Chapter 19 #2
When she pivoted, he could see she was making French toast. Yum. Was it for him? “I’m taking the day off.”
Pointing to his bandaged arm, he said, “Because of this? Nothing’s broken. It’s a few stitches.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You have a concussion and can’t drive. I wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything. Don’t forget I know you. I have no doubt you’d ignore the no-driving rule to go get a pizza or something. If I have food here, you won’t need to.”
He glanced hopefully at the pan behind her. “So that’s for me?”
A smile lit her face. “It’s for both of us. Since you’re not severely injured, could you get the maple syrup and butter from the fridge, please, while I put these on plates?”
He gave her a smart salute. “Yes, ma’am.” Then, he did as asked. When he pulled out the Mountain Dew, she frowned.
“That paper you gave me yesterday with instructions said you shouldn’t drink a lot of caffeine. I believe Mountain Dew has some of the highest amounts of caffeine of most sodas.”
Sighing, he shoved the soda back on the shelf and grabbed the milk. She nodded at his choice. “Can you pour me a glass, too, please?”
Once they had everything and had taken a few bites, Evan told her, “You don’t need to stay with me.
” He didn’t mind staying home for one day, but his boss had texted last night and said he didn’t want to see him back until Monday at the earliest. Today was Thursday.
He hated missing work but couldn’t say his head didn’t feel like crap.
Guess he’d enjoy the paid time off. “I’ll be fine.
” He had to show a little bit of manliness in front of Mercedes.
She pursed her lips. “Maybe I want to stay home and play hooky. Why should you get all the fun?”
Evan grinned but dug into his food again so she didn’t see. He liked the thought of her staying with him. If he couldn’t drive, maybe she’d take him somewhere. Or they could simply hang out here for the day.
When they finished, he grabbed both plates, and Mercedes gave a show of objecting, but he shook her off.
Once the dishes were rinsed and stacked in the dishwasher, he signed.
“Don’t treat me like I’m dying. I’ve got a tiny bump on my head and a few stitches.
Maybe some aches and pains from the fall.
” He’d better tell her about those now, because she’d find out sooner or later the second he grunted when he moved.
Then, he’d be in trouble for not sharing.
“I won’t,” she promised. “But I’ll make sure you follow all those instructions from the clinic.”
As he wandered into living room and picked up the remote, she stomped her foot. She glanced at the device in his hand. “No screen time. It’s bad for the head.”
“It said minimum screen time,” he pointed out.
The look she gave him was right out of his mother’s book of stares, when he did something he shouldn’t have and was pretending he hadn’t been aware he couldn’t do it. Did all women get that same manual once they became adults?
Tossing the remote back on the coffee table, he scowled. “Fine, but what the heck am I supposed to do all day?” He dropped onto the couch and crossed his arms. He was too old to pout, but he felt like sulking anyway.
Mercedes looked away, then at the floor and bit her lip. What was up? She seemed like she was trying to get up the nerve to say something he wouldn’t like. Did she want to kick him out? Is that what the fancy breakfast and staying home with him was for? To let him down easy?
“You okay?” He’d give her a hand getting started if she really wanted him gone.
Her generous hips swayed as she approached the couch and got cozy on the cushion, one leg under her.
After a deep breath, she signed, “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure, what?” And should he be nervous at how anxious she seemed to be?
“Remember on the Cape, when you saved those boys from that malfunctioning bucket truck?”
Okay, this wasn’t what he’d been expecting. “It was a front-end loader. And, yes, I remember. You had to go and tell everyone at the party what happened.” He hated being the center of attention.
She made a face. “Front-end loader. Right. Well … we kind of kissed.”
She’d been thinking about the kiss for three weeks?
He had, but he kind of thought she’d thrown it in the rearview mirror.
He glanced at his feet, which were still bare, looking for how to respond.
Why hadn’t he put any shoes and socks on?
Oh, because he was home and didn’t have plans to go anywhere today. What did he say?
“Yeah, I moved at the wrong time.” That kind of made it sound like it hadn’t been on purpose, because it hadn’t.
A sly grin slowly blossomed on her face. “I kind of thought it was the right time.”
Another thing he hadn’t been expecting. “You did?”
Her head bobbed up and down. “I enjoyed it. Did you?”
What the heck did he say, and what kind of answer did she want? He couldn’t say he hated it, that’s for sure. But did he tell her exactly how much he’d liked it?
With an upturn on the side of his mouth, he said, “I always enjoy a kiss from a beautiful woman.” He waited for her to give him a hard time about being a playboy, something he was nowhere near being.
Instead, her cheeks colored. “You think I’m beautiful. Or are you teasing me as usual?”
“I’ve always thought you were gorgeous,” he said quickly. It was the honest truth.
“You never told me.”
She seriously didn’t know. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I never said anything, because I figured you’d never look twice at a guy like me.”
Her grateful smile dimmed. “What do you mean, a guy like you? One who’s a pain in the behind?”
Time to get real. “A Deaf guy with no college education, who can barely read.”
Her eyebrows inched closer to each other. “Is that how you think I see you? We’ve been working on your reading lately, and I know how smart you are in so many ways.”
“You’re a college librarian. You’re all about reading and being smart. That’s not my thing.”
Her face stiffened. “Do you honestly think I’m such a snob regarding someone with a hearing loss? Your sister has been my best friend for years. Not to mention, I know some very highly educated people who are the stupidest people I know. Book smarts are not always better.”
He’d always felt that way, especially after meeting some of her work friends, but he didn’t realize she’d also thought it. “Thanks. For not being a snob and for helping me get through the Level Two book."
“Happy to do it. You deserve to get ahead at work.”
“My boss wants me to mentor not only the new Deaf guy but the pain in the neck who caused my injuries yesterday. I think it’s more of a punishment for him, but somehow I get penalized as well. But I get more pay for mentoring, plus the increase when I pass the level two test.”
He mentioned what his increase would be, and her mouth fell open. “That’s more than I make, and I have two degrees. See? Book learning doesn’t always equate to a better job.”
“Maybe you need to find a job where you don’t sit around and only read all day.” When she moved to playfully swat him, he caught her wrist. “I’m teasing. I’m teasing. Don’t hurt the injured man.”
Her fingers curled around his, and suddenly the air between them felt charged. Without thinking, he tugged her even closer. “So about that kiss. Should we see if you still like it?” At her smile, he tipped his head forward and kissed her.
At first, her lips were soft, tentative, but the longer their mouths touched, the stronger the bond became.
He eased back, then surged forward again. Before he could make contact, she pulled away. “Wait. Who’s Keisha?”
He startled with the question. “Keisha? Why?”
A sheepish smile crossed her face. “I peeked at the text she sent you like a month ago while you were in the shower. How she needed your special skills. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes by kissing you.”
He doubled over, laughing. “She’s the wife of a friend. She loves to beat him at video games, so she calls when she needs a shortcut or some tips.”
“So, not a girlfriend?”
Cupping her face, he pressed a light kiss to her nose as he shook his head gently.
The weight of their history hovered in the background, but he wanted a fresh start right now.
Not simply friends, but maybe a little more.
Her lips moved against his, and his fingers stroked the soft skin of her cheeks.
The dull ache in his head was forgotten, replaced by something warmer, sharper, entirely his.
“Were you jealous?” he asked when they parted.
She gave a little pout. “Maybe I was.”
His grin couldn’t be stopped. “I think I like that.”
She snuggled closer. “I think I like this even more,” and kissed him again. He couldn’t disagree.