Chapter 10
ELODIE
Entering my apartment, I hear the television softly on with a hockey game. Slowly, I place my purse on the side table and remove my coat. It’s past seven, and I wanted to see Lola, but I think I missed her.
When I reach the living room, Hayes gives me a smile that is far too sexy for sitting comfortably on the sofa.
“She’s asleep?”
He scoots over to make room for me on the couch. “Yeah, went down about 15 minutes ago. I’m not sure who’s more exhausted, her or me. That hour between morning nap and lunchtime was brutal. Does she always have that much energy then?”
I laugh as I grab a throw pillow and sit down. “Yeah. But we’re moving toward one nap a day and also potty training.”
“Okay, remind me to study all of that.”
“A shame the weather wasn’t great, otherwise you could have gone to the playground.”
“It’s okay, we went to that coffee place around the corner next to the bakery. They have a kids' corner and a shit load of caffeine for me.”
My smile hurts. “So you survived?”
He blows out an exhausting breath. “I did. We had to leave when a kid brought in a balloon.”
I laugh. “We really need to figure out why she hates balloons.”
“No kidding. Just one glance and she was clinging to my leg with a cry that was as good as a scream.”
“I’m sure you saved her.”
“I did.” He timidly brushes it off. “I'm hoping next time that I'm with her to take her swimming.”
“I think she would like that. Speaking of which, I got you a present.” I walk to the side table in the living room and open a drawer, grabbing the item, then I return to the sofa and flop down, stretching my arm out for him to accept the gift.
Instantly his smile is ear-to-ear as he examines it. “A giant unicorn floaty. I'm not sure this matches the aesthetic of the building pool. But she'll love it.”
“Admittedly, she hasn't been in a pool enough.”
"Well, I'm here now.”
Yeah, he is. It doesn't faze me.
“How were the champagne and dresses? Kind of thought you would arrive home a little tipsy.”
I scratch the back of my head. “It was an option on the table. However, my throat hurts a little, and champagne can do things to one’s brain, opening a Pandora’s box of potential life choices.”
“Anything you want to share? And I’ll get you a tea.” He’s already standing before I can answer.
“You don’t have to—”
He interrupts. “It’s not a problem, and I already know that you won’t share the mixed messages in your head that are probably 99% due to me.” He winks.
Blushing, heat rises to my cheeks. I clench my jaw, torn between mortification that he can read me so easily and irritation at how transparent I am around him.
Regardless, I let him make tea while I change into yoga pants. Returning, I grab the throw blanket and snuggle into the pillows as Hayes comes back with two cups of tea.
“I’m not sure who’s more tired, you or me. I’ve been blinded by white dresses. Nine. That’s how many dresses she tried on.” I accept the mug of tea and hold it close, taking in the warmth and the smell of lemon and another ingredient. “What is this?”
“Ginger and turmeric. You had a hidden tea box in the back of your cupboard. The recipe for health. Sometimes I have it when I’m traveling and need a boost.”
“Smart.” I take a long drink and let the warm liquid slide down my throat, already easing the scratchiness of my voice. “It’s nice. So what else is new after your day with Lola?”
He sets his mug on the coffee table, and it kind of pinches me in a good way that he is making himself at home here. “My mom is desperate to visit.”
“Funnily enough, my parents have continued to subtly mention how they want to meet you.” I grimace.
“Why don’t we just knock it all out at once?”
My eyes grow wide at his suggestion. “You mean all of our parents in one room at the same time? Brave.”
He chuckles, and that smooth grin of his appears. “Why not? Everyone is aware of the facts. Lola will simmer everyone down, no point putting ourselves through it all twice. Besides, my mom is thrilled, and I assume your parents are…”
“They are protective. They haven’t met you, so they’re cautious but also happy for Lola.
” I haven’t really spoken to them much at all in relation to Hayes.
They’ve always respected my wish not to press me on Lola’s father, and they aren’t changing that behavior now that he’s in the picture.
They know I’ll tell them about any important updates in my own time.
“I like a challenge. Should I tell her to come in a few weeks? I think it would be good for her. It’s my dad’s birthday then, and I have a feeling she might need to be cheered up.”
I reach for his arm instinctively, my touch gentle but sure—the kind of gesture that only comes from real care and understanding. “I get that. I can only imagine how hard it was for her. You, too.”
These are the things I need to hear. Although he has passed, there is still contentment to be brought to Hayes.
