“I don’t blame her either,” I said. “And if it was just the two of them, I’d encourage her to get that divorce any way she could. Hell, I’d probably have slept with her by now. But there’s a little girl in the mix, one who loves and needs her daddy.”
Ryker clapped me on the shoulder. “Buddy, I know you’re a stand-up guy and you try to do the right thing. And don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of you for always taking the high road, but you have to understand sometimes marriages just don’t work out and the best thing for the kids is for their parents to split.”
Since we’d come from a messed-up, broken home, I had a hard time buying my brother’s argument. “I’ve talked to Char,” I said, hearing the little girl’s words echoing in my ear. “She wants her family back. She misses her daddy and I know he misses her too.”
“If that were true, he would have granted the divorce and worked out a formal custody arrangement with Kendra,” Kane said, looking disgusted. “If you ask me, the dirt bag just doesn’t want to pay court-mandated child support and alimony. That’s why he’s dragging his heels.”
“I tried to tell Kendra she should get her lawyer to draft something,” Brody chimed in. “As it stands, he pays her what he can and takes their daughter whenever it’s convenient for him. That’s not right.”
I didn’t disagree, but again, it was none of my business. “I know you guys all like Kendra, but you don’t know Jason like I do. He’s not a bad guy.”
“Why do you keep defending him?” Kane asked. “Is it because if you convince yourself that Jason made one dumb mistake, that he really does deserve Kendra, you might have a hope in hell of fighting your attraction to her?”
Bull’s-eye. “I’m just trying to stay out of it. They’re both my friends. If they can work things out, I’d like to see them try.”
“And the way you feel about her doesn’t matter?” Ryker asked, narrowing his eyes. “You’re willing to step aside and let some guy who’s already proven he doesn’t deserve her, have another shot?”
“You make it sound so cut and dried, man. It’s not.” I’d lost sleep trying to figure out what to do about Kendra and I kept coming to the same conclusion: she was another man’s wife. Even if she and Jason did get a divorce, it would still be awkward trying to build a relationship with my friend’s ex. “What about guy code? That’s got to count for something, right?”
“Any other time I’d agree with you,” Kane said. “But Jason didn’t treat her right. We all know that. I’d bet my last dollar that wasn’t the first time he cheated on her. It was just the first time he got caught.”
I feared my brother might be right, but since I couldn’t prove it, I wasn’t about to speculate.
***
Kendra
Lizzie was right about her boss being a great guy. Mike was charming, had a great sense of humor, and was clearly devoted to his kids. But there’d been no spark. Not when he reached for my hand to help me out of the car or when he’d rested his palm on the small of my back as we made our way into the restaurant.
“So, tell me about the guy who was crazy enough to let you go,” he said, leaning back in his chair after re-filling our wine glasses.
“Jason and I were young when we met,” I said, taking a sip of my favorite chardonnay. “In retrospect maybe we were too young.”
“You regret getting married?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Never. Char was a product of that union and she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
He smiled. “Yeah, I know what you mean. There’s no love quite like the love you feel for your kids, is there?”
It was nice to talk to someone who understood how hard it was to be a single parent, to be everything your child needed while trying to maintain your identity. “Definitely not. When she was born, I thought about all of the things I’d have to teach her. But I never considered all the things she’d have to teach me.”
“Such as?”
I brought the glass to my lips, concealing my grin. “Patience.”
“Amen to that,” he said, chuckling.
“She tries my patience just about every day, but I wouldn’t trade a single second of my time with her for anything.”
“Do you and her dad share custody?”
“We have sort of an informal arrangement.” I wasn’t interested in getting into the dirty details with a stranger, which was the reason I’d deflected his earlier question about Jason. “He’s a part of Char’s life and I am grateful for that. I know a lot of guys bail on their kids. At least Jason hasn’t done that.” Char would have been devastated had the end of marriage meant the end of her relationship with her father.
“How is she handling the separation?” Mike asked. “My kids were much older when my ex and I split. So it was easier to make them understand. Besides, they felt the tension, heard us arguing, so they knew things weren’t good.”
“It’s true what they say about kids being resilient. She’s handled it a lot better than I thought she would.”
I set aside the remainder of my wine, accepting the waiter’s offer of coffee instead, but declining dessert.
When we were alone again, I explained, “She has a great support system, so I’m sure that helps. She’s really close with my parents, and she loves the new neighborhood, especially Lizzie’s little girl. They became fast friends.”
Mike grinned. “She’s a doll. Both of Liz’s kids are great.”
“She said you let her bring them into the daycare at the gym sometimes, when her babysitter bails on her. That’s nice of you.”
He raised a broad shoulder. “It’s no big deal. I know how hard it can be trying to juggle work and kids. Especially without a partner. Liz’s great at what she does. I’m just happy to have her on board.”
It seemed to me Mike and Liz would be perfect for each other, so I had to ask, “You two are just friends?”
He laughed. “I have a policy against dating my employees. Let’s just say I had a bad experience once, learned that lesson the hard way.”
I could certainly understand the need for a policy like that, but he was missing out an opportunity to date a great woman. Assuming Lizzie was interested in him as more than a friend, which was unlikely since she’d been the one to suggest I go out with him.
