Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
Camden
It’s been five days since I helped Adam move some of Maren’s furniture into the house next door, and so far, I’ve been able to successfully avoid my new neighbor.
Sure, I’ve noticed her arrivals and departures, and I prefer to think of that simply because I hear her car, not because I’m in tune to her.
I’ve heard Theo’s laughter as they walked to her small SUV before they left the other night.
I’ve even spotted her walking through her kitchen when I was standing at my window.
We’re not talking about the reason I was standing there, however, nor the fact she glanced up and caught my gaze before I could look away.
But we haven’t spoken, and I’d like to keep it that way.
It’s about seven thirty on Thursday morning, and I’ve got everything I need to head to work.
I’m planning to stop by the coffee shop and pick up a large black coffee, since I forgot to grab coffee grounds on my way home from work last night.
Now, I’m going to be stuck standing in line with all the other coffee drinkers, desperate for their morning kick.
My truck has been warming up for the last fifteen minutes or so, thanks to remote start, and as soon as I have my keys in my hand, phone in my pocket, and my heavy coat on, I head out.
It hasn’t snowed in a few days, but the temperatures are bitter cold, so I tuck my chin and move quickly to my truck.
Just before I reach the door handle, the unmistakable sound of a vehicle trying to turn over and being unsuccessful fills the air. My eyes travel to the source of the noise, landing on Maren. She’s sitting in the driver’s seat, trying to start her car.
I glance up at the sky.
Why me?
Shoving my hands in my coat pockets, I walk around the front of my truck and cross the strip of land between our driveways. “Sounds like either the battery or the alternator.”
She doesn’t startle by my sudden appearance, but I don’t miss the way she briefly closes her eyes and exhales. “Figures.” Glancing toward me, she hesitantly asks, “Can you give me a jump?”
I shrug. “In these cold temperatures, it probably won’t help. If your battery is old, the charge may fail. If it does start, it’s likely to not start the next time you try.”
She leans forward, resting her forehead against the steering wheel. Suddenly, she pulls out her phone. “I need to call my dad.”
“He’s at work,” I reply, even though it’s none of my business. What I should do is climb inside my truck and get to work myself. If I wait too much longer, I won’t have time to stop and grab a cup of coffee, leaving me with drinking whatever shit Randy makes in the waiting area of the shop.
“I don’t really have a choice,” she murmurs, tapping on her phone screen. “I have a client coming in and I have to get Theo to daycare.”
I close my eyes as the words tumble out of my mouth. “I’ll take you. Then after I get off work, I can look at your car.”
When I open my eyes, she’s staring at me, those blue orbs wide with shock. “What? No, it’s fine, Cam. I’m sure my dad can leave work for a bit to come get me.”
“That’s unnecessary, Maren.” My tone is flat, my annoyance evident. “I’m here. Let’s go.”
Her blue eyes narrow into slits, and she makes no immediate movement to get out of her vehicle. I should just leave. She’s an adult, and she can figure out her own crap. Yet, that’s not what happens. I step forward and grab her door, holding it open wide while she climbs out.
Meeting my gaze, she asks, “Are you sure?”
I nod once. “Yep. We both need to get to work though, so let’s hurry.”
Without saying another word, she turns around and heads for her house. Just before she enters, she turns around and says, “I need to get Theo’s seat.”
“I got it,” I state, hoping to shave a few minutes off our delay by helping out.
Climbing into the back seat, I take in the seat contraption.
It has straps and clasps and all sorts of safety features.
Admittedly, I don’t know dick about car seats, but I wasn’t expecting this.
Probably because it’s very different than the carrier my sister and Quinn have for June, but it’s also unlike the little seat booster things I’ve seen in the past.
I release the seat belt and work on removing it from the device, and when it’s free, I pull. Only the seat doesn’t come out. It’s still tethered to the car with a small strap of some sort at the bottom.
“There’s a second hook connected to the hook between the seat cushions.”
I stand up quickly and spin around, hitting my head on the doorframe with a thud.
Maren gasps, and Theo giggles.
I rub my head. “Was that funny?” I ask, knowing I’m going to have a lump there pretty quickly.
Theo nods emphatically. “Funny.”
“Let me help,” she says as she steps forward.
I move out of the way, yet still catch a hint of her familiar lotion hanging in the air. It’s like a punch to the gut every time I smell it.
“Stay right next to my car,” Maren tells her son.
He immediately moves over to where I stand and shoves his gloved hand inside of mine.
