Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Belle sat at the island, fighting the nervousness in her stomach.
Though she wasn’t sure what was making her more anxious.
The fact that she’d set up a coffee date for later this afternoon or that she had to ask Victor if he’d be okay watching Pip on his own for a couple hours.
She probably should have checked with him before accepting the date, but after three weeks of living in his house, she’d gotten to know his postseason workout schedule pretty well.
Originally, he’d been working out at home, but that changed recently as he started driving into the city more often.
She knew that today was an “off” day in terms of him driving into Baltimore and training with the team.
She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous about mentioning the date. After all, she hadn’t taken any time off since Vivian had left for Africa, so she was definitely overdue for some free time.
Maybe it was because he seemed so anti-online dating.
Or maybe it was because ever since the first time he’d invited her to join him on the porch for a drink, they’d made a nightly habit of it.
For the past eleven evenings, they met up in the hallway outside Pip’s bedroom prior to walking to the kitchen for beverages.
She always had a glass of wine, while Victor was mostly partial to Guinness.
He’d claimed after so many years celebrating wins and losses at Pat’s Pub, it was no wonder he was fond of the stout beer.
If Belle had a brain in her head, she’d put the kibosh on the patio nights.
They were not helping keep her crush on Victor under control.
If anything, those quiet evenings merely fueling the attraction.
The two of them were capable of sitting in solitude, simply drinking in the night sounds, without the need for constant conversation.
Which was strange for her, because Belle had been blessed with the gift of gab.
She and Vivian typically had to pause whatever they were watching on TV because they’d start talking and lose track of the plot.
Her mother had affectionately nicknamed her Cathy when she was growing up, short for Chatty Cathy.
There weren’t too many things Belle couldn’t talk to death if given an opening, but with Victor, she was content to sit quietly.
“Hey,” Belle said, when Pip escaped to the living room to start the new puzzle Victor had brought home with him yesterday after practice, finally leaving Belle alone with the girl’s uncle. “I need to ask you something.”
She rose from the island, carrying her cereal bowl and Pip’s to the sink to rinse out before putting them in the dishwasher.
Victor topped up his coffee cup, adding cream. “What’s up?”
“You weren’t planning to go anywhere this afternoon, were you?”
Victor turned to face her, his ever-present scowl firmly in place. She used to be so intimidated by his dark looks, used to jump whenever she heard that deep bark of his, but now that she knew him, she understood that while he took resting bitch face to the next level, he was rarely truly angry.
“I’m not going anywhere. Told Pip I’d help her do that puzzle.”
“Great. Would you be okay with me taking off for a few hours?” she asked.
He nodded. “Of course. You haven’t taken any time off since you moved in here. Got fun plans?”
Belle had foolishly hoped he wouldn’t ask what she was doing, but she knew that wish was fruitless.
Victor’s overprotectiveness had recently started extending to her, as well as his niece.
Whenever she—with or without Pip—left the house, he always wanted to know where she was going and when she’d be back.
So far, she’d only popped out for quick errands, like driving to Vivian’s house to water the plants and get the mail, or to grab more clothes for herself and Pip.
Once, she’d gone to the post office to mail a package to her mother for her birthday, and of course, Pip had to come because… post office.
After a lifetime of basically fending for herself, Belle was touched and turned on by Victor’s concern for her well-being.
“I have a coffee date,” she replied, purposely vague.
His scowl grew darker, and that was when she recalled sharing her plan for any first dates with online suitors. “With someone from that fucking dating app?”
She nodded, pointing to the swear jar at the same time.
Victor never broke eye contact, even as he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and stuffed a dollar in the jar.
He’d confessed a few nights ago that he had stopped at the bank and withdrawn a hundred dollars in ones, joking that should tide him over for a week or two.
She and Pip were starting to think the Disney dream might be a viable possibility.
“Yes. I’m meeting one of the men I’ve been chatting with, at my old coffee shop.”
