Chapter 34 #2
Duke hoped he was doing the right thing when he pulled into Blaine and Tiffany’s driveway and parked his truck. He grabbed the stuffed bear he’d rescued from the wreckage of McKenzie’s house. The bear looked much better after the bath he’d given it last night.
Her name was McKenzie.
He’d noticed her and her son shortly after they’d arrived two weeks ago and had kept half an eye on them since.
Not in a stalkerish way, of course. It was more in case they needed anything.
He’d wondered what a young woman and baby were doing in the old Enders place that had fallen into disrepair in recent years.
Was it safe for them to be there? Didn’t they have anywhere else to go?
And yes, he’d noticed the woman was a stunner, but that wasn’t why he was bringing the damned bear to her.
“Fuckin’ liar,” he muttered to himself as he went up the stairs to the back door, annoyed with himself for bothering with a stupid stuffed bear.
You could lie to some people, he thought. But it was damned hard to lie to yourself. What would a gorgeous woman see in a guy like him anyway? His own mother told him he looked like something the cat had dragged home from skid row, and that was when she was in a good mood.
He shoulda shaved or done something with his hair before he came over here, but it was too late now.
Pissed with himself—and his mother—he knocked on the door.
The smooshed red VB bug was the only car in the driveway.
The SUV Blaine and Tiffany used when he was off duty was gone as was Blaine’s police vehicle, so he wasn’t sure if anyone would be there.
The door swung open, and there she was, holding her cute little guy on her hip the way mothers did. She wore a tank top and gym shorts that put miles of creamy white skin on display that made him want to swallow his tongue.
And then she smiled.
Was it possible to swallow a tongue?
She pushed open the storm door. “Hi, Duke. Come in.”
Duke marveled at the warm welcome. Not a hint of hesitation.
Probably because Tiffany had welcomed him into her home the day before.
See, Mom, I’m not as menacing as you think I am.
He realized McKenzie was waiting for him to tell her why he’d come.
“I, uh… I found this in the rubble.” He held up the bear.
“Thought the little one might want him. Or her.”
Now he was trying to assign a gender to a stuffed bear. What a fool. No wonder he hadn’t had a girlfriend in years.
“That’s so nice of you.” McKenzie showed the bear to baby Jax, who let out a squeal of excitement that touched Duke’s heart. She took a closer look at the bear. “Did you clean him?”
“I did. I hope that’s okay. He was filthy from the storm.”
“That’s so kind of you and to bring him to us.”
“It was no problem.”
“Would you like to sit for a minute?”
“Oh, um, sure. Thanks.”
“Tiffany made coffee on the grill before she went to check on her shop in town. Can I get you a cup?”
“That’d be nice. Thank you.”
“How do you take it?”
“Black.”
“Ew,” she said with a laugh.
“You like it with all that crap in it?”
“I sure do. The more crap, the better.”
“That ain’t coffee. It’s coffee milk.”
She brought his mug and then one for herself, all while still holding the baby.
“He’s a cutie,” Duke said.
“I think so, too.”
The baby started to fuss, so she produced dry cereal that she put in front of him on the table, immediately satisfying him.
“How do you know what he wants?”
“You don’t at first, but over time, you start to recognize the various noises. That was his hungry noise. There’s a different one when the diaper is wet or he’s sleepy.”
“Wow. It’s like a secret code or something.” He’d love to put the most stunning flowers on her gorgeous skin, not that she needed any enhancements. But he couldn’t look at skin like hers and not dream of the art he could create on such a perfect canvas.
“It takes a few weeks to figure out the different needs, but after a while, you find a groove.”
“What’re you going to do about the cabin?”
“I’m not sure yet. I have a call into the insurance company, but I’m sure they’re slammed with claims after the storm. Tiffany said I can stay here as long as I need to, but I hate to put them out.”
“Tiffany and Blaine are good people.”
“Yes, they are, but no one needs strangers in their house any longer than necessary.”
“If you need a place to stay while you figure things out, I have a small apartment over my garage you can use. It’d need a good cleaning, but I can take care of that.”
“What’s the rent?”
“No rent. No one has lived there in years, so I don’t need the money. I’m happy to offer it to you if it would help you out.”
“Why?”
He shook his head, as if he hadn’t heard her right. “Why what?”
“Why would you offer it to me? You don’t even know me.”
Duke tried to think fast, to come up with something that wouldn’t seem weird. “I knew Rosemary. She was my friend. You’re her granddaughter. You need help. It’s kinda that simple.” To his great dismay, she started to cry. “Now don’t do that.” Nothing freaked him out like girl tears did.
“It’s so very kind of you,” she said as she dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.
“Well, don’t cry about it.”
She laughed as she wiped away more tears.
“Seriously. Cut that out.”
McKenzie laughed, and then the baby did, too, and he decided the sound of their laughter was one of the best things he’d ever heard.
“So do you want the apartment?” he asked. His tone was testier than he’d intended, but she made him feel like a fool who couldn’t get out of his own way.
“I would very much appreciate the apartment while I figure out what’s next.”
“I’ll get it ready.”
“Hey, Duke?”
“Yes?” Why did he feel so breathless as she looked up at him with that pretty face and those eyes that seemed to see inside him.
“Thank you for your kindness.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll pick you up at five and drive you home.”
“I can call a cab.”
He stood and nearly knocked over the chair. “I’ll come for you.”
She stood to walk him to the door. “Thank you again for this and for bringing the bear to Jax. My grandmother had good taste in friends.”
“She was a great lady.”
“Yes, she was.”
“Well, uh, I’ll see you at five.”
“We’ll be ready.”
As Duke went out the door and down the steps to the driveway, he feared he’d made the biggest mistake of his life asking her to stay at his place. She turned him into a bumbling, tongue-tied idiot. But the strangest thing was that he couldn’t wait to come back to get them.