Chapter 14
TAKE IT AS A WIN
Five days later, Blaze was leaving the night shift and walking to his SUV when he noticed Arden pulling in and parking in the distance.
Rather than go to his vehicle, he crossed the parking lot and jogged to catch up with her.
“Hi.”
She turned around quickly, a panicked look in her eyes. Maybe he shouldn’t have come at an angle and just waited by his vehicle as she got closer, but he didn’t want that many eyes on them.
Already it’d been brought up more than once about him and Arden.
Was everyone merely picking on him and being friendly? Yeah, they were and he was used to it.
But he didn’t want her pulled into it. Not when he was hoping for more than it was on the surface.
“Hey.”
“Didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?”
“Yes. Was just lost in thought over work.”
“That’s it, nothing more?”
He hadn’t talked to her since Saturday night.
As much as he wanted to stay so he could have a moment alone when Gracie was in bed, he knew he’d earn more points by making her bedtime routine easier and excused himself.
He had to get up early anyway, but it wasn’t as if he was going to bed at nine and hadn’t.
He’d sent that text right away, got her reply thanking him with a little blushing smiley face. Silly, but he’d take it as a win and left it at that.
He’d never been one to get too far into a conversation with his fingers and wasn’t going to start now. Not when she was within shouting distance.
Maybe he was tempted to walk back and check on her, but that would border too much on guarding along with wishing.
The first he couldn’t let go of, the second he’d stopped believing in years ago.
“No, just work.”
“No more problems with your ex?”
“No communication since the last time, so no problems.”
“Did you let your attorney know about the note?”
She sighed and looked around, but no one was close by. “No. I don’t know if it’s him, so it’s best not to add more flames to the pot right now. If it boils over it’s only another mess for me to clean up. I’m kind of tired of it.”
He reached for her hand, they were between cars and he didn’t think anyone could see. “I’m good at chores. My mother even admits it.”
She laughed. Exactly what he was going for. “Glad to know that. But I don’t want to drag anyone else into my problems.”
Which was what he thought was happening. It was too late in his eyes. He was already there.
“I don’t consider them problems. And everyone has them. Don’t think you’re alone.”
“Please. Do you have some ex out there making your life hell?”
He laughed, though it wasn’t even close to a cheerful sound. “Nope. But I had one who made my life that way when we were together. She might still haunt me and keep me shackled in her own way.”
The words were out before he could stop them, and the flicker of surprise in Arden’s eyes made him want to reel them back in.
Too late.
It was the kind of truth that slipped out only when someone got under your skin and Arden was crawling in inch by intoxicating inch.
Her exhale was low and rough. “Hate to say I’m glad I’m not the only one. Not that I’d wish that on anyone.”
“You got through it,” he said softly.
She gave a small, uneven smile. “Not fully.”
“Are getting through,” he corrected.
“How about you?” she asked, her voice quieter now. She hesitated, her guard wavering just enough for him to see the shadow beneath it. The uncertainty and hope that she might not be as alone as she feared.
“Could be a conversation for another time… if you’re willing. You’ve got to bring Gracie to her visit on Saturday, right?”
“I do,” she said, her brow furrowing. “But it’s in Saratoga, and it’s stupid to drive all that way there and back just to turn around an hour later.”
He held her gaze, his hand still wrapped around hers before he finally let go, slowly, deliberately, like he was forcing his fingers to listen to reason. Forcing her eyes to stay locked on his.
The warmth of her skin lingered against his palm long after he released her.
Too soon. Wrong place. He knew all that.
But if he was honest, every part of him wanted to close the distance again and see if the spark tightening in his chest was real, or just wishful thinking.
Was it just something that was going to burn out like the playful fireworks they’d held in their hands over the weekend, or light back up and explode into the sky?
And judging by the way her breath caught when he finally stepped back, he wasn’t the only one wondering.
