Chapter 6 Laken
LAKEN
I’d been lying in bed for hours, but I couldn’t sleep.
I kept thinking about my date and how I’d completely ruined a perfectly wonderful night.
It kept replaying in my mind like a cruel movie I couldn’t turn off.
From the very start, it had been an incredible night.
He showed up at my door with freshly pressed shirt and a handful of flowers.
A sexy smile played on his lips as he walked me out to his truck, and I could feel the electricity in the air as he helped me inside, making every nerve in my body tingle with a sensation I’d never felt before. I’d never known a man who was so unbelievably handsome.
He was the kind of hot that made a woman forget to breathe just by walking into a room. He could’ve had any woman he wanted, but he was there with me. And he looked at me like I wasn’t just some tired maid with a kid, but something more. Much, much more.
I’d never felt so beautiful, and that was all him.
It was the way he looked at me and talked to me.
It was the way he held the door open for me and asked questions about myself, like he sincerely wanted to know everything he could about me.
And God, his smile did something to me that I don’t even know how to describe.
The restaurant was wonderful, and we talked without really trying.
It all came so easily. And then, I had to go and ruin it all with one stupid slip.
I had no business telling him about the electricity.
I don’t know what I was thinking. It was such a stupid mistake.
The look on his face wasn’t even pity. It was just concern, but somehow, that made it worse.
I didn’t want him to see me that way. I didn’t want him to know how close to the edge I really was.
And there was always the chance that he might think I’m not doing right by Baylor and call child services.
They would come asking questions, and if they didn’t think I was doing enough, they could take her away.
Just the thought of losing her made my stomach turn to knots.
I inched over to her, curling into her warmth, and kissed her softly on the temple. She was my whole world, and I wouldn’t make it a day without her. Thatch didn’t have kids. There was no way he would understand that. I just prayed I wouldn’t have to explain, not to him or anyone else.
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, and I slept hard.
I had no idea what time it was when I woke with a jolt.
My heart was hammering in my chest, and for a split second, I thought there’d been some kind of explosion.
Light flooded the room, the TV blared to life at maximum volume, and somewhere over in the corner, my hair dryer kicked on and blew my makeup off the counter.
I sat upright and blinked at the sudden brightness. Baylor squealed and clapped her hands as she cheered, “We got lights, Mommy!”
“Yes, we do.”
I was still trying to make sense of it as I tossed the covers back and got out of bed. I rushed over and turned off the dryer, and after I turned down the TV, I started turning off some of the lights.
We had power, but it didn’t make any sense.
I hadn’t paid the bill. Not even close. The reconnection fee alone was a hundred bucks, and I didn’t even have that.
I’d been planning to apply for a credit card or to talk to the office manager about picking up some extra shifts, but I hadn’t gathered the nerve.
Regardless, I had to find out what was going on.
I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, and Baylor danced around me as I dialed the number to the electric company.
It rang a few times, and then a voice way too chipper for so early in the morning said, “Good morning. Mid-State Electric. How can I help you today?”
“Hi. I’m calling about an issue I’m having with my electricity.”
“Oh? Are you experiencing an outage?”
“No. Actually, the power just came back on.”
“Okay. So, what is the issue?”
“Well, it was disconnected a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to make a payment yet. I think there’s been some kind of mistake.”
“Are you calling from the number connected to the account?”
“I am.”
“Let me take a look for you.” The line went silent for a minute, and then she came back and said, “Alright, Ms. Porter. It looks like your account is in good standing.”
“Excuse me?”
“The bill and reconnection fee have been paid in full, and everything is up to date.”
“But that can’t be right. I didn’t pay it.”
“Well, someone did. It was processed.”
“Do you have a name for the payment?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Porter. I don’t have access to that information.”
“You don’t have access?”
“I guess you could say that the payment was made by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.”
Anonymous.
The word echoed in my head as I looked over at Baylor, who was sitting in front of the television with a big smile on her face.
I didn’t need to know the name. I already knew who’d paid the bill, so I ended the call and started changing out of my pajamas.
I was torn between disbelief and something else I couldn’t quite name.
Gratitude. Embarrassment. Anger.
Maybe all three.
I put on some jeans and a sweatshirt, and my hands were shaking as I started brushing my hair.
I caught sight of myself in the mirror, and I could barely recognize the woman staring back at me.
She had tired eyes and a flustered expression, like she was barely holding it together.
She reminded me of my mother, and that made my heart ache a little.
There were so many days when I missed her and wished things hadn’t played out like they did. I hoped that someday I would see them again, but that was a problem for another day. Right now, I had a man to see about a bill.
“Baylor,” I called out, trying to sound calm. “Get dressed, sweetheart.”
“Where we going?”
“To run some errands.” My voice came out sharper than I’d intended when I said, “Now, do what Momma said and get dressed.”
I knew she was excited about getting to watch her cartoons, so I wasn’t surprised when a little pout swept across her face. But she didn’t argue. She just got up and started tugging on her little black pants I’d laid out, along with her pink sweater.
While she was busy, I rushed into the kitchen and opened the pantry.
I took out the metal cookie tin and grabbed the money I’d hidden there, then went back over to the bedroom and collected the Christmas money I’d hidden in my sock drawer.
