Chapter 39
Hope
The weekend arrives again in the blink of an eye, the week slipping past before I have the chance to catch my next breath.
Zac is spending the day with his dad and other grandparents, making use of the free wildlife park passes he won for his school project.
It was the only way he’d agree to go, and surprisingly, Adrian thought it was a great idea too.
They only have this one day together before Adrian heads back to Sandy Vale to prepare for Monday’s three-day school camp, but for the two of them, that feels like more than enough time together.
We’re in our second weekend of renovations, and, as usual, Kaden showed up bright and early this morning, dressed much like he had been last Saturday, except this time he’d traded the black shirt for a white sleeveless tank top that left his sculpted, tattooed arms on full display.
The man is, quite honestly, a walking temptation, and I’ve had to physically stop myself from staring at his biceps like a feline in heat every time he stepped into the room.
He spent the first two hours installing the new lighting fixtures throughout the house, moving from room to room with a confident ease that suggests he’s grown both familiar, and perhaps a little too comfortable inside my home.
When all the jobs were finished, he stepped out the back to find me halfway through tearing out the stubborn weeds that had claimed the fence line as their own.
He instantly offered to help, but I insisted I had it under control and told him to relax for once— something I’m fairly sure doesn’t come naturally to him, given the way he always feels the need to keep himself busy.
And just to prove my point, within minutes of stepping outside, the sound of the lawn mower roaring to life cut through the open air.
When I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes immediately found Kaden, guiding it steadily across the yard—shirtless, his discarded tank tucked into the back of his shorts, as he casually set about taming my slightly overgrown grass.
The sight of him without a shirt on, muscles flexing with every effortless push of the lawn mower, is something that will forever be etched into my memory, and honestly, I’m not one to complain.
Having knocked out the backyard in record time, he’s now moved on to the front, while I take my supposed ‘break,’ from gardening. I’m now reclining on the porch with a glass of iced water, shamelessly watching him from behind my sunglasses.
My eyes latch on to the large raven tattoo sprawled across his back as he guides the mower across the lawn. It’s massive—easily covering half his back, and there’s something about it that makes him look dangerously sexy.
Adrian had never been a fan of tattoos and had been thoroughly irritated when I came home with a tattoo of the exact waveform from Zac’s heartbeat on my wrist. He claimed tattoos were unladylike and should never grace a woman’s skin.
Whatever. I plan to get more in the future—let him choke on his narrow-minded views.
Kaden’s sun-warmed skin glistens with sweat as he continues to push the lawn mower back and forth, and it seems I’m not the only one appreciating the view.
I’ve spotted at least three women pushing prams slow down their pace, or glance back over their shoulders for a second look at my irresistibly hot friend.
Something about the way their eyes linger on his bare torso that has me wanting to scream at them to keep walking.
He, on the other hand, seems completely oblivious to the attention he’s drawing, fully absorbed in his task. Every now and then, he glances my way, flashing that playful smile and wink he always does, but it doesn’t stop the heat from prickling just beneath my skin whenever his gaze settles on me.
And if the thirsty mums weren’t bad enough, my neighbour Giselle, a stunning Brazilian woman who recently moved in with her new husband two doors down, decides to saunter over to Kaden, her short, figure-hugging dress leaving little to the imagination.
Kaden immediately stops, cutting the lawn mower and switching it off. And I watch the two engage in conversation, though I can’t quite make out what they’re saying from all the way over here.
One of Giselle’s hands shields her eyes from the sun, while the other rests firmly on her hip, her fake double D’s nearly spilling out of the top of her dress.
She smiles up at him, her gaze darting to his bare chest every so often, and I have to grip the armrest of my chair to keep from tossing my glass of water straight at her head.
I don’t even know why I’m reacting this way. I’ve made it clear to Kaden that we’re just friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be. He’s free to talk, flirt, date, or sleep with anyone he wants. So why, all of a sudden, do I feel this possessive urge to yank him away from that witch?
For the most part, Kaden just stands there, listening to whatever Giselle is saying, a small smile occasionally bracing his face.
When he does answer, it’s only with brief responses and gestures.
One hand remains on the lawn mower handle, the other resting on his hip, almost mirroring the stance of the woman in front of him.
He shakes his head at something Giselle says, and her expression falters for a few seconds before she nods and steps back, pausing only to give me a quick wave, as if she’s only now realised I’ve been sitting here the whole time.
As soon as she walks back to her house, Kaden resumes mowing the lawn, and I step inside, needing a moment to get my shit together after watching that infuriating exchange between my friend and neighbour.
I’m in the kitchen, rinsing my cup and loading the rest of the dishes into the dishwasher, when I hear the front door open and close, followed by heavy, booted footsteps that stop just behind me.
“Hope?” Kaden says, his voice low and gravelly.
I turn around, wiping my hands on a kitchen towel, and smile at him. “Hey… all done?”
“I’ve just gotta trim the edges and then I’ll be finished.”
I nod silently, folding the towel neatly on the island before grabbing some paper towels and the surface spray to start wiping down the bench, even though it’s already spotless.
“Why did you leave?” he asks softly.
I shrug nonchalantly. “I could see you were almost done, so I thought I’d start tidying up a bit before we finish for the day.”
My eyes stay lowered, focused on scrubbing the non-existent stains on the marble counter, just to keep him from seeing the irritation on my face.
Suddenly, I feel the tips of his fingers brush along my bicep, soft and feathery, and when I turn my head to look at him, his brows are drawn tightly into a frown.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his tone cautious.
I chuck the soiled paper towel into the rubbish bin and turn to face him fully.
“Yeah… why wouldn’t I be?”
His eyes narrow, and his head tilts slightly to the side, as if trying to study me.
“She asked me if I was a gardener,” he begins, explaining.
