Chapter Four
“HELLO?” I CROAK.
“Hey, when are you going for your run today?”
“Ren?”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. But we just said goodbye like four hours ago. Don’t you sleep?”
“Yes. Been there, done that. I’m ready to go on my run. Want to go together?”
“I’m hanging up now. Call me in another five hours.
” I tap End Call and toss my phone on the nightstand.
It lands on the letter from Quinn that I forgot to put away in the nightstand drawer last night.
I may or may not have read it several times before finally falling asleep. My cheeks feel crusty from tears.
I collapse onto my pillow, in desperate need of more sleep. My feline friend hisses her disapproval at being disturbed in the middle of her all-day-long nap.
She’s so in love with me. She’s just playing hard to get.
My lips form into a smile. My last thought as I fell asleep last night was wondering if Ren would call, wondering if I’d ever hear from him again.
The answer is yes. I tell myself I’m only happy because I need a friend. I think I even fool myself into believing it.
Doesn’t Ren sleep in on Saturday mornings?
No, of course not. He has kids. Josie and Jordyn never slept in either.
He probably only managed about two hours of sleep. We stayed at the pancake place way too late. Talking. Laughing.
It was amazing.
Now he’s calling. Even after meeting the real me. Flaws and all.
Huh. Maybe he wants to vanquish my inner monster.
Or maybe he wants to fix me.
Neither one will go well.
REN SHOWS UP on my doorstep five hours later on the dot. I throw open my door and scowl at the chipper man already jogging in place.
“Do you always open your door to strangers? You do realize that’s not safe,” he says, not even breathing hard.
“Are you an annoying morning person? If so, we can’t be friends,” I tell him.
“There’s the amazingly pleasant girl I met last night. I knew you were still in there somewhere.”
I flash him a fake grin. “You get me.”
“By the way, it’s afternoon.”
His smile is huge and charming. My heart skips a few beats of its own accord. His hair is windblown, not the perfectly styled look from last night, but I like it. He’s looking smart in slim-fitting running pants and a tight t-shirt that doesn’t hide a single bulging muscle.
I place my hands on my hips. “By the way, I’m not a girl, I’m a woman.”
“I’m well aware. Now get ready, let’s go. We need to run off those pancakes.” He claps his hands. “And molten chocolate lava cake.”
“All your fault, I might add.”
“The fork was in your hands. Just saying.” He waves a hand in the air like he’s dismissing what I said.
I’m not really sure what’s happening here. I only know that I like it, and I don’t want it to end. Ren makes me happy. “Come in before I slam the door on your smug face.” That’s me saying “I like you.”
He makes a show of holding his heart. “Love your sweet nothings, Bree. I’m addicted already.”
Huh. He likes me in return. Sarcasm and all. Go figure. “I’m prepared to share them often.”
“Counting on it.”
He slows to a walk, then picks up the pile of boxes on my doorstep. He hands them to me as he enters my townhome. “Your deliveries.”
I may or may not have a shopping problem. “Just supporting the economy.” I like nice things. I need to look professional at work.
“Doing a good job at it too.” Ren’s eyes wander my personal space. He smells of sweat and his divine cologne, an appealing combination of maleness. “Does anyone live here?”
I shrug. “I like the model home look.”
“You achieved it. It’s beautiful in here.”
Mandy is immediately at his side, rubbing herself against his legs and purring. The traitor.
She runs away from me. I’m convinced she senses I’m evil.
Ren picks her up and rubs her neck in ways that make me swallow. Hard. Mandy’s purr is loud in the silent room.
“Who’s this?” he asks.
“Mandy, my new cat. I bought her at the pet store several weeks ago.” Because the silence in my house was killing me.
“We’re still getting to know each other, but she’s great so far.
She sleeps all day, plays all night. She’s independent, she leaves me alone, and doesn’t listen to a thing I say. Best companion I’ve ever had.”
“All the traits that women hate in men. Go figure.”
I’m tired and grumpy from staying out all night, but Ren already has me laughing. He has magical powers. Duly noted. I should be wary of him. Why aren’t I?
“Did you bring your ax?” I question to hide the crazy emotions he evokes in me.
“Forgot it again. Next time.”
“I didn’t see your car outside.”
“I ran here. I only live a few blocks over.”
Something he didn’t mention last night when he dropped me off. “Where are your children?”
“With my parents. They’re at the zoo today. I have to be at the restaurant in three hours. So go change, let’s get going.”
I place my hands on my hips. “I never said I’d go running with you. You’re assuming a lot.”
