Chapter 2 #4
Well, she didn’t know how to feel about that.
She didn’t want him “focusing on her problems.” If she was truthful with herself, she wanted him to see her as a woman, period.
But that wasn’t likely in her present situation.
Most people saw her only as a mother, but Hendrix would see her as a desperate, inept mother who couldn’t handle her own finances.
The idea was so unbearable, she turned away and busied herself with the dishes.
“I insulted you, didn’t I? Wasn’t my intent.” She felt him moving closer before he spoke right behind her. “I think you’re an amazing mom, and that’s why Ryder is such a terrific kid.”
She could agree on the last part. “Thank you.”
“Joey, come on.” He took her shoulders and turned her – and then he stayed close. Through her shirt, she felt the heat of his palms resting on her shoulders. “Anyone can hit a rough patch. I wasn’t judging you.”
No, he only saw her – and all her failings – in clear focus.
“Hey.” Bending his knees a little, he gave her a direct look. “Am I making it worse?”
“No. I am.” Hastily, she dried her hands.
“I was all set to go over my list with you, to do what I could to convince you to let us stay, and you just...” Peering into his eyes left her breathless.
“You’re incredibly wonderful, Hendrix, and if it wasn’t so improper, I’d throw myself at you like Ryder did. ”
He went still, his expression alert, and suddenly sparks were snapping around them.
In a barely-there whisper, she said, “Thank you. Staying here will help a lot.”
His gaze dipped to her mouth. “I’m glad.”
They stayed like that, near enough to share body heat, each breathing a little deeper, until they heard Ryder laugh.
Abruptly, she stepped back and cleared her throat. “Problem number two, though.” Actually, problem three. Her unruly hormones were definitely going to be a problem.
“What is it?”
Wincing, she said, “I don’t have all the rent for this month.”
Hendrix opened his mouth, but she didn’t give him a chance to say anything. “I’ll pay, I swear, but with Christmas so close and Ryder home for break, I’m not able to tutor as much and–”
His finger touched her lips, quieting her. “My turn now, okay?”
Her entire body hummed from that simple touch to her mouth.
Licking his finger became a very real possibility.
Except that her son wasn’t that far away and she couldn’t very well put the moves on Hendrix when she was in such dire straits.
He might think she was trying to use him – and she was, sort of – but not in that way.
Cautiously, he lowered his hand, but not before tracing her mouth. “It seems important for me to state upfront that this offer comes with no strings attached.”
Confused, she stared at him.
“I have no expectations beyond one person lending a hand to another. For me, that’s how the world should operate.”
She nodded. “A great concept, when possible.”
“I’m attracted to you.”
Wow. He just dropped that out there and she had no idea what to say. Cheering wasn’t a good idea. “Okay.” Gah, that sounded absurd. “I mean... I don’t know what I mean.”
He wasn’t suffering the same awkwardness. “It’s not because you’re the only woman here, not because you’re convenient, and definitely not because you need a little temporary help. I need you to know that you’re welcome to stay even if you want me to keep my distance.”
“I don’t,” she said so quickly that it brought a blush to her face. “Ryder would be crushed.” She would be crushed. If anything, she wanted closer to Hendrix. She’d been wanting that for a year.
“If you catch me watching you, appreciating how attractive you are, just know that I’ve been doing that since the day you showed up here.”
No way. “I never noticed.” And she should have, because she’d watched him a lot, too.
His mouth twisted. “Seriously, Joey, I’m not sure you notice much when it comes to men. Your attention is usually on Ryder, or helping another kid.”
Was that a complaint, or just an observation? “Mothers have to be attentive.”
“I agree. I like that about you. It makes you even more special.”
Even more? How special did he consider her?
“My point is, the offer to stay stands regardless of how you feel about me. When I say no strings, I mean it.”
Seriously, not a single string? She was glad, of course. The last thing she needed was pressure from Hendrix, but... Did he want to hook up? Or did he resent his attraction to her?
“If you’d left when everyone else did, I wouldn’t be getting rent,” he reasoned, “so I wasn’t counting on it anyway.”
After all that, she struggled to get her thoughts sorted enough to argue her case.
