Chapter 12 Post Dinner
Post dinner
Tinker plunged the scrub brush into the soapy water, then ran it over the plate to remove the stuck-on bits of barbecue. He glanced to his right where Olivia rinsed and placed the clean dishes on the drain board.
She hadn’t said much at dinner to anyone other than Will. He’d caught her glaring in his direction a few times with assessing eyes that had seen too much in her short twelve years.
“You have some questions for me?” he asked.
“How long have you known Abby?” There was an accusing edge to her voice.
“About a month, I think.” He shut off the water and dried his hands on a dish towel.
“Are you dating?”
“Not yet, but I’d like to.”
She crossed her arms and leaned against the far counter of the galley-style kitchen. “Does Abby want to date you?”
He suppressed a smile. “I hope so, but that’s up to her.”
“Why were you here on Friday?”
He leaned against the opposite counter and slid his hands into his pockets. “I’m friends with Katherine and we work together in the same organization.”
“What organization?” she asked.
“Veterans Against Child Abuse. We help kids feel safe again, especially when they have to testify in court. We go with them so they know they have someone there to protect them. That’s how Katherine knew who to call—she’s helped other kids and families.”
“And that’s your job?” she asked.
“No. I work for a company as a security specialist. I volunteer with VACA.”
“Are there other guys like you who volunteer?”
He nodded. “Lots.”
She chewed on that bit of information—literally biting at her lip. Finally, she asked, “Are they all as scary looking as you?”
He grinned. “Scarier.”
A shriek split the air, and Will came running into the kitchen in only his underwear.
“William, get your nekkid butt back in here!” Abby chased after him, holding what appeared to be his pajamas.
Will shriek-laughed and ran through the kitchen, around the living room, and back to the kitchen. Tinker caught him around the middle and tossed him into the air, eliciting another high-pitched laugh.
He settled him in his arm. “I think your mama wants you to put some clothes on, Little Man.”
“Again! Throw me again!” Will kicked his feet and Tink shifted him to the side, so his pointy little feet didn’t take out his manhood.
“How about you put on your pj’s, and I’ll throw you…” He glanced at Abby, who held up two fingers. “Two more times.”
“Okay.” Will wiggled and kicked to be put down. Tink handed him over to Abby, who held him like a sack of grain under her arm.
“Come on, Monster. We’ll fly back to your room and put some clothes on. Then Mr. Tinker can toss you.”
Will stuck his arms straight out in front of him as Abby rushed back down the hall. Shit, what did she lift? He could only imagine the strength it took to wrestle a wriggling little boy every day.
A short time later, Will ran back down the hall in dinosaur pj’s and demanded Tink throw him. He kept his word and threw him an extra time for good measure.
Olivia offered to read to Will before bed, giving Tink a steady look before taking Will upstairs.
Abby collapsed on the couch and rested her head on the back cushion, eyes closed.
Tinker sat next to her, facing her. “Is he always that energetic?”
“Yes. He always gets a huge burst of energy right before bed.”
A large black, shorthaired cat jumped on the back of the couch and meowed, rubbing its head against Abby’s.
“Who’s this?” he asked.
“This is Fuzzbutt Noodlehead.”
That was unexpected. “Fuzz what?”
She smiled and opened her eyes, shifting so she could scratch the cat under its chin. “Fuzzbutt Noodlehead. I don’t even remember where the name came from. I think my mom suggested it as a joke, and Will loved it and wouldn’t agree to anything else. So now he’s Fuzzbutt.”
“What about Will’s dad?”
Abby shifted her gaze from the cat to him. He could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to decide how much to share. Finally, she blew out a breath and twisted her body to face him, tucking her legs under her.
“I divorced his biological father before Will was born.” She rested her arm on the back of the couch and propped her head in her hand.
He knew there was more to the story. Her tone was challenging, likely to see if she could scare him off again. “You don’t seem like the kind of woman to deny a good dad access to his kid. What happened?”
Her mouth twisted. “It was an accidental pregnancy. He wanted me to terminate—said it was him or the baby. I chose Will.”
“Motherfucker.” He never planned to have kids, but if it happened, he sure as fuck would take care of his child.
