Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
TESSA
Just as promised, Linc knocks on my door at exactly nine on Saturday morning. His promptness makes me smile.
I’m wearing a ratty old pair of jeans and a black band t-shirt that keeps sliding off my shoulder, because dressing pretty just to renovate my floor seems stupid. Still, I check my reflection in the hall mirror as I pass it. My hair is up, my face scrubbed clean, because if I put on make up Zoe is going to notice.
And I don’t want her to think Linc visiting is anything out of the ordinary.
When I open the door my breath catches in my throat. The smell of his shower gel makes me think of Exuma and how the bathroom would smell after he used it. But he’s not dressed for Exuma. He’s dressed for work. Manual, dirty work.
Torn jeans. Gray Henley. Unshaven face with just the right amount of beard. I like it a little too much.
“Good morning,” I say, as he lifts up the brown bag and tray of styrofoam cups he’s holding. The smell of coffee makes my stomach growl with appreciation. I try to peer into the bag to see what food he brought.
“You’re so greedy,” he complains, pulling the bag away from me as he steps inside. “Nice place.”
He only saw it from the outside when he dropped us off after the concert. And the exterior is pretty decent.
“Thanks. Oh, mind that hole.”
I try not to giggle as he almost falls into it. “I thought you said there weren’t any more holes,” he mutters.
“In the living room,” I say. “But the plumbers had to go down into the pipes in the hall yesterday.” Now that the electric is done, the plumbers are getting ready to help me change the bathroom around. Luckily, there are no pipes beneath the living room, so I get to make it into my haven without more delay.
“Where’s Zoe?” Linc asks as we walk into the kitchen. He puts the bag and tray down on the tiny table in the center.
“Give me coffee and I’ll tell you,” I say. “I can’t think straight without one.”
“You haven’t made coffee yet?” he asks. “That’s a mistake. Even I know you’re a grouch without caffeine.”
“I’m not a grouch.” I pout. His eyes catch mine and there’s a darkness there I feel pulse through me.
“Yes you are.”
Okay, so I am.
He pulls the four cups from the tray. “I didn’t know if Zoe drank coffee or would want hot chocolate, so I bought both.”
“Did somebody say my name?” Zoe asks, her voice groggy as she pads into the kitchen. She’s still wearing her pajamas and strands of her hair are plastered to her face from where she’s been sleeping. “Oh, hi Linc.”
She doesn’t blink an eyelid at him being here. Like it’s just another normal day.
“Morning, kiddo. Hot chocolate or coffee?” he asks her .
“Both. I like mocha.”
For a moment I wonder if I’m in a parallel universe. One where it’s completely normal for a handsome guy to walk into our place on a Saturday morning bringing food for Zoe and me.
It’s amazing how easily she’s accepting this. Whatever this is.
I wish it was as easy for me.
He hands her both cups and she takes a sip out of one then the other, mixing the liquid in her mouth like a damn washer.
“Put them into a cup,” I tell her.
“God.” Zoe rolls her eyes, but gets a mug out of the cupboard and pours half of each into it. “You need to take a chill pill, Mom.”
Linc starts to laugh and I send him a narrow-eyed look which only makes him laugh more.
“Go get dressed,” I tell her. “We start work in half an hour.”
“What food do you have?” Zoe asks Linc, completely ignoring me.
Linc glances my way. “Pastries. But you probably need to do what your mom says.”
Thank you. I send him a smile.
“Well that’s sad. I was hoping for more from you,” Zoe says to him.
He frowns. “Like what?”
“I thought we could gang up on Mom. Tease her. Annoy her.”
He shrugs. “I can do that.”
“No you can’t.” I purse my lips. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I’m easy,” he tells me, smiling. “I can be a double agent if needed.”
“See, today’s gonna be fun.” Zoe gives him a grin .
“Go get dressed,” I tell her again. This time I add in a growl.
She saunters back to her room whistling and I look at Linc.
“Drink your coffee,” he says soothingly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
I take a long mouthful, swallowing it down.
“You still look grumpy,” he observes. “Here, take this.” He pulls a croissant out of the bag and tears a piece off, sliding it between my lips. I take it into my mouth, and let out a groan. I’m hungrier than I thought.
“Mom?” Zoe shouts out from her bedroom. My head is already throbbing and it’s hardly nine o’clock.
“Yes?”
“I don’t have to shower, do I? Since I’ll be doing manual work.”
Ideally she’d shower before and after, but I’ve learned to pick my battles. “No, that’s fine.”
Linc smirks like he’s enjoying himself listening to the two of us.
I take another sip of coffee. This is the strangest Saturday morning I’ve had in a while. I’m just recovering my Zen when Zoe calls out again.
“Hey Mom?”
“Does she always shout like that?” Linc asks. He looks impressed.
I shrug. “Yes honey?”
“Maisie and Alice are going to the movies this afternoon. Can I go?”
I wince at the volume of her shout. “No. The floor is gonna take all day.”
“But they’re going to see the latest Anime,” she hollers. “We always see them together.”
“You’re breaking her heart,” Linc murmurs.
“You’re not helping,” I tell him. Then I take a deep breath. “ Can you come out here to talk so we can stop shouting, please?”
There’s a huff and she reappears, still in her pajamas, still clutching her mug. “Please can I go?” she asks. “Linc is here. It won’t take as long as we thought it would.”
I let out a long breath. “Okay. But we have to work super hard this morning.”
“Thank you!” She jumps up, her makeshift-mocha spilling over the rim of her mug. “I’m gonna make that floor shine before I go.”
She runs back into her room and Linc runs his palm down my back. “Interesting,” he murmurs.
“What’s interesting?” I turn to look at him.