Victor crossed his arms. “What’s his name? What does he do for a living that he can just take off in the middle of a workday for coffee? Please tell me the loser’s got a job, at least.”
Belle folded her own arms over her chest, mimicking his position.
“His name is Scott, and he sells insurance, so he makes his own schedule.” Scott had suggested they meet for drinks at a bar near the waterfront, but Belle had preferred keeping their first meeting sober and short and at a place where she felt completely safe.
She’d been relieved when he relented on the bar and agreed to meet her for coffee.
So far, she’d only made online connections with two guys who didn’t give off major creepy vibes.
Scott seemed friendly enough through their messaging, but in truth, she preferred talking to the second guy, Sean, more.
However, Scott was the first man to suggest they move off the app and meet in person, so she accepted the invitation.
If this didn’t go well, at least she had a backup.
If things with Sean didn’t go well, either, she’d have to start weeding through the profiles again, something she really, really didn’t want to do.
It had been hard enough narrowing her options down to Scott and Sean, after enduring at least a dozen conversations with men who were clearly looking for just what Victor suggested—a hookup and nothing else.
“Insurance,” Victor scoffed. “Sounds like a pussy.”
Belle pointed to the jar, but Victor didn’t move.
“Pussy doesn’t count,” he countered.
She snorted. “It definitely counts. Unless you’re prepared to define that word for Pip because, I assure you, if she hears you say it, she will ask.”
Victor sighed, then stuffed three more dollars in the jar. She started to tell him one was enough, but he spoke before she could.
“Son of a fucking bitch,” he muttered. “I don’t like you going out with a guy you met online, Sunshine. It’s not safe.”
She rolled her eyes, because it was that or literally melt over him calling her Sunshine. The nickname had already stuck, and she fucking loved it. “Then how do you propose I meet someone?”
Victor shrugged.
“I suppose you could introduce me to one of your teammates,” she teased. “That Andrew guy—”
“Forget it,” Victor barked.
Belle laughed. “We’re not rehashing the online dating conversation, Victor. I’m meeting him in the middle of the day at a busy coffee shop where everyone knows me. It’s the safest date in the history of dating.”
“How long will you be gone?” he huffed.
“Do you have plans for later?” she asked sincerely. “Because if so, I can make sure to be home at a specific time and—”
Victor waved his hand. “I don’t have plans. I just want to know when I can expect you back.”
She was tempted to ask why it mattered, but again, Victor spoke before she could work up the nerve. Because her foolish heart wanted it to matter to him. Wanted him to be jealous.
“That way I’ll know when to go looking for you if you’re late.”
She laughed. “I’m not planning on going missing. And I don’t expect the date to last long because he does have to go back to work. Maybe an hour or so?”
“Okay. What time are you meeting him?”
“At one,” she said. “So how about this? If I’m not back by three or four, you can send out the cavalry.”
Victor didn’t crack even the tiniest of smiles at her joke, instead raking his fingers through his hair and looking completely pissed off. “Fine,” he finally barked.
“Great,” she said, making her way toward the door. “I’m going to go upstairs and grab a quick shower, get ready for my day.” She and Pip had long since made themselves at home, both of them eating breakfast in their pajamas. “Once I’m done, I’ll grab Pip and get her dressed.”
Victor shook his head. “Take the whole day off. You’ve earned it. I’ll take care of Pip until you get home from your date…at three,” he stressed.
“Or four,” she added, just to be contrary. Then she smiled—and stupidly lifted up on tiptoe, giving Victor a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Victor.”
He grunted under his breath, which she took as his version of “you’re welcome.” After that, she made a hasty escape, not wanting Victor to see the inappropriate affect the silly little kiss had on her.
Her nipples were hard, poking through her T-shirt, and damn if her panties weren’t damp.
Just from a kiss on the cheek.
She was going through serious vibrator withdrawals, and something was going to have to give.
As much as she loved their patio time, and as much as she would hate for him to go on a date, she seriously needed him to leave the house at least one evening so she could work out some of these pent-up hormones.