“Why don’t I meet you there? We can get lunch. It will help you kill the time before you pick her back up. Keep your mind off of what you want to say to him but are afraid to bring up.”
He was pushing by voicing that, but if he didn’t push, he’d wonder and sometimes wondering was worse than making your thoughts known.
“I can’t ask you to do that. You’re working Friday and Saturday night.”
“So? I’m not going to sleep all day Saturday before I go in. I’ve got to eat. What time do you have to drop her off?”
“I’m not positive yet. It can change, but there is a window. It depends on what Billy’s plans are. I’ll get the notification by the end of the day. Could be morning or afternoon.”
He thought that was ridiculous, but he could see her being accommodating so that there was growth between father and daughter, even if that growth broke a little something in her along the way.
“I’ll work around it if I can. If you want me to. Maybe it’d be nice to have another lunch together, this time without a ton of prying eyes or a child looking at me as if I’m some god.”
She burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Blaze. You know how to brighten my day. God? Really?”
“Kind of runs in my blood.”
“What does? The ego and cockiness?”
“Genetics. We’ve all got it. The women love it.”
She snorted. “I bet they do.”
“Here’s the thing about Ridgeway men. We reserve it for a select few and those women who get it.” He brushed his knuckles across his chest, her eyes watching the movement. He was taking a page from Ash’s book and hamming it up, but it was fun at the same time. “They thank us for it in the end.”
She shoved his arm in a playful move. The woman who had flirted with him before she put those walls back up. He was slowly chipping them away.
“I bet they do,” she said. “And you want to give me a taste of it?”
He leaned down. “I didn’t think you’d banter with me like this, but I’m glad you are. Gives us something else to look forward to.”
“You’re making it tempting. Just the fact of how much fun I’m having talking to you is another to urge me on.”
“Points for me. What else is?”
Her eyes moved over his body in a slow, thorough appreciation sending blood rushing to his dick. Been a long time since he had that quick of a reaction also.
“The man standing in front of me. The one who got my timid daughter to not be so timid.”
“I noticed that,” he said, his voice more somber. “That she was shy the first day and not since.”
“She doesn’t normally open up to any man. She’s always been a little wary of strangers at first, but once she knows it’s fine, she’s good. Friendly. Playful and excited. But the last year or more changed that.”
“Makes me want to have a few words with that ex of yours,” he slipped out before he told himself not to go there.
“Don’t. It’d only make things messier. I don’t need that right now.”
“Heard loud and clear, but that won’t change how I feel.” She nodded. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“Not if you can keep it locked up.”
He couldn’t promise that but wouldn’t say it either. “So, Saturday?”
“I’ll let you know the time. If you can’t make it, I’ll understand. I’m sorry I can’t be more available.”
“Don’t be sorry. Some things are worth the wait. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Doesn’t seem I am either.” Her smile was back in place, but she dropped her eyes to look at the watch on her wrist. “I need to get in there.”
He’d love nothing more than to lean in and put a kiss on her cheek. Or better, her lips, but any kind of contact other than their hands touching would be a bonus.
They weren’t anywhere near there yet, even if both of them were feeling it.
Going slow was going to be the name of the game. Earning her trust right along with her daughter’s would come first.
“You know where I am if you need anything.”
Her eyes glowed some, his comment hitting its mark, even with the blush to her cheeks.
They turned to walk toward the building, him veering to his SUV, waving to some people going in, but most that he worked with were in before he walked out.
Before he got in, the ambulance came barreling into the parking lot. He stopped and stared, waiting to see what was going on.
The back doors opened and the gurney was pulled down, an EMT on top giving chest compressions and shouting out stats.
He started to take a step forward and stopped himself.
It was someone else’s job now. Not his to manage. Not his to save.
Not his to carry the weight if the outcome wasn’t good.
He got in his car and drove away to his empty home to spend the day sleeping before he got up alone, fueled himself for another shift and waited for Arden’s text so he could plan his next move.
Something to finally look forward to, and not something to drag him down.