Chapter 3
Maren held the compact makeup mirror, staring at the damage the airbag had done to her face. Her entire body throbbed, especially her thigh, where she’d gotten twenty-five stitches total between the two cuts.
The last thing she remembered before the crash was leaving O’Leary’s. The worst part was she struggled to piece together the events after. Shea had filled her in on how a stranger had saved her life.
Now, twenty-four hours later, she still hadn’t met the man who had pulled her from the wreckage.
Her mother was finally going to have her way and Maren would come face-to-face with the Arthur Knight, the perfect specimen of a man and a gentleman, according to her mother. She couldn’t shut up about him and how wonderful he was with the dog and all the little things that needed to be done around the marina.
“I wish Shea could have returned and gotten us, or even one of your neighbors.” Maren knew she should have kept her mouth shut. “I hate to put this man out again, considering he put his life in danger to save mine.”
“All the more reason to thank him properly and in person.” Her mom tilted her head, lowering her chin as if to scold Maren.
“I agree, but we’re asking for another favor just to say thank you. I would have rather done it a different way.” And not in front of her mother, who carried a Tupperware container full of cookies because her baked goods solved all the world”s problems. But that wasn’t the issue. Her mother, bless her kind heart, wanted to control Maren’s love life. She wanted Tom out and this Arthur guy in.
That’s not how life worked.
“He offered, dear, when he drove me home yesterday.”
Maren closed the compact. No amount of makeup could get rid of the dark bruises under her eyes, the cracked lip, or the swollen cheeks. The only way to describe what she looked like was to say she wrestled with an airbag…
And lost.
Ding. Ding.
“Is that your phone?” Maren asked. It was the third freaking time the thing went off and each time, her mom glanced at it as if it were more important than anything else. She was like a teenager who needed to be grounded for rude behavior.
Her mother set the cookies on the hospital bed and reached deep in her purse. “I set different ringtones for texts, email, Facebook, and Instagram. That is an instant message.”
Maren shook her head. Most of her friends couldn’t get their parents on social media. She couldn’t get her mother off.
“Jefferson is here.”
“Jefferson?” Maren questioned.
“You remember Jefferson, don’t you?”
“As in the man who used to manage boat sales for us?” She reached into the back of her mind. It had been a few years since Jefferson had worked at the marina, but he didn’t stand out in her memory one way or the other.
Her mother pushed her spectacles down on her nose and peered over the rims. “Not us, since you turned your back on the family business, but yes. That Jefferson.”
“Mom, why do you have to be like that? I didn’t turn my back on anything. I followed what I wanted to do with my life.” Or what she thought she wanted to do. Her dreams weren’t all that big, but they included cities, travel, and eventually, marriage and family. That all came crashing down a few months ago. Now it was time to shift gears and assess what this older version of herself really wanted out of life.
“Because that’s what happened.” She tapped away on her cell, smiling like a kid given the keys to a candy store. “You left, making it clear you wanted absolutely nothing to do with the marina. It didn’t just break my heart; it broke your father’s.”
“No, it didn’t.” She reached out, pushing her mom’s hands to her lap. “Daddy wanted me to be my own person. I understand you’re upset I didn’t come home for any length of time after he died, but I have a career. A life. And you and Dad did talk about selling, which is still an option.”
“That’s not one I want to entertain. Not while you’re?—”
Ding. Ding.
Her mother glanced at her cell. “I need to answer Jefferson.” She lifted her gaze and smiled. “He’s really a sweet man.”
“You’re dating?”
The corner of her mother’s mouth twitched. “One of the reasons I want a partner in the marina. It will give me more time for something like that.”
Maren’s pulse raced. Not so much because her mother had put herself out there. No. That Maren encouraged. Her mother was a spry sixty-four-year-old woman with many years ahead of her, and Maren wanted her mother to love again. She was too young not to.
“Mom. Selling the marina would give you all the free time and a nice nest egg to work with,” Maren said.
