.”
“No. I mean you can’t go walking a mile in dress shoes in the snow.”
He chuckled. “Today, it’s my option.”
“You can use my car.”
Now he narrowed his gaze on her. “That’s very nice. I’ll be just fine. I have to get around on my own and…”
“Use the damn car, would ya. I’m here until ten-thirty tonight anyway. It’s not like you won’t be back.”
Mike ran his fingers over his chin and studied her. She didn’t like it one bit.
“If you don’t want to then fine. Walk in the cold,” she said as she turned from him.
He caught her arm and stopped her. “Are you upset about something? Did I do something? You seemed mad at me last night too.”
Oh, this wasn’t happening. Some man holds her back and looks for answers.
“I’m just trying to be nice, damn it,” she said pulling her arm from his hand. She looked at the keys in her hand and then began to slide the car key off the ring. “I know you know which car. You watched me drive away in it last night.”
He winced. Yep, he’d been watching her just as she’d thought.
Mike took the key when she offered it. “I really appreciate this. What do you say to dinner upstairs again tonight? This time I will cook.”
“Jason has soccer practice.”
“Are you taking him?”
“No. My mother will take him. I’ll be here.”
“Then dinner for just the two of us. Let me do that for you. This is big for me.”
Never Saw it Coming Page 5