“Pretty much.” She lowered her hand and scratched Fuzzbutt again. “I moved here. Went back to school for my teaching degree while I was pregnant.”
“Why Charleston?” he asked.
“My mom retired here after my dad passed away. She had a couple of friends who lived here at the time. She offered to move in with me to help with rent and Will after he was born.”
“And Olivia and Will have the same father.”
She nodded. “I still can’t believe I didn’t know about her. Who does that? Who abandons their child?”
“You’d be surprised at the number of assholes who do,” he said bitterly.
Her eyes, a deep whiskey color, searched his face. It felt like she was searching for his soul, cataloging every flaw and chink he had.
She smiled softly. “What about you? Why Charleston?”
The vat of rage he kept a tight lid on bubbled and hissed. He worked to keep his voice even and steady. “We moved for Dani when I was in high school. There was a dance coach here she wanted to train with.”
“Dance?” she asked. “I thought she was an MMA fighter.”
“She is, but when she was younger, she was an internationally ranked ballroom dancer.” He was still so proud of her accomplishments, but the anger and disappointment swirled and mixed with pride until he couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.
“How did she go from dancing to fighting?”
That he wouldn’t get into. Couldn’t. “It’s a long and complicated story for some other time.”
She searched his face again. “Okay. Thank you again for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.” He picked up a strand of hair on her shoulder, rubbing the silky strand between his fingers. “I’d like a do-over. I know I messed up the first time. I want to make it up to you.”
Abby leaned back slightly and straightened her spine. “Why now? Nothing about my situation has changed. In fact, the situation is significantly more complicated than before.”
Tinker ran a hand over his short hair. “I…don’t have a good reason. Not one that won’t make me sound like a complete and total asshole, anyway.” He took a breath. “I’ve made it a point not to get involved with women with kids. Not because of baggage or exes or baby daddies.”
While he thought about how to say what he needed to say, Abby asked, “Then why?”
“Because kids get attached and then they get hurt. Adults go into things knowing there’s a risk. Kids? All they know is one day you’re gone. I’m not going to put a kid through that if I can avoid it.”
“But you’re willing to put Will through it?”
“I’m willing to take the risk.”
Olivia cleared her throat as she stood at the end of the hall. “Will is asleep.”
“Thank you, sweetie. Do you want to watch a movie?” Abby asked.
“I’m going to read in my room, if that’s okay,” Olivia said.
“Of course.”
Olivia turned, paused, and turned back. “I’ll have my earbuds in listening to music. Loud.”
Abby stared at her retreating form. He grinned as a deep blush spread across her cheeks as she realized what Olivia had implied.
She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Did she just tell us she wouldn’t be able to hear us making out?”
“I think she did.”
She lowered her gaze and the blush spread higher on her cheeks. “That’s not… We don’t…” She cleared her throat.
He was so far out of his depth. In any other situation, he’d drag her across his lap and kiss her until she forgot to be nervous or embarrassed. But implied permission or not, he wasn’t going to get X-rated on her couch with two kids in the house.
“And it’s not only Will anymore, it’s Olivia too. So why are you willing to risk hurting them?”
Her words doused every single iota of arousal building.
Tinker looked down the hall Olivia had disappeared down. “Because that girl showed up at your door and you didn’t hesitate for even a minute.”
“I hesitated plenty,” Abby said.
Tinker picked up a strand of her hair again, twirling the end around his finger, the silky strand smooth against the rough pad. “Not in a way that mattered. You’re rearranging your whole life to protect her. That makes you someone worth taking a risk for.”
Abby gaped at him. “I…I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Say you’ll go on another date with me.”
She took a deep breath. “I can’t.”
Tinker pressed his lips together and let the strand of hair fall from his fingers. It had been a long shot. He’d blown it the first time, walking away when he’d learned about Will. She had no reason to trust him. No reason to think he’d do anything different.
He nodded. “I understand. I’ll still help, through VACA or Katherine. Whatever you need.”
“I can’t for at least the next two weeks.”
“What?”
“We’re working on the Spring Showcase as soon as we go back to school on Monday, and it’s going to have all my attention for the next two weeks,” she said.