Her mother glared over her glasses. “I’d rather have a partner who did the grunt work while I took in the profits.”
“All right, but what do you know about this Hudson Nally person?” Maren barely began researching the man when she’d gotten in the car to drive south. Her initial Google search yielded very little, which made her nervous. She figured he”d be all over the internet if he was such a big-time, successful investor.
“He seems like a levelheaded businessman with creative ideas to increase profits.”
“I don’t want you rushing into anything.”
Her mother shook her head. “I’m not stupid, little one. That’s why I wanted you to look at things, but ultimately, it’s my decision unless you want to come back, and then that’s an entirely different conversation.”
Leave it to her mother to drop the proverbial hint. Of course, when she found out Maren didn’t have a job or a boyfriend, her mother would hit even harder. “Let me take a look at things tomorrow, okay?”
“Oh, honey. Take a few days to heal. That accident was nasty. I hope your job will give you more time off.” Her mother dumped her phone in her purse. “I won’t be out too late tonight, but don’t wait up.”
“Wait, what? You’re leaving me?” She blinked, staring at her mother. This wasn’t like her. Not one bit. Growing up, her mom had been the kind of loving parent who kissed every boo-boo. Drove her to every function. Called every one of her friends’ parents to make sure an adult would be supervising when she went to a party. Maren couldn’t believe she would up and leave her in her time of need.
“I’ve got a date. With Jefferson.” Her mother smiled. “Wasn’t it you who said I should get out more often?”
“But now? Seriously, Mom. You’re going to go out with Jefferson and send me home alone with a stranger?” Maren muttered, although she knew how her mother operated, and it was generally underhanded. Even so, her mother’s heart was always in the right place.
“And if I told you I had a date, but then canceled it to take you home from the hospital, what would you have done?”
“Taken an Uber. Or called Shea.”
Her mother smiled. “But you wanted to thank someone. I’m sure Arthur will be here soon,” she said before kissing Maren’s cheek. “I’m so glad you’re okay and even happier to have you home.”
She wrapped her arms around her mom, sucking in a deep breath. “It’s good to be back, Mom.”
“There’s food in the fridge. I won’t be late, I promise.”
Maren leaned back, fluffing up the pillow. “Don’t you dare make me wait up for you. And no kissy-kissy at the front door.”
Her mother laughed shyly. “It’s still new. Besides, I haven’t kissed a man other than your father in thirty-five years. But if another man’s lips need to touch mine, I think I could tolerate Jefferson’s.”
“Go for it, Mom. Dad would want you to go on with your life.”
“That is the truest statement on this planet.” Her mother patted the box of cookies. “Arthur is a good man with a kind heart. Give him a chance.”
“Mom, I’ve got to tell you something. Tom and?—”
“I know you broke up with Tom.” Her mom squeezed her ankle.
Maren opened her mouth, but her mother cupped her cheeks.
“I’ve known for a while and chose not to say anything because I didn’t want to upset you. I might not have liked him that much, but I love you, and all I want is for you to be happy.”
Maren sucked in a breath as she released her mother, tucking her knees to her chest. “Did you know I quit my job, too?”
Her mother cocked her head. “That, Tom did not tell me.”
“You spoke to Tom?” Bile bubbled up Maren’s throat. “When did that happen and you should have told me.” That underhanded snake.
“He called me looking to talk to you a few months ago, which is how I found out.” She lowered her chin. “He thought you might have come home when you disappeared for a few days.”
Maren swallowed her breath. “Well, I just quit my job last week.” She lifted the lid off the Tupperware container and pulled out a cookie, breaking it in half. “And don’t go getting any ideas about me coming home and taking over the family business.” She shoved half the cookie in her mouth, her eyes watering from delight.
Cookies did make things better.
Her mother raised her hands. “I’ve had ideas since the day you left, but I won’t nag you.”
“Yeah, right.”
“At least not today.” Her mother glanced at her phone. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I would like to thank Arthur properly, so do you have any ideas other than just thanking him for the ride home?”