Ren clears his throat and formally asks me, “Do you want to go running with me today, Bree? Please? It would make me the happiest man in the world to go running with my new friend. Got it? Friend. Stop freaking out.”
The tone of his voice alone makes me want to say yes.
He put emphasis on the word friend. Message received. It’s what I needed to hear in order to allow myself to enjoy his company. Because I want to enjoy his company far too much. Visions of collapsing on the couch to enjoy a make-out session are dancing in my head. No sugarplums in sight. “Okay.”
“So go change!” he hollers, with a grin to remove the sting.
I run up the stairs, trying to hide my unending smile. While I get dressed, my cheeks start to hurt.
Good job sticking to your goals, Bree. Friendship with Ren is a sure thing. More? I’m scared it will eventually be a given.
“THERE’S A PARK just down the street with a jogging path. I usually run there. Sound good?” Ren asks, his breathing hard but even, as we keep pace with each other.
“I usually run up and down the main thoroughfare. I like a straight shot.”
Ren comes to a sudden stop. When I realize he’s not beside me, I stop too. “What’s wrong?”
“You run down Keller Road?” He’s so serious, it takes me aback.
“Yeah, there’s a bike lane. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. The traffic is horrible. It’s not safe, Bree.”
Odd. This is the umpteenth time he’s mentioned safety. Unsafe parking lot. Unsafe tow truck driver. Unsafe Hood to Coast run. Unsafe door answering. Unsafe running route. I’m sensing a theme. I hold out my hands. “I’m still here. Obviously, it is safe.”
“That’s not funny. Promise me you won’t run there anymore.”
“You’re worried about my safety?” I can’t hide the shock I feel.
“Yes. That road is constantly congested. The drivers are often careless.”
“We’re downtown. Everywhere is like that,” I point out.
It’s been a long time since anyone has worried about me. I don’t want anyone telling me what to do, but I rather like his concern.
I give in. “Okay, I won’t run there anymore. I just moved to this area of Portland. I didn’t know about the jogging paths in the park. Show them to me.” Funny Ren is completely gone, his face a hard mask. “Ren?”
He lets out his breath and nods. “Okay.”
We start to run again, and I’m reminded that I really don’t know this man at all.
“Sorry I got all intense on you,” he says after a few minutes.
“That’s okay. Ax murderers are psychopaths. I expected weird behavior from you. Just promise me one thing.”
“Whatever you want,” he says.
I’m glad he can’t read my mind because “whatever I want” would make him blush. “There will be no ‘Here’s Johnny’ moments.”
In response, Ren simply laughs. Best sound ever.
“How early were you up this morning?” I’m actually a morning person, but not after only a few hours of sleep.
“Crack of dawn. Spent the morning with my kids, watching cartoons on Netflix and binge eating sugary cereal.”
“The spoon was in your hands.” Love throwing that joke back in his face.
“It was. No one to blame but myself.”
Between pancakes and sweetened cereal, I’m surprised he’s not in a sugar-induced coma. “No wonder you wanted to get your run in today.”
“Yep, I could feel fat cells planning a party. I had to nip them in the bud before they got out of hand.”
There’s not an ounce of fat on him. When he runs in front of me, the view is pretty darn good too. It’s impossible not to notice.
“You’re a busy guy, aren’t you?” I comment, thinking about how hard it must be for him to divide his time between work and family.
“Life’s a little crazy for me right now. I’m at the restaurant six days a week. Between that and my family, I don’t have much spare time. Sunday is family day, giving me time to give my children the attention they deserve. I refuse to answer my phone on Sundays, just so you know.”
I wasn’t planning on calling him. This is his show.
I’m just along for the ride, seeing where it will take me.
I’m enjoying the feeling of being pursued.
So refreshing. Even if I’m just being pursued as a friend.
He sure made that clear. Yet he also made it clear he’s a fan of adoption, which implies a serious relationship.
So which is it? Friend or happy couple with kids?
Look at that. We’re already a conflicted couple after just meeting last night.
We’re quiet for the majority of our run, keeping our breathing as even as possible. The silent camaraderie is nice. When we’ve completed our five miles for the day, we walk for a bit to cool down. Then we decide to take a break on a park bench.
But before we do, Ren says, “Hang on a sec.”
Then he checks the bench to ensure it’s stable on all four legs, and uses a stick to shoo away non-existent spiderwebs. He even checks the wooden planks with his foot to make sure they’re not rotten.
“Okay, we’re good. Portland weather is hard on wood. It rots easily.”
Huh. Chivalry is not dead. Chivalry is a little weird, though.
I try my best to ignore what just happened, but I can’t. “Are you some kind of Safety Nazi?”