“If Zoe’s going out this afternoon that means when she leaves we’ll be all alone without a chaperone. It’ll officially count as our first date.”
LINC
Carmichael can sand floors like a fucking demon. She’s put me on finishing duty, polishing the wood with a higher grade sander, but she’s in charge of the push-along beast, biting her lip as she maneuvers it around the room.
Zoe, taking full advantage of the fact that I’m the second laborer and have effectively taken her job, spends half her time on her phone, and the other half asking me questions about Ryker.
“When did you meet him?” she asks.
“A couple of years ago in London. They were recording some music for an advertisement.” They also got so drunk that night that I ended up bailing them out of the local police station. But I don’t tell Zoe that .
I’m on my knees on the floor. Carmichael and Zoe are still standing up, making me feel like I’m begging them for something.
“Does he have a girlfriend?” Zoe asks, stuffing the last of the croissants into her mouth.
“Yes. Several,” I say dryly. Carmichael shoots me a look.
“PG,” I mouth and she smiles.
And fuck I like her smile. Way too much. I like being here. I haven’t gotten my hands dirty renovating anything in more than ten years. But there’s something satisfying about it. Fun, too, when you’re doing it with people you like.
“Does he have a big house?” Zoe asks, licking her finger and putting it into the bag to capture the flakes of croissant at the bottom.
“Not that I know of,” I say. “He bought his mom a house in Wisconsin.”
Tessa lets out a sigh. “That’s sweet.”
“I don’t think Ryker can be described as sweet,” I say, lifting a brow. Her eyes meet mine and I’m remembering the panties.
Fuck, I want Carmichael’s panties. I find myself wondering what kind she’s wearing today.
And then her daughter speaks again and I remember where I am.
“So does he live with his mom?” Zoe asks. “When he’s not touring, I mean.”
I cough out a laugh. “Jesus, no. Just flits around from hotel to hotel I think. Maybe the band rents an Airbnb sometimes.”
“That’s sad that he doesn’t have anywhere permanent.” She sounds genuinely sorry for the guy. I make a mental note to tell Ryker. This kid is killing me.
“Linc flits from hotel to hotel, too,” Tessa tells Zoe.
“Do you?” Zoe tips her head to the side. “Why? Don’t you have a home? ”
“I have an apartment,” I tell her. “But I have to travel a lot.”
“Like when you and Mom went to Exuma?” she asks.
“Yeah. Usually not quite as exotic as that. Mostly Europe.”
“Where in Europe? I’ve always wanted to go.” Zoe’s eyes widen.
Carmichael clears her throat and I realize I’ve stopped sanding. I wink and start again.
“So where have you been?” Zoe asks, following me as I move to the next area that needs sanding.
“Zo, can you at least pretend to work?” Tessa says. “Poor Linc is picking up all the slack here.”
“He’s doing good. I’m supervising him,” Zoe says and I have to cough to hide my laugh. Carmichael’s kid is clever. She has balls.
“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Your approval is appreciated.”
Zoe grins at me. “So, have you been to London?”
I spend the next thirty minutes trying to juggle sanding with a grade A interrogation from Carmichael’s kid. Tessa sends over a few looks but I just shrug.
It’s fine. Zoe’s chatty, that’s all. I can work with chatty. It’s silence I don’t like.
We break for lunch. I order some takeout to be delivered, just bagels because we don’t have a lot of time, and there’s still a lot of floor to cover. Tessa wants the sanding finished by tonight, then she’ll wash everything down and varnish tomorrow.
“That bagel was good,” Zoe says, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You can come over any time.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Any time you want to supervise, just shout.”
Zoe jumps up. “And now I have to shower and get ready for the movie. Keep working hard, guys.”
She runs to the bathroom and Tessa looks at me. “Have we put you off yet? ”
“Nope.” I bite off a mouthful of bagel. “Am I boring you yet?”
“No.” There’s a smile playing on her lips. “I think you’re gonna have to try harder.”
“I can go hard. Really hard. I’ll bore the fucking tits off you.”
Tessa’s eyes widen. “Linc! Zoe can hear.”
But then the shower turns on.
“No she can’t. So how am I doing?” I ask her. “Am I domesticated enough yet?”
She looks at me carefully. “You’ve been a godsend. But you must be bored to death.”
“I like boring,” I tell her. “I love it.”
And it’s the truth. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time. Fully clothed, at least. Truth is, I wasn’t looking forward to this. I was resigned to it, more than anything.
A chance to prove to this woman that I can be the kind of man who deserves her.
I can remember when my brother Myles started dating his now wife. He told me that his favorite way of spending time was watching a movie with her. I’d laughed at him. Probably called him boring.
But there’s nothing I want more than to sit with her snuggled up against me watching a movie. I’m sick of being on a fucking plane. I’m tired of not having someone to come home to.
I want to come home knowing she’s waiting for me.
Those days in Exuma spoiled everything else for me. And today has just confirmed it.
I’m ready to settle down.
“What are you thinking?” Tessa asks, her voice soft as Zoe starts to sing in the shower.
“I was wondering how long an anime movie lasts,” I tell her. “And whether you want me to bore you from behind or in the missionary position.”
I’m kidding, but the way her mouth drops open is worth it.
“MOM!” Zoe’s scream cuts through the small house.
Her head snaps up at the same time as I shoot to my feet, Zoe’s scream sending a rush of panic through me.
We both rush to the bathroom, but I get there first.
“I’m here, honey,” Tessa shouts, pushing me aside. “She might be naked,” she says to me.
Oh shit. Yeah. I turn my head as the door opens and Zoe walks out. From the corner of my eye I see she’s wearing a towel.
She’s also holding one of the faucets. The cold one I think.
“It snapped off,” she says breathlessly. “There’s water everywhere.”