“The only thing I know about him is that he’s ex-Air Force, works for the Aegis Network, is a volunteer fireman, he loves fishing, and Shasta follows him around like she’s in heat.” Her mother fanned her face. “And he’s damn good-looking.”
Maren watched her mother disappear down the hallway as she drew her good leg up, hugging it, resting her chin on her knee. She closed her eyes and let the details of the sexy man holding a fishing lure enter her brain.
She had to admit, Arthur was hot.
And he’d saved her life. Had he not left O’Leary’s when he had, she might not have survived.
In the last twenty-four hours, she’d learned the man who had hit her fled in his vehicle, and the police were still looking for him. They didn’t have many leads since the car had been stolen.
She shivered.
No boyfriend. No job.
And now, no car.
Tap. Tap.
She blinked open her eyes, tilting her head toward the door. Swallowing her gasp, she tried not to gawk at the sexy man standing in the doorway. He sported a black T-shirt and a pair of cutoff jean shorts that showed off his tanned, muscular legs.
And freaking flip-flops.
“Arthur?” she questioned, staring into his dark eyes.
“That would be me.” He leaned against the doorjamb, folding his arms across his broad chest. “You must be Maren.” His smile brightened the room. Her mother was wrong about him being good-looking.
He was fucking gorgeous with his five o’clock shadow, high cheekbones, and those damn intense eyes that captured her gaze and wouldn’t let go.
An overwhelming sense of gratitude dripped over her body like a melting piece of chocolate left out in the sun. A sob threatened to bubble up from her gut. “I don’t know how to thank you for what you did,” she whispered, letting her feet hit the floor.
He shrugged. “Just doing my job.”
“You weren’t on duty, and you certainly didn’t have to come all this way to bring me back to my mother’s.”
“Not a big deal,” he said, taking a few steps into the room. “You look a lot better than when I pulled you from that car.”
She smiled, grabbing the side of her cheek, feeling the swollen flesh. “Not by much.”
When he grinned, letting out a small laugh, his eyes lightened, becoming a warm, hazelnut color.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Just have to let the nurse know my ride is here.” She hit the button on the side of her bed.
A long, awkward silence filled the room. He continued to lean against the doorjamb, arms folded across his chest, looking down at the floor, but every once in a while, he glanced up, always catching her staring at him.
She’d never been a shy girl, nor had she ever been at a loss for words. Then again, she’d never nearly died before.
“Will you let me buy you dinner or something? I know I can do nothing to express my gratitude adequately.”
He shook his head. “Really, it’s not necessary, but thank you,” he said in a soft, but distant tone.
She was about to push, but the nurse peeked her head in. “Are you ready to go?”
Maren nodded.
“Good, an orderly can wheel you down to patient discharge.”
“Do I have to go out in a wheelchair?” She placed her hand over the bandage on her leg, knowing walking would hurt.
“Hospital rules,” the nurse said.
A young man rolled a chair into the room.
Before she lifted her butt off the bed, Arthur was at her side, one hand holding her arm as he practically shoved the poor orderly out of the way to hold the chair steady.
“I can take her down. My truck is right at the discharge doors.” He handed her the container of cookies.
“Sorry, hospital policy,” the orderly said.
“You can come with us if you must, but I’m pushing her.” Arthur stood behind her and gently guided the chair toward the door.
The orderly tossed his hands in the air, shaking his head.
Had Arthur not saved her life, and if she knew him better, she’d be giving him a piece of her mind for being rude. Of course, she was more than curious as to why he’d behaved ungentlemanly.
She glanced over her shoulder with a narrow-eyed stare, catching his gaze.
He shrugged. “Your mother told me to make sure I took good care of you or Shasta wouldn’t be able to go fishing with me anymore, and she’s my good luck charm.”
“So, you’re doing this just to spend time with my mother’s dog?”
“That, and your mother gives me a discounted rate on my boat slip and storage.”