“What’s the Spring Showcase?”
“The art and drama departments have an evening where there are short drama performances, with costumes created by the fashion students and scenery from the art students. There's also an art and fashion exhibition in the main foyer and theater foyer.”
“It sounds like a lot of work,” he said.
“It is. It’s a big deal for the seniors because we invite recruiters from some of the top colleges and institutes in the country, even some from overseas. It’s not unusual for several students to receive scholarships from the portfolios they present.”
“All this happens after school, right?”
“Most of it,” she said. “Some of it happens during the day.”
That damn strand of hair beckoned again. “Who watches Will?”
“My mom.”
He nodded absentmindedly. He could work with two weeks. It would give him time to rebuild her trust. A hint of a plan formulated in his mind. One that would convince her he was serious and he meant what he’d said.
“Abby.” He tugged on the strand of hair again.
“Mm hmm?”
“Why don’t you walk me out?”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh. Okay. Sure.”
He stood and took her hand to pull her up. He kept her hand in his until they were outside and he’d pulled the door shut behind them.
“You really are amazing, you know that, right?”
She scoffed. “No, I’m not.”
It killed him she couldn’t see it. That her fuckwad ex-husband had walked away from her and his kid. “Yes. You are. For one, you’re raising a son, by yourself.”
She shrugged. “Lots of women do that.”
“You took in a kid that isn’t even yours. That you have no ties or loyalty to,” he said, as if she hadn’t spoken.
“What was I supposed to do? Hand her back to her aunt and abusive uncle? Put her in the foster care system?”
He couldn’t help grinning. She was seriously sexy when she got fired up. “A lot of people would have, yeah.”
“Well, I’m not a lot of people,” she said.
“Exactly.”
Her lips moved and he knew he had her, even if she didn’t see anything extraordinary in what she’d done. “What’s the second one?”
“Second what?” he asked.
“Second reason. You said, ‘for one.’”
“Oh, yeah. That kiss.”
Her gaze dropped to his lips, and he caught her short intake of breath.
“That kiss I haven’t been able to get out of my head.
” He wrapped his hands around her hips and pulled her closer.
“That kiss lives rent free in my mind on repeat. Every now and then I imagine where things would have gone if we hadn’t been interrupted.
Would you have let me slide my fingers under the edge of your panties?
Would you have let me kneel between your legs and flick your clit with my tongue? ”
“Christian,” she said on a gasp, her breath warm on his lips.
“Would you have said my name like that while you ground your wet pussy against my face?”
“Holy fudge. It’s lust,” she whispered.
“Maybe.” His mouth was so close to hers that his lips brushed against hers when he spoke. “But I’ve been in lust, and this is way more than simple lust. You know it too, even if you’re not ready to admit it.”
“And if it is only lust?”
“Then I’ll have the memory of you riding my face to keep me happy well into my old age.
” He sealed their lips together. He slid his hand down over her jeans into the crease of her ass, and he swallowed her groan.
He wasn’t blowing smoke just to get her to agree.
He knew lust and whatever this was, it was a fuck ton more than that.
She hiked her leg up over his hip and wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt it too.
He wanted to strip her naked, wrap her legs around his waist, and bury hilt deep in her waiting heat. He couldn’t even fool himself into thinking one time would get her out of his system. Abby wasn’t an itch to scratch.
Tearing his mouth away, he pressed his forehead to hers and tried to get his breathing under control. He panted like he’d run a five-miler and all they’d done was kiss.
“I didn’t plan for that to get out of hand,” he said.
“What was your plan?” She sounded just as winded.
“Sweet, chaste kiss. Tell you I’ll call you tomorrow and to sleep tight.”
“Jesus. If this is your idea of sweet and chaste, I’m not sure I can handle dirty and raunchy.”
He lifted his head and smirked. “I think you’ll do just fine.”
She blushed and licked her lips. His gaze followed the track of her tongue as it slipped back into her mouth. Fuck, he needed to leave before he did exactly what he told her he wanted to.
“We’ll pick this back up in two weeks.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss, refusing to linger like he wanted to. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Sleep tight.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “Goodnight.”