Chapter 10 #2
“So you work at the farmers’ market, and you tutor kids?” Gus asks. “Are you a teacher, too?”
“No.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I have filled in a few times at the school here in Sugar Creek, but teaching’s not my thing. It turns out that I’m pretty good at one-on-one situations, but when twenty little gremlins outnumber me, it’s overstimulation city for me.”
I hold my breath as I take my first bite of pasta. If I’d known she was coming, I would’ve picked something else—probably takeout that I could’ve faked as my own. But when the sauce hits my tongue, I nearly sigh in relief. It’s good.
“What else do you do?” Gus asks.
I start to tell him to mind his business but stop short of saying it. I’m curious about her, too. And if I don’t have to be the one to ask, even better.
Markie glances at me. “Well, I help manage the farmers’ market.
That keeps me busy from spring through fall.
It really pares down in the winter to about a day a week.
Then I tutor throughout the school year and sometimes substitute teach if the school is in a bind.
I also work at the library part-time once school starts because the high school kids who work in the summer go back to class, leaving them shorthanded.
” She pauses to take a sip of water. “I also do some bookkeeping for John Travers, the local accountant. I do it from home, starting in October through May, usually. I just help get him through the tax season.”
“Wow.” I nod appreciatively. “That’s a lot of balls to have in the air.”
“It is,” she says, preparing a bite of pasta.
“But I think if I had to do the same thing every day, I’d get burned out so dang fast. And this way, I get to tinker with all the things I love and still pay my mortgage.
” She lifts the fork to her lips. “My parents died so young. It’s never been appealing to me to waste my life in an office with people I probably don’t even like.
I prefer to be in the community, talking to people and enjoying life instead. ”
Shrugging, she takes a bite.
My heart sinks at her tone. It’s not objectively sad, but there are enough notes in it to be obvious.
I can’t imagine losing both of my parents—losing my father at eighteen was hard enough.
But having no one to call with news, nowhere to go for holidays, and no one to call to ask about the random trip I barely remember when I was four?
That kills me. And that’s what she deals with every day.
“I didn’t know your parents were dead,” Gus says, his voice somber. “My first dad died when I was a little kid. It sucks.”
She smiles at him. “Thank you, Gus. It does suck, and I’m sorry you lost your first dad, too.”
His fork clatters against the side of his plate. His eyes are wide, filled with concern. “Do you have more family, though?”
“Yes. I have a Lolly, my grandma. And a sister and a brother. I have a brother-in-law now, too, and hopefully nieces and nephews in the not-too-distant future.”
“That’s good.” He nods as if he’s reassuring himself. “I was going to volunteer to be your stepson, but—”
“Gus.” My warning is met with laughter from him and Markie. “Behave. Please.”
I’ll never get her over here again if you keep it up.
We finish our meal, chatting easily about all things from rugby to pumpkins. Gus explained what he loves about living in the desert, and she told us about the upcoming Sugar Festival. Gus decided it was an event he couldn’t possibly miss.
I listen to their banter, feeling a strange sense of contentment. I’ve never had a woman over for dinner when Gus is around. It’s not even something I’ve considered. But this is so easy, so organic, as if I’m getting a glimpse of what life could look like.
It makes me wonder how much Gus must miss his “first dad” and having dinner around the table with him and Deidre. To be honest, I’ve never given that much thought either. Should I ask Gus about him and what he misses? Is it good for him to talk about it?
As I clean up dinner, Markie and Gus return to the math packet. By the time the dishwasher is loaded and the trash has been taken to the garage, they’re finished.
“Can I please play a video game now?” Gus asks. “I mean, I did the math packet.” The corner of his lip turns to the ceiling. “And you two probably want some alone time.”
Markie laughs, shaking her head. “You’re a little shit.”
“Go on,” I say, barely getting the words out before he’s racing to the living room.
His absence is felt immediately as the air in the room grows warmer. Markie tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gazes up at me with a coy smile.
Holy fuck, she’s beautiful.
“I should get going,” Markie says, her voice softer. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Feel free to stop by anytime. We eat three times a day plus snacks.”
She laughs.
“Come on,” I say, gently placing my hand in the small of her back. “I’ll walk you out.”
She ever-so-slightly leans into my touch. My fingers flex against her shirt, dying to slip beneath the fabric and touch her skin.
I lead her to the door and wait for her to exit first, then I step out into the darkness behind her.
The air is warm with a gentle breeze rippling through the trees in the yard. A thousand stars sparkle in the sky. Hints of her perfume drift in the air, the soft notes dancing through my senses as I commit them to memory.
Being with her feels strangely intimate. And instead of recoiling at the idea of being on that level with a woman, my instinct is to embrace it. To hold it. To hold her. There’s still so much about her that I don’t know, but I fear if I go digging, she’ll pull away.
“Thanks for bringing the key,” I say as we reach her car.
Instead of opening the door, she faces me, and her brown eyes search mine.
I stand in front of her with my arms at my sides, letting her know that I’m not going anywhere. She can see whatever she wants, ask me whatever questions are in that pretty little head. I think it’s the only way I’ll get to show her that I’m not here to hurt her like the other men in her life.
“I was on the path to having a shitty evening, so thanks for inviting me to stay,” she says. “I’m kind of surprised that I did, to be honest, but I’m glad I made that decision.”
“Trust me, I got the key and avoided having to teach my kid fractions. I got the better end of the deal.”
Her grin nearly steals my breath. It’s genuine and, maybe for the first time, unguarded. My heart races as my gaze sinks into hers.
Silence settles in the space between us, a stillness that feels pregnant with anticipation. It’s not awkward or tense, but it’s dangerous all the same.
I shift my weight as my gaze drops to her mouth—to those plump pink lips that I can imagine wrapped around my cock. Her breath hitches, her tongue swiping across her pout. When I lift my attention to her face, the look in her eyes nearly undoes me.
If I were a betting man, I’d bet that she’s feeling the same thing as me.
“You better stop that,” I say, forcing a chuckle that’s filled with the sexual frustration bubbling inside me.
“Stop what?” she asks as if she doesn’t know what she’s doing to me.
“You know what.”
She grins playfully. “You’re right. My apologies.” She opens the door to her car. “I’ll see ya around.”
“I’ll see ya around,” I reply as she pauses to look at me. “Dinner is usually around seven …”
She laughs as she gets into the driver’s seat. “Good night, Jory.”
“Night, Markie.”
I step back as she pulls away from the curb and watch until she’s out of sight.
My shoulders sink as I blow out a breath, attempting to settle the energy rioting in my body. This woman throws me for a loop. Every time I see her, she adds another layer to the mix. She’s not just beautiful or interesting. She’s smart. Hardworking. Kind.
Is she really this exciting, or has it been too long since I’ve gotten laid?
“Probably both,” I say, turning around and heading inside.