Maybe I needed to pay better attention when I went into the Kettle, figure out what this girl’s story was. The last thing I needed was Jensen getting caught up in another dangerous situation an employee dumped on her doorstep.
Irma settled into the seat next to Sarah and grinned at me. “How ya doing, hot stuff?”
Jensen, who had just taken a sip of water, started choking.
I patted her on the back. “Are you okay?”
Jensen wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I’m fine.” She glared at her grandmother. “Or I would be if someone would keep table conversation appropriate.”
Irma took a sip of wine. “Oh, don’t be such a stick in the mud. I’m allowed to appreciate a fine piece of man meat.”
I chuckled. “I feel so used.”
Irma pointed at me with a butter knife. “Buck up, sonny, and take it as a compliment. I’ve got good taste.”
Dinner passed in its usual fare. Multiple loud conversations going on at once. Lots of laughter. Delicious food. And Jensen at my side. I reached under the table and squeezed her hand. Her eyes met mine and held, so much passing between us. Some I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
“Noah, it’s almost time to get ready for bed.” Andrew stood and gestured for his grandson to rise.
“Aw, man,” Noah pouted. “Can’t Mom and Tuck take me?”
My eyes widened. Noah usually asked for Walker on nights like this. “Of course, we can.” The table was more silent than usual as Jensen and I rose and left with Noah. I wondered if others were starting to put the pieces together.
We headed across the gravel drive. I held one of Noah’s hands, and Jensen held the other. The boy swung between us every few steps, chattering away the whole time.
Jensen unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Noah, run upstairs and put on PJs and brush your teeth. Then Tuck and I will come and read to you.”
We stood in the entryway while Noah ran upstairs. Drawers opened and closed. Water began running. Jensen and I stayed in place. Taking in the sweet simplicity of the moment.
“I’m ready,” Noah called.
We headed upstairs. Noah wanted me to read him a book about Muhammad Ali, and Jensen to read him one about mountain lions. Then it was time for bed.
I ruffled Noah’s hair. “Goodnight, little man.”
Noah yawned. “Love you, Tuck.”
A fist clamped around my heart. “Love you, too.” The words came out choked, but they were there. This precious boy loved me. And I wanted nothing more than to give that back to him. To be the man he could depend on. That fist in my chest tightened again as visions of all the ways my father had let me down filled my mind.
I shook my head, trying to clear it as I forced myself to follow Jensen down the stairs. I could do this. I wasn’t my father.
Jensen paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Thanks for being so good with him.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s the best.”
She shuffled a little closer to me. “I think so. I wish you could stay.”
I swept my lips against Jensen’s. “I do, too.” I kissed each temple, then her forehead. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll call you when I get home.” I gave her a wicked grin. “Maybe we can have a little phone action.”
Jensen fisted my shirt. “I guess I better go get that toy out of my nightstand.”
My jaw fell open. “You don’t have…”
She winked at me. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I cutthe engine on my truck. Other than the front porch light, the entire house was dark. I realized in that moment that it looked fucking lonely. And that’s what my life had been. Sure, I’d had women warming my bed. I went to family dinners at the Coles’, I saw my mom, I shot the shit with my co-workers. But I’d kept everyone at arm’s length.
Until Jensen had wormed her way into my life and into my fucking heart. I guess it was nothing new. She’d always been there. Knowing me more deeply than anyone else. Seeing things others glossed over. But since we’d started this thing between us, it was like she’d come in and turned on the lights. Suddenly, I could see everything more clearly.