“You going to daycare?” I ask.
“Yep! You come too?”
I crack a smile. “I’m afraid I have to go to work.”
“Mama work.”
Maren removes the seat and stands up. “Yep, Mama gotta go to work. She’s gonna be late though,” she mutters, closing the back passenger seat door.
“Come on, Theo. Let’s get you situated in my truck.”
“Yay!” he cries out, taking off to the short jaunt to where my Chevy is parked and warm.
Maren has to climb inside the back seat of my truck to secure the car seat into place.
I do everything I can to keep my focus on Theo and answering his onslaught of questions, but my eyes stray.
They zero in on her ass as she’s bent over, ensuring her son will be secure.
She’s a bit fuller since I last saw her at eighteen, with curves in all the right places, including her ass.
I should look away.
I don’t.
I should feel guilty for checking her out.
Again…I don’t.
Dammit.
“Okay, Theo, let’s get going,” she says, climbing from my truck and turning her attention to the little boy standing beside me.
He hoots with excitement as she lifts him into the truck. He instantly starts to take it in, eager to get strapped into the seat, but not exactly holding still either. “Theo, I need to buckle you in,” Maren says, her voice laced with frustration.
“Let’s get you buckled and to daycare, little dude,” I blurt out, trying to help any way I can.
“’Kay!” He holds still while Maren secures the harness, and finally, after a solid fifteen minutes from the time I walked out of my house to get in my truck to now, we’re settling in the truck and ready to get on the road.
I try to ignore the way her sweet scent tickles my nose, but it’s fucking hard.
Like me. I’m growing hard with every passing second she’s beside me, as if she’s always been there, sitting in the passenger seat.
And don’t get me started on the little boy in the back seat, talking to no one and everyone at the same time.
“I need to take him to Little Learners,” she states softly and politely.
Nodding, I reach for the dash and turn down the heat. Since it’s been running for a while, it feels hot in here. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the woman sitting beside me.
Needing to drag my thoughts away from her, I ask, “You warm enough, little dude?”
“Hot!”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I reply, turning it down a little more. We’re all wrapped in heavy winter coats, and he’s wearing a stocking hat that’s tied around his chin and a pair of Bluey mittens that match his snow boots.
We pull into the carport for drop-off, and I throw my truck in park.
I retrieve my phone and fire off a quick text to Randy, letting him know I’m gonna be a few minutes late for work.
I know he won’t care, since I don’t abuse it and rarely ask for time off, and that’s confirmed when I get an immediate response.
Randy
Sounds good.
I set my phone on the console as Maren frees Theo from his seat. “Cam!” he hollers, reaching out his hand.
Maren quickly replies, “No, Theo, Camden’s going to stay out here and wait for me. We have to both get to work.”
“No, Cam come too,” he insists.
My eyes are wide, my heart rattling painfully in my chest, and when I see tears fill his little blue eyes, I crack. Ripping off my seat belt, I jump out of my truck and meet him around at the front.
Theo instantly launches into my arms and smiles from ear to ear. I walk to the front entrance, where we wait to be let in by staff. “Hi, Theo,” Madison greets. She’s a young woman, a few years younger than me, and I’ve worked on her car a time or two at the shop.
“Cam!”
Madison smiles warmly. “You brought a friend with you today.”
He nods emphatically. Theo turns to me and grins. “Fend.”
My chest feels like there’s a dozen galloping horses in there, but my smile is easy as I give him a nod and agree, “Friend.”
Maren goes to the counter and writes on the sheet of paper. “It’ll probably be my dad who picks him up today.”
“Papa!” Theo proclaims as he places both mitten-covered hands on my cheeks and gets practically nose to nose. “You come.”
“Sorry, buddy. I’ll be at work.”
“No work,” he insists, resting his head on my shoulder.
I glance at Maren, who’s standing there completely shocked, her pretty little mouth catching flies.
“Oh, that’s so cute,” Madison says.
Maren clears her throat and steps forward, extending her arms to Theo. “It’s time for Miss Maddie to take you to your classroom. I bet Bryton is there, waiting to play.”
That seems to catch his attention, and he’s suddenly shimmying down my body. “Pway!”
Once his feet are safely on the ground, I take a step back.
Maren drops to her knees on the floor and helps Theo out of his coat.
She takes off his snow boots, gloves, and hat, and walks over to the cubbies and hooks that extend along the side wall.
He helps her hang everything up in his little area before turning and darting toward Miss Maddie.