How to Fall For a Rockstar: a single mom, grumpy sunshine, small town, rockstar romantic comedy (Cas

Chapter 7

Put your foot in your mouth – When you say things you should know better than to say

Leia

Ifly past a car parked perpendicular to the highway. Crap. Was it a cop car? I glance down at the odometer. I’m going eighty. Fifteen miles over the speed limit.

Brody’s fancy car makes it too easy to speed. I barely notice how fast I’m going. Too bad ‘I barely noticed how fast I’m going’ won’t get me out of a speeding ticket.

My hands squeeze the steering wheel. Getting a ticket will slow me down more than driving the speed limit. I force myself to lift my foot from the pedal. Five over the speed limit, I negotiate with myself.

I hate how I had to leave my daughter with Fender. A man who can barely stand the sight of me. He already thinks I’m a bad parent. And now he probably thinks even worse of me.

But what else was I supposed to do? Force Isla to ride in the car with me to Denver and back? She gets car sick. She would have been miserable.

I would have preferred to have any other person in Winter Falls care for my baby girl, but there was no one else. Not one single person answered their phone when I rang them. I’d say it was a conspiracy except I’m certain my life is not important enough to build a whole conspiracy around.

By the time I reach the town limits of Winter Falls, my hands hurt from gripping the steering wheel and my jaw is aching from how clenched it is.

I blow out a breath and slow to the speed limit. Nearly there. A few more minutes and my baby will be in my arms again.

Note to self. If I ever ask someone I barely know to babysit again, get their phone number so I can check in from time to time.

I’m barely stopped in front of my house when I fling the door open and jump out of the car. I rush to Fender’s house and knock on the door.

When he doesn’t answer in two seconds, I knock again.

The door flies open. “Quiet.”

Oh no, he didn’t. He did not tell me to quiet down. No one tells me to quiet down. Not anymore.

“You’re not the boss of me,” I hiss at him.

He points to the sofa where Isla’s sleeping.

Shit. “Sorry.”

I walk to the sofa and bend to pick my daughter up, but Fender nudges me out of the way. “I got this.”

He gathers Isla in his arms and marches to the front door. I inhale a deep breath to stop myself from crying. All I’ve ever wanted is for Isla to have a father. A father who loves her. A father who carries her to bed when she falls asleep in front of the television.

I realize Fender is already halfway to my house and force my feet to move. I rush in front of him and unlock the door before motioning him inside.

“Bedroom,” he rumbles.

I lead him toward Isla’s room and he places her on the bed. She curls up on her side, fast asleep. She didn’t notice me coming home or Fender carrying her. When my girl’s out, she’s out.

I kiss her forehead before following Fender to the front door.

“Thanks for watching my girl today.”

He scowls. “Someone had to since all you do is work.”

I rear back. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You work too much.”

He turns and begins walking back to his house. I shut the door behind me and rush after him.

“Not so fast, mister. Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m the man who cared for your child for the past six hours. Where were you? Oh wait. I know. Working.”

My nostrils flare. How dare he?

“You hardly talk and this is how you decide to break your silence? By being a complete and utter asshole?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Classic. You blame someone else since you can’t accept responsibility for your daughter’s welfare.”

“I accept responsibility for my daughter’s welfare.” I pound my chest. “I’m the one who’s been there since day one. I’m the one who’s raised her on my own. It damn well wasn’t her father who took off before she was six months old because ‘babies are hard’. Or my parents who kicked me out when they found out I was pregnant. Never mind I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school.”

“You should work less.”

My word. He’s like a dog with a bone. Good thing I grew up with a Great Dane. I got this.

I stab his chest with my finger. “I work as much as I can to give my daughter everything she wants. How do you think we can afford this house? It’s not because my parents gave me any money or Isla’s dad chipped in. No, this is all my hard work. I will work my fingers to the bone if it means Isla never has to suffer the way I did.”

I realize I’m still touching his chest. In fact, my finger stabbing him has become my hand caressing him. Those muscles feel hard and strong. Strong enough to carry the burdens of the world.

What am I thinking? I yank my hand away.

“What Isla needs is a parent who’s there for her.”

Oh, no he didn’t. He did not presume to know what’s best for my daughter. I feel a muscle tick in my jaw. I wouldn’t be surprised if steam is coming out of my ears.

“Are you saying I’m not there for my daughter?”

He opens his mouth but I slice a hand in the air. I’m talking now.

“I was there when she was teething. I was there when she had colic and screamed all night. I was there when she had explosive diarrhea and our entire apartment smelled rancid. I was there when she had nightmares after my grandparents died.”

“You’ve made your point,” he grumbles.

“I’m not done yet.” I’m on a roll now. “I was there when she graduated from kindergarten. I was there when she got an award for learning her ABCs the fastest of everyone in the class. I was there when she did the citywide track meet and won a bronze medal for the high jump.”

“Those things are all in the past. What about now?”

I consider his neck. It’s big but I bet I could strangle him. Who’s going to stop me? No one, that’s who. I am a mother on a mission.

“It’s a new job. I’ve only been in town for a few months. I need to settle in and train Brody. I’ve never been a personal assistant before. I need to show him I can do the job. Prove to him hiring me wasn’t a mistake even though I have zero experience.

And I can’t lose this job. I can’t afford this house without it. And what kind of job can I get in Winter Falls if he fires me? The town isn’t exactly teeming with businesses searching for managers.”

Hold on. Why am I explaining myself to him?

“You know what. Never mind. From now on, I’ll make sure Isla doesn’t bother you.”

I begin stomping toward my house.

“I like Isla.”

The implication is clear. My daughter he likes. Me? Not so much. Yeah. Yeah. Mr. Grumpy Rockstar I got it already. The stay away vibes couldn’t have been more obvious.

“She’s very likable,” I holler and keep moving.

“She’s welcome at my house anytime.”

Has he lost his dang mind? I whirl around on him.

“You seriously think I will allow my daughter to hang around a man who hates me?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Who thinks I’m a bad parent?”

“Maybe I was—

“I can’t believe I actually took the time to get you a present as a thank you,” I mumble as I dig in my purse. I find the package and throw it at him. He catches it. Of course, he does. He can’t fumble and look like a fool for one minute? Give me one second of glory? Is it too much to ask?

“What’s this?”

“What do you think? The packaging isn’t some elaborate surprise. Beef jerky.”

“Beef jerky?”

I roll my eyes. “You can’t buy beef jerky in Winter Falls. Something about the packaging being bad for the environment. I don’t know. I thought you’d enjoy it since you’re eating all the time. You don’t want it? Give it back to me.”

I hold out my hand but he retreats a step.

“Thank you.”

“Whatever.”

“I’ll see you around.”

Not if I see him first. I wasn’t kidding. I’m done with the grumpy neighbor. I don’t care how much Isla likes him. Or how sexy he is. Or how much I long to touch his naked body. Or how often I wake up sweaty in the middle of the night from dreaming of him.

I will not put up with a man who criticizes my life choices. Not anymore.