“If you were to bend the rules…” I smiled, letting him fill in the blank. “Or if you and Lizzie had met elsewhere, would you have asked her out?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, grimacing. “I can already tell this isn’t going to lead to a second date if you’re already trying to pawn me off on your friend.”
I leaned forward, touching his hand. “Please understand. I think you’re a great guy, but at best, I’m only interested in something casual right now. Liz suggested you might be interested in the same. That’s why I’m here.”
“Fair enough,” he said, squeezing my hand before releasing it. “And I appreciate your honesty. If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s women who play games.”
“So, about Lizzie? Are you interested in her?” I didn’t know why I was pressing him, since Lizzie had never given me any reason to think she might be interested in her boss. They just seemed so perfect for each other.
“Maybe.” He stirred milk into his coffee. “She’s obviously beautiful, not to mention sweet and smart. We have a lot in common since we’re both wellness fanatics.”
“I could put in a good word for you,” I said, testing the waters. “You know, if you think you might like to bend the rules for her.”
“This might be the strangest first date I’ve ever been on,” he said, frowning. “The fact that you’re trying to set me up with Liz must mean you’re interested in someone else too.” He grinned at my look of surprise, before snapping his fingers. “I knew it! Who is he?”
I blushed, dipping my head. I could try to deny it, but what would be the point? I wasn’t ashamed of my feelings for Gabe, even if they weren’t being reciprocated. “My next
door neighbor and I have developed a friendship since I moved in,” I admitted. “I knew him before actually. My ex works for him.”
“Are they friends?” he asked, seeming genuinely curious.
“Yeah, you could say that. I know what you’re thinking,” I said, raising my hand before he could warn me off. “That’s a recipe for disaster. And you’re probably right, but the chances of it going anywhere are slim to none.”
“Why is that?”
“Gabe doesn’t want to be the reason Jason and I don’t reconcile.”
“Is he the reason?”
I considered whether I would have felt differently if I hadn’t moved in next door to him. “My marriage had been over for a while. I think I was just in denial about it. I focused so much time and attention on being a good mom that being a good wife wasn’t as high on the priority list as it should have been.”
I wasn’t about to tell Mike that Jason had cheated on me. I didn’t want to sound like a victim, nor did I want to badmouth Char’s dad to a stranger.
“That happens to the best of us,” he said, inclining his head. “Work, chauffeuring the kids, paying the bills, it all somehow takes precedence over maintaining a strong marriage. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” I’d learned a valuable lesson with Jason. If I ever walked down the aisle again, it would be with the intent to make my family, including my marriage, my top priority.
“In the end, that’s really all you have. The kids grow up and start a life of their own. You retire or sell the business you spent a lifetime building and you’re facing retirement. Without your life partner, you’re facing a lot of lonely days and nights.”
I really felt for Mike, who’d been alone a lot longer than I had, with two kids who were visiting colleges in the fall. At least I had a lot of years before I had to worry about having an empty nest.
“I guess that’s why it’s important to choose wisely,” I said, sighing. “And make time for the little things in a marriage, like date nights, and weekend getaways.” Jason and I hadn’t done either during our marriage and we’d eventually paid the price.
“You know, my friend Ryker was saying just the other day that—”
“Ryker?” Since it wasn’t a very common name, I had to ask. “Ryker Steele?”
“Yeah. You know him?”
I didn’t know if I should mention Ryker’s connection to my next door neighbor, but since Mike and I had already concluded we’d never be more than friends, I didn’t see the harm. “My next door neighbour Gabe is Ryker’s brother.”
“Gabe? The guy you’re into?”
“One and the same,” I said, wincing. “I guess it’s true what they say. It is a small world.”
“It sure is.” He shook his head. “Gabe was just promoted to fire chief, wasn’t he?”
“He was.”
At least that meant he didn’t know Gabe well, so our conversation wasn’t likely to get back to the man in question. Unless it travelled through the family grapevine via Ryker. But he didn’t seem like the type to gossip.
“I’ve heard a little about him from his brothers. Kane and Ryker both work out at my gym. Gabe sounds like a good guy.”
“He is.” I reached for my coffee. “I’ve known him a while, but we didn’t become friends until I moved in next door. He’s been great, helping out when I had a plumbing leak and fixing a broken window when a neighbor kid sent his baseball flying through it.” We shared a smile. “Lucky for me he’s pretty handy with a hammer.”
“So, you two are stuck in the friend zone, huh? That sucks.”
“Kind of like you and Lizzie, you mean?” I was determined the next date he would be going on was with my good friend, assuming she was interested in dating her boss.
“It’s different with us,” he argued. “She works for me. If things didn’t work out, that could get pretty ugly.”
“And living next door to one another after a failed relationship wouldn’t be messy?” Even though Gabe hadn’t said as much, I suspected that was another reason he was reluctant to get involved with me.
“I guess you have a point.” He finished off his drink before he asked, “Does he know you’re interested in him?”
I sighed, sinking back in my chair. “He knows, but unfortunately, he’s like you, not interested in playing fast and loose with the rules.” At his look of confusion, I explained, “My ex works for him and they’re friends. That’s two strikes.”