“Still, we’re using utilities.” Electric, water, and sometimes the fireplace.
“After all this, the pizza and your offer of the hot tub, and the toys, there’s no way that I’ll be able–” She peeked out to ensure Ryder wasn’t listening.
“–to keep Ryder from begging to see you again. I’d sooner pack up now and sleep in my car than have his feelings hurt.
” Not totally true. Her car was so small that she’d have to sleep sitting up, but she hoped he got her point.
The corner of his mouth curled. “So dramatic.”
Of all the... “I am not dramatic. I’m trying to be responsible so my son doesn’t get hurt.”
“It’s unnecessary, because I’m not an ogre. Recently a loner, yes, but you actually think I’d do anything to make that kid feel bad?”
Recently? So he hadn’t always been a loner? Interesting.
It dawned on her that this time, she’d insulted him. Never had she seen Hendrix look so offended.
His frown, along with the set of his mouth, emphasized his high cheekbones and lean jawline. Those incendiary gray eyes showed a lot of indignation.
“It’s unfair that you can look like that even when you’re irked.”
His expression instantly morphed into confusion. “What?”
She gestured at his face, then at the rest of him. When he started to frown, she gave up trying to explain how mouth-watering he looked, and instead pushed the curls away from her face. “I didn’t mean it that way. Obviously, I think you’re awesome.”
His confusion gained an edge. “Obviously.”
“It’s that my angst makes me defensive.” She went to the chair where she’d left their sweatshirts and hats so she could dig out her note. “I was going to offer you this, to see if it would help compensate for us being here.”
He took the paper, glanced over her ideas, and lifted both brows. “Not bad.”
Flattered that he liked her ideas, she said, “Obviously, I would implement them as a way to show my appreciation for all you’re doing.”
“Not necessary.” He started to say more, but then they heard an odd crash and they both moved at the same time, nearly plowing over each other until they saw Ryder.
He sat there, the plastic truck in hand, Legos all around him and devastation on his face. “It was an accident,” he said in a tiny voice.
Hendrix stuffed the paper into his pocket and went to his knees by her son. “Are you hurt?” He took Ryder’s hands, checked each one for injuries, then with a finger under his chin, he lifted his face. “What happened?”
“I broke it.”
Hendrix drew back. “What? The Legos?” He looked at the pieces, still not understanding. “They don’t break, they just come apart so we can put them back together in a different way.”
“But it was a really cool boat,” Ryder said, “and now it’s not.”
“Dude, come on. That’s the whole point of building blocks. You build something, take it apart, and then build something else.”
Ryder swallowed. “I don’t know how to build a boat.”
“Neither do I, but maybe we can build something even better. Could be a fence to keep the dinosaurs contained, or a road for the truck. What do you think?”
Seconds ticked by. “You’re not mad?”
“Of course not. Do I look that mean?”
Since she’d recently insulted him, too, Joey quickly inserted herself. “Definitely not mean.” She put her hand on Ryder’s back. “He’s right, they’re toys that are meant to come apart.”
Ryder continued to watch Hendrix.
In that moment, Joey understood all the angst her son had been under. Ted wasn’t only a threat to her, but Ryder felt it as well. Gently, she said, “Hendrix is a very nice man, you’ve told me so yourself, but if he was mean, I’d kick his butt, because no one can be mean to you.”
“Like Wonder Woman,” Hendrix said, then he barely managed to strangle out, “but with pants.”
Laughing, she swatted at him. “Wonder Woman has pants now, Smarty.”
Relaxing a little, Ryder grinned. “He’s way bigger than you, Mom.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Hendrix dragged all the Legos into a pile. “Moms have superpowers. Mostly, they know if someone will be nice to their kids or not. But if someone isn’t nice and she misses it, it’s important that you tell her.”
“I tell Mom lots of stuff.”
“Perfect.”
“You said that about my card, too.”
“You know what? Maybe it’s just that you’re perfect, and that makes what you do perfect, too.”
Wearing a bashful grin, Ryder laughed. “I’m not perfect.”
“Well, no one is perfect, I guess, but you’re pretty close. I used to be a cop, and cops know these things.” As if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell, Hendrix began sorting the Legos. “Now let’s see what we can build.”