She hadn’t meant to laugh, but it was impossible not to when he flashed her a huge, cheeky smile.
The orderly followed them through the hospital corridors and down the elevator until they reached the circle where discharged patients were picked up.
“This is me.” Arthur opened the passenger door of the blue pickup she’d seen at O’Leary’s the day before. He waved to the security guard on the other end of the circle as he tossed the box of cookies on the center console.
“Did you bribe him to be able to park here?”
Arthur laughed. “He’s retired from Delta Force, and I served with him on a few missions. Saved his sorry ass from a burning airplane while in the air.” He tucked her legs into the car, being extra careful with her injured one as he gently let it rest on the seat, before slamming the door shut.
She watched him jog around the hood, his short dark hair soaking in the hot Florida sun. He couldn’t be any taller than five foot ten, and while he had well-defined muscles, he wasn’t bulky. The way the sun stroked his skin sent her hormones into high gear.
Stifle it.
“Please let me buy you dinner,” she said as he climbed into the cab and turned the key. “You have to let me repay you somehow.”
He tapped the cookie container with his finger. “This is payment enough.”
“My mother made those, not me, and trust me, you wouldn’t want to eat mine. I didn’t inherit her baking skills.” She stared at his profile as he drove, one arm resting on the open windowsill, the other drooped over the steering wheel. She remembered seeing him at O’Leary’s and noted his serious expression. She remembered blinking her eyes open after the accident and his serious-laden look had been the first thing she’d focused on. In the last half hour, he mostly sported a solemn expression, though when he smiled, something magical happened like when a magician made something disappear and the audience gasped with pleasure.
“I insist,” she said.
“If you insist, how about I cook you dinner instead of going out.”
She let out a long sigh. “That’s not me thanking you. That’s you cooking for me.”
“You know, the words thank you work better than going out of your way.” He turned his head and winked as he pulled into the family home, which was located right next to the marina.
Her heart fluttered like a stupid schoolgirl sharing her peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a boy on the playground. “Not when you save someone’s life.”
The truck rolled to a stop in front of the garage. She looked at the window next to the front door. Shasta had her nose against the glass, her tail wagging feverishly like she had done when her father would return home from the boathouse.
Her parents had been quite the team in love and in business, but her father took care of most of the significant financial stuff, while her mother was better with people. Maren glanced at Arthur, wondering how close he’d grown to her mother.
“Has my mother ever discussed with you a man named Hudson Nally?” She swallowed. Her mother would have her head if she knew she was discussing her business with anyone, even if it was utterly obvious her mother adored Arthur.
He shook his head. “No. Why?”
“He’s offering to invest in the marina so she can take more time off.” She shifted in her seat, getting a better look at Arthur.
“She does work too much.” He nodded, lowering his gaze.
“I won’t argue with you there, but I don’t understand why she wants to bring in an investor, and the fact that this guy approached her makes me pause. There are so many con artists out there taking advantage of people like my mom.”
“She’s a smart woman.”
“Oh, I know that. It’s just that she’s also very trusting and not the best with money management.” She pushed open the truck door and slid from the seat, her legs still weak from the accident.
Gripping the handle, she steadied herself on her good leg.
Arthur looped his arm around her middle. “Lean on me,” he said.
She wasn’t about to argue, considering how bad the pain was that shot up her thigh when she put her full weight on it.
“Shasta is going to go nuts,” he said. “Hopefully she won’t jump.”
Maren laughed. “That dog is such a spaz.”
She looped her arm over Arthur’s shoulders, trying not to let him know how much her fingers appreciated the strength in his shoulders.
Or the soft, subtle skin on his waist as her hand accidentally ended up under his shirt.
When they reached the bottom of the porch stairs, Arthur bent down, tucked his arm under her knees, and scooped her to his chest.
“What the—? What are you doing? Put me down,” she protested.
“When we get inside. I don’t want Shasta jumping on your leg and opening one of your wounds. Can you unlock the door?”