“Ah, I think I understand now.”
“Plus, I’m not officially divorced.” I glanced at my bare left hand, thinking it seemed a lot longer than eighteen months since I’d felt like a married woman. Jason and I had been growing apart long before I found out about the affair, probably because he’d been messing around on me for months, maybe even years.
“And Gabe thinks you might reconcile with your husband?”
“He thinks I should.” I chuckled at his stunned expression. “I guess I should take a hint. If he wants me to go back to Jason, he’s just not that into me.” It had been a long time since I’d had a platonic male friend, so it was nice to get Mike’s perspective. “He’s never denied that he’s attracted to me, but I guess he just doesn’t want someone with all my baggage.”
“Does he consider your daughter baggage?” He raised a hand to defend himself when I scowled. “I only ask because I know I’ve dated a few younger women who were put off by the fact that I had kids. Since I spend every weekend with them, they assumed I wouldn’t be as available to them.”
“Gabe gets along great with Char. She adores him and he’s pretty crazy about her too.” My daughter was over at Gabe’s so often I’d had to call her home for dinner twice last week. “See, he just got a new puppy and Char is in love with animals.”
Mike smiled. “I can’t say I blame her. I’m pretty crazy about dogs myself.”
“She’s been begging me for a dog for ages, but since we’re living in a rental house right now, it’s not a great idea.” My parents normally didn’t allow pets in their rental houses, but they’d offered to bend the rules for their granddaughter. I was the lone holdout, wanting to wait until we were more settled before we added a pet to the mix.
“I think part of the reason Gabe got a dog was because he felt bad Char couldn’t have one of her own. Now at least she gets to play with his. She even helps him feed and walk the dog. It’s pretty cute, actually.”
“The fact that he’s so good with your daughter must make it even harder for you to keep your distance from him, assuming that’s what you’ve been trying to do?”
“I don’t exactly try to keep my distance. We are neighbors and friends, after all.” But I’d begun to think it would be best for me to limit the time I spend with him so my heart wouldn’t become any more invested.
He crossed his arms, regarding me carefully. “Did this date have anything to do with him? You wouldn’t have been trying to make him jealous by going out with me, would you?”
Mortified, I covered my face with my hands, hanging my head. “Okay, I admit it. Gabe may have had something to do with it. I’m so sorry. I just—”
Mike laughed before reaching for my hand. “Relax, I’m just teasing you.” His eyes were still twinkling with amusement when I looked up. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Feel free, since you know mine.” Not that my attraction to Gabe was a well-guarded secret. His entire family seemed to know how I felt about him.
“I only asked Liz about you to see how she’d react.”
My jaw dropped as a blush crept up his cheeks. “So you are into her.” I grinned. “I knew it!”
“Guilty as charged,” he said, raising his hands. “When she suggested I take you out, I was so stunned I didn’t know how to react. I figured best-case scenario, we’d hit it off, maybe become friends, and I’d gain more insight into the kind of guy Lizzie is looking for.”
“We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?” I asked, shaking my head. “Doing end runs because we’
re too afraid to go after what we want.”
“Why are you holding back?”
“Good question.” I replayed some of my recent conversations with Gabe in my mind. “I guess, like you, I’m afraid of rejection. If I put it all out there, and tell him he’s the only man I’ve been able to think about for months, he might tell me my feelings run a lot deeper than his.”
“And it’s scary to put yourself out there like that, isn’t it?” Mike asked, as though he could relate. “I know. I see Lizzie at work every day. We talk and laugh all the time. Just knowing that I’m going to get to see her makes my day, yet every time I think about asking her out, I break out in a cold sweat like a teenager.”
I loved that he was being so honest with me, and it was nice to know a mature, confident, successful, intelligent man could be as insecure as a confused, separated mom living on a budget.
“You should definitely ask her out,” I said, feeling certain my friend would say yes. “You’re her type, for sure.”
“I don’t know,” he said, sighing. “If she didn’t work for me and I didn’t have to worry about seeing her every day if things don’t work out—”
“But what if they do work out?” I argued. “You could have a life partner who is as passionate about your business as you are. How cool would that be?”
“Pretty cool,” he admitted. “Okay, I’ll ask Liz out if you ask Gabe out. Is it a deal?”
I thought about his reaction to my last casual invite. “Uh, I don’t think—”
“Come on, you’re all about taking chances, aren’t you? Or you can’t take your own advice?”
I knew he was just goading me, but he had a valid point. How could I tell him to take a chance on Lizzie if I wasn’t willing to put myself out there for Gabe? “Fine,” I said, extending my hand across the table for him to shake. “It’s a deal. You ask Liz out and I’ll ask Gabe out.”
Chapter Four
Gabe
I was washing my truck in the driveway the morning after Kendra’s date when she stepped outside holding her daughter’s hand. She looked so damned beautiful in cut-off jeans shorts and a black tank top, revealing just enough bronzed skin to make my mouth water. I was glad I had my sunglasses on to hide my reaction.
Gabe (Steele Brothers #6) Page 3