It grows quiet for a beat, and his mind seems to drift before it returns. “Anyway,” he begins. Perhaps his father’s passing is more raw for him than I thought. “Shall we agree that we can see all of our parents in a few weeks?”
“Yeah, that gives us a little more time to fit into one another’s lives.
” My eyes squeeze closed when I recognize that my sentence is up for interpretation.
Opening them, I see Hayes already thinking two steps ahead, with that grin still perfectly pasted.
“I don’t mean us, I mean Lola and parental us. ”
He casually picks up his tea for another sip, his self-satisfied smirk staying put. “Careful, Elodie, honesty always seeps through,” he taunts.
I rub my temples as I grow frustrated with myself for being unable to hold it together. It’s easy to crumble even slightly around this man. “Can we just focus on… I don’t know, preschool lists or something?”
“Random topic, but okay, I’ll play along. I guess she starts that soon?”
“Next year, but right now I’m on the waiting list for one. It’s super hard to get a spot, and it will cost a fortune, but it’s perfect for her and near the office, too.”
Hayes gives me a stern look that feels like a reminder. “Money isn’t an issue.”
Shaking my head, I’m not doing well at picking topics right now. I don’t want to argue. “Okay.” That's all I reply. “Anyhow, I feel a headache coming on.” It’s only half a lie.
It causes Hayes to sink further into the cushion and throw his arm over the back of the couch. “I’ll stay for a while then in case Lola wakes. You need your rest if you have a headache.”
Nervously, I smile, because he’s on to me. I’m digging myself into a hole. “Fine. Let’s just get it out in the open. We kissed.”
“I’m aware.” He’s confident and doesn’t seem concerned that this could lead to an uncomfortable conversation.
“It’s not exactly smart of us,” I say, and it feels scratchier in my throat.
“Is it?” he challenges.
For a fraction of a second, our eyes meet, and I’m wondering if there is any way out of this circle, because he won’t be bringing logic to the situation. Inside, I wrestle with myself because I’m exhausted from fighting it. I give up in defeat.
“Maybe not.” I look away from him, hoping his heated eyes on me won’t feel like daggers of a man who is winning.
“It’s pretty intelligent of us, if you ask me.” He really is easy breezy about this. “No point in ignoring our chemistry. Lola having two parents together is only a small piece of it. We’re allowed to be selfish in life. Just so happens it comes down to you and me.”
Licking my lips, I carefully bring my gaze to meet his eyes that don’t blink; instead, they are resolute. “I’m perhaps getting closer to agreeing.” Hayes doesn’t respond and seems to be waiting patiently for me to say more. “You kind of scare me.”
He seems taken aback by my revelation. “How so?”
The corner of my mouth curves into a delicate smile. “You’re impossible. Stubborn. And do things only when it’s guaranteed you'll win. That’s a lot to soak in. Especially if I’m the target.”
“Oh, you are most definitely the target.” The swelter in his voice is sexy, and the message is clear. If I let him in, then it won’t be casual. He won’t allow it.
I’ve debated with myself about whether I should be with a man who is dominating as my type of partner. But once I was able to stand my ground with him on the Lola front, I began to see that everything he does is very attractive and causes flutters of excitement inside me.
His smooth smirk is trying to persuade me right now.
I crack a smile and playfully shoo his arm. “Your message is clear, and maybe you will wear me down, but not tonight.”
“Sweetheart, I wasn’t aiming for tonight.” He begins to adjust the blanket on me, and I’m not sure where his mind is. “You’re not feeling too well. I hear it in your voice.”
“You mean mentally?”
He laughs. “No. I meant your voice is turning hoarse. You need sleep. Want me to stay in case Lola wakes?”
“Now someone is brazen,” I tease him, and my voice does sound scraped.
He can only smile, and I feel his strong arm pull me, encouraging me to lie down. Studying him, he isn’t a man with a hidden agenda right now. He genuinely wants to take care of me.
“You were watching a hockey game before. We can finish it if you want?”
Hayes seems pleased with my suggestion. “Good. It was only the end of the first when you arrived home.”
“Then I ruined it.”
He chuckles as he drags my feet onto his lap. “You were the first-intermission entertainment.”
“Ah, I have a purpose then.”
He bobbles his head side to side as he grabs the remote. “Something like that.”
We watched the end of the second, had a snack at the second intermission, and somewhere in the third, I felt myself begin to doze off.
The man has this magical move where he low-key, under-the-radar, strokes my calf through the blanket with one hand, and his other hand massages my feet.
So natural. So calming. Soothing enough to cause me to doze off completely.