“Her and her husband are looking for a landscaper to redo their yards. She said everyone she’d contacted was either too expensive or too unreliable.
When I told her I wasn’t, that I’m just helping a friend mow her lawns, she left shortly after that. ”
“You don’t need to explain yourself, Kaden.”
“I know, but I wanted to. And I’m sorry if it upset you.”
I huff, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m not upset, Kaden. I don’t care who you talk to. I’m not your girlfriend.” My voice comes out sharp and dismissive.
His brow lifts at the tone of my voice, and I can tell he knows I’m a little riled up, even though there’s no real reason to be, and especially since he hasn’t done anything wrong.
His expression softens as he takes a step closer, narrowing the space between us. He’s so near that I can feel the warmth radiating from his skin.
“I know you said we’re only friends, but Hope… if you ever wonder what kind of woman really holds my interest—holds all of my attention—it’s certainly not someone like Giselle. The only woman I think about day and night, the only one I truly want… is someone I can never have.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear with his finger, his intense green eyes holding mine hostage as he does.
“But if the day ever comes that she tells me she wants me too, then I will be hers and hers alone. I’ll spend the rest of my days proving it to her. Because the moment she becomes mine, there is no one else in this world I will ever need.”
He takes a step back, slipping his hands into the pockets of his shorts, the fabric dipping just enough to reveal that irresistible V-spot of his. His confession has completely thrown me off balance, and even as I try to steady my breathing, I find myself struggling to form a coherent response.
As if sensing my shock and inner turmoil, he chuckles and smoothly changes the subject. “How about I finish up the front yard, and then afterwards I take you out for something to eat? I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” he adds, rubbing his stomach dramatically.
“Yeah, okay,” I finally respond. “I’ll just go freshen up.”
He nods, and then—as if he hadn’t just laid his heart bare to me, turns on his heel and walks back out the front door, taking all the air from my lungs with him.
Kaden shifts the car into park after circling for nearly five minutes, finally claiming a vacant spot.
The Thai restaurant we chose for dinner is packed to the brim, a line already spilling out the front door.
It’ll likely be another fifteen or twenty minutes before we’re seated, and probably ten more before we’re even served.
He offers to go somewhere else, but we’ve already waited this long for a parking spot—what’s another few minutes?
“Are you absolutely sure you don’t want me to take you somewhere else?” he asks again as we hop out of the car.
“I’m positive. We’re already here, and all that car stalking just to get a parking spot would’ve been for nothing,”
He chuckles as he slides his hands into the pockets of his grey hoodie, the one he threw on just before we left my place. We make our way towards the line, and I wince at how quickly it’s grown since we pulled into the carpark.
“The moment we sit down, I’m ordering the whole bloody menu. That’s how hungry I am,” I say, half-jokingly, as we take our place at the back of the line.
“I think I might have to join you on that. I’d probably start chewing on the napkins while we wait for our meals.”
“I hope it’s not too long of a wait.”
“I might have to pull out the ‘I’m related to the Hemsworth brothers’ card to get us in faster.”
I let out a loud snort. “You look nothing like the Hemsworth brothers.”
“I know—I look sexier.” He winks, teasingly.
I burst out laughing. “I’d say you look like the rougher, more rugged version of Matthew Noszka.”
“Who the fuck is that?” he asks, scrunching his nose.
“He’s an American actor and model, and a mighty fine one too.”
“So, you think I’m mighty fine, aye?” he says, waggling his eyebrows.
I shake my head, giving his shoulder a playful shove. He stumbles back and accidentally bumps into an older gentleman passing by.
“Shit!” he blurts, straightening himself. “Sorry, mate.”
“Kaden!”
We both snap our gazes towards the gentleman. He doesn’t look familiar, but when I glance at Kaden, a knowing smile slowly spreads across his face.
“Dad!” he exclaims, surprised. “What are you doing this side of town?”
“Just came for some takeout,” he says, holding up a brown paper bag that I assume contains his meal. “You eating here tonight?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m here with a friend. In fact, I want you to meet someone.” He turns to me and holds out his hand. I take it, stepping closer so I’m now facing his father.
“Dad, this is my friend, Hope. Hope, this is my dad, Troy.”
“It’s really nice to meet you,” I smile, lifting my hand for him to shake.
The moment his gaze meets mine, his smile falters and his eyes widen, as if he’s just seen a ghost. He stands rigid, utterly speechless. I turn to Kaden, who looks just as puzzled as I am.
“Dad!” Kaden’s loud voice seems to snap him out of whatever haze he was in, and he clears his throat.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. You just remind me of someone I once knew. It’s nice to meet you, young lady.” He smiles and extends his hand, and I shake it gladly.
“You good?” Kaden asks his dad, a curious frown creasing his brow.
“Yeah...I think I’m just tired. I’ll let you kids get on with your night,” he says, turning to his son. “Make sure you come over for dinner one night, and bring your lovely lady friend too.” He winks at me, a gesture so unmistakably like Kaden.
We say our goodbyes, and just as he turns to leave, Troy glances at me one last time—a flicker of confusion, perhaps even recognition, crossing his face before shaking it off and walking away.
“That was probably one of the strangest encounters I’ve ever had,” I admit, as I watch Troy disappear into the busy carpark.
Kaden hums. “Yeah, that was… strange. I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight, but he’s definitely never acted like that before. I might have to pay him a visit tomorrow and see what that was all about. I think my mum was right—he’s probably losing his marbles. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. Your dad seems nice enough overall.”
He smiles, nodding. “Well, the line seems to be reducing. Ready to stuff yourself sick?”
I chuckle. “I was born ready.”
And that’s exactly what we do for the next hour—eat as much Thai food as our stomachs can handle, and then some.