She dug into her purse, pulled out the set of keys her mother had given her earlier, and unlocked the door. Shasta yelped, her ass and tail wagging so hard she nearly fell over as she raced through the door, running around Arthur, then rising on her hind legs.
“Down,” Arthur commanded.
Shasta whined, then ran past them, down the stairs, and did a few circles as if she were chasing her tail, before speeding up the stairs and back into the house, stopping right in front of them by the door.
“Sit,” Arthur said.
This time the dog did as she was told.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I think that’s the first time that dog has done anything anyone has ever asked her.”
“Only happens every ten commands.”
Shasta barked once, still wagging her tail, following them into the family room.
Maren didn’t want to admit that she’d prefer to stay in Arthur’s arms as he gently laid her on the sofa in the family room. She half hoped he’d sit down beside her, but instead, Shasta jumped up next to her.
“Get down.” Arthur took Shasta’s collar and gently eased her from the sofa. “Do you need anything? Water? Food?”
“I’m good, thanks.” She fluffed up one of the pillows and shoved it under her knee.
He stood in the middle of the family room, his hands on his hips as he glanced around. “All right, then. I’ll let you get some rest.”
Shasta grunted as she lay down, dropping her snout to the floor.
“I’ll show you out.” Maren shifted, trying to stifle a groan.
“You stay put. I’m going to go fishing. I’ll check on you when I get back.”
Shasta’s head popped up, and her tail thumped the floor the second she heard the word fishing.
“You don’t have to do that.” Maren patted the dog’s head.
“I’m going to be walking right by.” He looked from her to the dog.
Shasta looked up at her as if to ask permission.
“You can go.” Maren kissed the dog’s nose.
Shasta jumped up. If a dog could skip, then that’s what she did on her way to the front door.
“Do you want to come?” Arthur asked.
“Thanks, but I think I’m going to try to take a nap.”
“Are you sure? I feel bad leaving you here alone.”
“I’m exhausted. All I want to do is curl up on this sofa and watch some brainless reality TV.”
He laughed. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Maybe I should leave the dog.”
“No. Please, take her. She’ll drive me insane.”
“All right. Do you have my phone number in case you need something?”
“My mom gave it to me.”
“I’ll see you shortly,” he said.
Maren sat on the sofa for about five minutes after Arthur had left, staring at the ceiling and fanning herself.
The man had made her skin turn to molten lava.
“Come, Shasta.” Arthur patted his leg as he strolled down the dock. “Sorry, we had an uneventful trip. The fish just weren’t biting.”
Shasta trotted alongside him with her tongue hanging out and her tail wagging. She was the happiest, sweetest dog he’d ever met. He wouldn’t mind spending the rest of his days with her, instead of people.
He rounded the corner and headed up toward the house.
Gretchen’s car wasn’t back. He glanced at his watch. It was only eight thirty, but still. It wasn’t like her to be out so often in the evening. Granted, the marina had closed at six and she had a good crew.
But she’d left Maren to fend for herself.
He chuckled.
Gretchen had probably assumed he and Maren would spend the evening together. A wave of guilt washed through his veins. However, Maren had made it clear she wanted to nap. What was he supposed to do, sit there and stare at the walls? She was a grown woman and he didn’t want to be fixed up with anyone.
Not even someone as strikingly gorgeous as Maren.
Shasta raced off ahead and up the steps, circling in a dance by the front door, which opened seconds later.
“Shit,” he mumbled, jogging up the steps. “Down, you damn crazy dog.” He got there just in time to catch Maren before she fell over backward as she hobbled on one leg while Shasta jumped up on her hind legs. “Down. Now.” He grabbed Shasta’s collar. “Come on. Leave Maren alone.”
Shasta whined but raced to the sofa, leaping onto the end and curling up in a ball. She yawned, sighed, and plopped her head on her paws.
“Are you okay?” He held her firmly by the hips.
“I’m fine.” She grimaced.