I ignored the tight feeling in my chest as I shoved it all into my purse.
I knew this meant there would be no tree and more than likely no presents, and that broke my heart.
Baylor deserved a magical Christmas, not one filled with empty promises.
But sadly, that was all I would have to offer this year.
My throat burned as I zipped the bag shut and said, “Okay, sweetie. Let’s get moving. ”
Baylor followed me out to the car, and once I had her buckled in, I started the car and drove toward downtown. My mind was racing the entire time. I had no idea what I was going to say to him. I just knew I couldn’t let this go.
I groaned when I pulled into the Vault and found that it was closed.
I’m not sure what I was thinking. It was barely after ten.
There was no way it would be open at this hour.
I shook it off and whipped the car around, then headed across town to the Black Crown.
It was open twenty-four hours a day, so there was at least a possibility that I might find him there.
I was relieved when I pulled up and found that it wasn’t very busy.
I hoped that meant it would be easier to track Thatch down.
Once I was parked, I got Baylor from the backseat, and with her perched on my hip, I made my way up to the front doors.
A guy in a leather vest was standing just inside, and his brows furrowed with disapproval when he saw that I had Baylor with me.
“Can I help you?”
“Is Thatch working today?”
“Who?”
“Thatch. I mean, Skid. Do you know him?”
“I do.”
“Great. Can you tell me where I can find him?”
“What’s this about?”
“I need to pay him back for a favor he did for me.”
“I see.” The man’s eyes flicked from me to Baylor, then back again, a slow smirk tugging at his mouth. “You the girl with the broken-down car?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Thought so,” he chuckled. “His shift isn’t until later.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sure he’s over at his place.” His eyes skirted over me with a smirk. “I could give you the address.”
“That would be great.” He walked over to the bar and wrote the address on a napkin before handing it to me. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Be sure to tell him Shep sent ya.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
With that, I turned and darted back out to the car. I put Baylor back in her seat, and as I buckled her seat belt, she asked, “We going to see Thatch?”
“Yes, but only for a minute.”
“Why a minute?”
“I have to give him something.”
“What do you have to give him?”
“It’s nothing, sweetie.”
I closed the door and rushed around to get in on the driver’s side. I’d barely closed the door when she asked, “Why’s it nothing?”
“Baylor. Enough of the questions. I just have to give him something really quick, and then we will go back home, and you can watch cartoons while I make us some breakfast. How does that sound?”
Sounding defeated, she muttered, “Okay.”
I was ready to get this over with, so I put the car in drive and started toward the address Shep had given me.
My mind was reeling, and the drive felt like a blur of turns and stoplights.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, my hands were tired from clutching the steering wheel so tightly.
I threw the car into park and hopped out as I told Baylor, “Stay here, baby. I’ll be just a minute. ”
She nodded and watched as I marched up the walk and up to the front door.
I knocked, then dug into my purse for the wad of cash.
I clutched it in my hand as I waited for him to come to the door.
When he didn’t immediately answer, I raised my hand to knock again, but before my knuckles touched the wood, I heard, “Morning, beautiful.”
I spun around, and there he was, all handsome and smiling like the Cheshire cat.
It seemed unfair for a man to be so damn good looking.
It almost made me mad, but my anger failed to overpower my urge to kiss him.
I wanted to think it was just foolish curiosity or the fact that I hadn’t been with a man since Baylor’s father, but deep down, I knew it was more than that.
I was so spun up by his beautiful green eyes and sexy dimples that I’d almost forgotten why I was there. Then, I looked down at the money in my hand, and the heat returned to my chest. I walked down the steps and extended the money toward him as I said, “I’ll get the rest to you as soon as I can.”
“Whoa.” He looked down at the money with a frown. “What’s this?”
“It’s the money for the power bill.” My voice shook, more from emotion than anger. “You had no right to do that. I didn’t ask for your help.”
His eyes were trained on mine as he took a step closer. “I didn’t do it for thanks.”
“Good,” I snapped. “Because I’m not thanking you.”
“So, you’re pissed.”
“Of course, I am! I made it clear that I didn’t want you to get involved, and you stepped in anyway.”
“They should’ve never cut off your power, babe.” The way he called me babe made butterflies erupt in my stomach, but it wasn’t enough to counter my anger. Skid crossed his arms, making it clear he wasn’t backing down. “You have a kid, and you were just a couple of days late. That shit’s on them.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that they did, and it doesn’t change the fact that you went against my wishes.”
“I was trying to help.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.”
“You are so damn stubborn.” He shook his head. “You don’t have to fight every battle alone. You just have to be willing to let me help.”
“Just take the money.”
“Not taking it.”
“No one asked you to play hero…”
Before I could finish, he reached up, cupped my cheeks with his hands, and pulled me close. I could smell a hint of cologne mixed with motor oil as he leaned in and pressed his mouth against mine, silencing me with a kiss.
It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t careful. It was the kind of kiss that made everything else—my anger, my embarrassment, and everything in between—fade away. It was just him and me, and to my surprise, I didn’t resist.
I stood there, and not only did I let him kiss me, but I kissed him back.