“Off the sofa, Shasta.” He bent over, looping his arm under Maren’s knees, and hoisted her off the floor.
She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. “Oh my God. What are you doing?”
“Getting you off your feet.” One of the things Arthur’s ex-wife bitched about was his super alpha personality. It drove her crazy. He didn’t agree that he was this ultra-controlling man who lived in the dark ages. He didn’t dictate what she did. Where she went. Whether or not she worked or stayed home. She was her own person and could make her own decisions in life. However, there were a few things that he did go a little overboard with.
Safety, of any kind, was one of them.
However, Michelle saw it differently. If she broke a glass in the kitchen and he lifted her up and placed her ass on the counter, she took it as he was behaving like an old-fashioned stick in the mud. Maybe he was, but he didn’t think wanting to make sure his girl was safe made him a sexist asshole.
“I’m capable of walking.”
“I read the discharge papers. You’re supposed to take it easy for the next few days.” He gave Shasta a good nudge before laying Maren on the edge of the couch. “I’m simply trying to make that easier for you.” He took the pillow and gently placed it under her knee before finding Shasta’s bone. “There you go, girl. Chew on that for a while and leave Maren alone.”
“You’re really good with her,” Maren said. “My mom hasn’t been able to control her since they picked her up from the pound.”
“She’s a good girl. Just needs a little training. I wish I had more time to spend with her. I’ve been a dog lover my entire life. Growing up, we always had at least one, if not two. I’ve meant to get one since I moved here, but my schedule’s been a little crazy.” He pointed toward the kitchen. “Can I get you anything to drink? Or make you anything to eat?”
“Water would be nice, and my mother said there was something in the fridge that all I needed to do was heat up.” She held up her hand. “If you don’t mind, but I don’t want to keep you.”
“It’s no trouble.” He turned, making his way into the galley kitchen. He’d been inside the house several times, helping Gretchen out with a few minor fixes and chores. It was a modest, humble four-bedroom home that was in sore need of a few updates. He yanked open the refrigerator and found a container labeled pasta and shrimp. He popped it in the microwave, enjoying the garlic scent.
“You can bring it over in the Tupperware. No need to dirty up another dish,” she said.
“Sounds good.” He rummaged through the drawers until he found a fork. He took down a glass and filled it with water. The microwave dinged. He strolled into the family room and handed it all to Maren. Her beauty still knocked him senseless. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He glanced over his shoulder. He should leave. Like now. But instead, he eased his ass into the recliner.
“My mom tells me you’re a firefighter and work for some bodyguard-security organization.” She dug her fork into a plump shrimp and stuffed it between her kissable lips.
Fuck. What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn’t remember the last time a girl had him this twisted in knots. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have the occasional fling. Hell, he was a man with physical desires and needs. But he didn’t want the entanglement and he chose the kind of woman he brought into his bed very carefully. They couldn’t be anyone who would get hurt in the process.
That made him a bit of a dick, but at least he was honest.
Maren, from what he knew of her from her mom, wasn’t the kind of girl he could have a casual thing with.
“I do.”
“How long have you been doing that?”
“Well, I was a fire protection specialist in the Air Force, so firefighting has been my career since I joined the military at age eighteen. But I joined the Aegis Network about six months ago.”
“I met Decker Griggs once a few years ago.”
Shasta took her bone and settled in at his feet.
“How’d you cross paths with my boss?”
She rolled her eyes. “My dad knew him and my mother decided to play matchmaker. Let’s just say it didn’t go well.”
Arthur burst out laughing.
“I’m not sure why that’s so funny.”
“Because both Decker and Asher are confirmed bachelors. I’m not sure how your mother managed to get him to agree to go on a date.”
Maren waggled her fork. “That’s the best part. She didn’t. She asked him to come over to discuss a situation and thrust me on him. We went out for drinks and stared at each other with not much to say. He came to my dad’s funeral. We did get a good laugh out of it and he’s a nice man.”
“Decker’s the best. I love working for him, but he doesn’t spend that much time at this office. He’s usually down in Orlando.”
“That’s what he told me. He was only here for a short time, opening up this branch. It meant a lot to my mom that he took the time to fly up here and attend my dad’s services.”
“That’s the kind of guy Decker is.” Arthur nodded. He couldn’t believe how easy it was to chat with Maren. “Your mom mentioned you’re some big financial wiz up in the Big Apple.”
Maren laughed. It was a sweet sound that rolled off his ears like melting ice cream over a waffle cone on a hot summer day. “I worked as a chief risk officer. It has nothing to do with financing and everything to do with assessing and managing cyber risk. My job was to look at the data and present a strategic plan to minimize those risks.”
Arthur first noticed the use of past tense when Maren referenced her job. He understood that she was here for a few days, maybe a week, to help her mom with a few things before going back to work.
But it sounded like she no longer had a job.
However, it wasn’t his place to be nosy, and he wasn”t going to dig that deep—at least not tonight.
“Sounds very high-tech,” he said. “I have a close friend who is a genius when it comes to cyber shit. He’s an IT guru. Darius can hack into any system. It’s actually kind of scary.”
“He’s the guy I’m looking at protecting my company”s clients from.” She set her bowl on the coffee table.
Headlights from a vehicle pierced through the window.
His cue to leave.
“I bet that’s your mom.” He rose and took the dirty dish to the kitchen, rinsed it out, and put it in the dishwasher.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He inched closer to the sofa, resting his hand on her shoulder, and squeezed. “I have a few friends down at the police station. I’ll keep an eye on the investigation and let you know if they find out anything about the person who hit you.”
“I appreciate that.” She sat up taller, lifting her chin. “I wish I could see out the window.”
“Are you trying to spy on your mother?”
“No,” she mumbled. “Okay. Yes.”
He chuckled. “Would you like me to do it for you?”
She cringed. “Do you know how many times my mom stood at that very window when I was in high school, waiting to scare off any boy who dared to kiss me goodnight?”
“I imagine all the time.” He inched closer to the window. Well, it looks like there will be no kissy-face tonight. Your mother shot that down. Just a hug and now the man in question is heading to his car.” Arthur took the four steps to the side door and gripped the handle. He contemplated informing Maren that he’d seen her mom and this guy out before, but again, it was not his place to butt into other people’s business. “Good evening, Mrs. Cordelia.”
“How many times do I need to tell you to call me Gretchen.” She held up her hand, waving it at the dog.
“Shasta, down,” Arthur commanded, grabbing the damn dog’s collar. “Next time, don’t wave. Just hold up your hand.”
“You keep telling me that, and I keep waiting for her to knock me over.” Gretchen laughed. “So, did you two have a nice evening?”
“I napped. He went fishing,” Maren said quickly. It was as if she needed to make sure her mother knew without a doubt he hadn’t spent the last three hours in her presence.
He could understand, considering how desperate Gretchen had been for them to meet. “I took Shasta on the boat, hoping it would tire her out, but she’s all riled up.” He patted the dog’s head. “I should head home. If either of you ladies need anything, I’m a phone call away.”
“Thanks again for everything.” Maren waved from the sofa.
Stepping out on the porch, he glanced toward the sky. His life certainly hadn’t been a bed of roses. He had scars on his body.
And his heart.
The things that mattered to him most were his team, his family, and his work. Since his divorce, he didn’t believe there was room for anything or anyone else.
Maren tugged at that place in his soul that he’d locked up from the rest of the world and never let out. He never wanted to be in that vulnerable position again. He’d loved and lost in the worst way. And then he’d loved and gotten burned.
Both sucked. Both cut him to the core in different ways.
Neither had stopped him from caring. Or from serving. But they certainly changed his perspective on life.
How could spending a few moments with Maren make him rethink any of it?
He shook his head and jogged down the steps, deciding it was a combination of being tired and the fact his side project had gone completely cold.
Again.