She brushed off his neck and ears, and then removed the cape so he could get up. Then her phone buzzed again and she rolled her eyes at the ceiling. “I swear, I’m going to flush this phone down the toilet.”
“I know the feeling. But, on the bright side, he’s not leaving sex sticky notes on mirrors in public bathrooms.”
Katie laughed as he handed her the money for the cut. “What is it with those Kowalskis?”
He’d known them long enough to know that was a question with no answer.
*
Liz loved the feel of the Mustang cruising the twisty, shaded roads that ran along the lake. It was more of a large pond, really, but it had always been called the lake. They wouldn’t stop because Drew had snuck a few hours off and he wanted to enjoy them. According to him, every time he’d ever stopped at one of the beaches or boat launches on his time off, he’d ended up finding kids up to no good or somebody breaking a law.
It was enough feeling the cool breeze through the windows and watching him relax as he drove his baby. His hands were sure on the wheel and it was obvious he took a lot of joy in the vehicle.
“How come you don’t drive this more?” she asked. “Even when you have time off, you drive your SUV.”
He shrugged. “For a while it seemed like every time I’d take her out, I’d end up being called in for some reason or another and have to go home to switch vehicles. I was planning to sell her at one point, too, so I think I’d tried to convince myself I didn’t like driving her anymore.”
“You were lying to yourself. I can tell you love her.” When he grinned and gave a little shrug, she knew she was right. “Why were you going to sell her?”
“One of the many obstacles against having a baby Mallory threw out there was money. I thought if I sold it, we’d start a family.”
“What changed your mind?”
“The economy. Not many people can afford this car and, before I got around to listing her nationally, I found out it wasn’t about the money and, no matter what I did, it wasn’t going to happen.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that. While it didn’t bother her too much on the rare occasion Drew mentioned his ex-wife, because everybody had a history, she didn’t like when the conversation veered toward the fact they’d divorced because she didn’t want kids.
They’d been on a pretty even keel since the conversation about the key a week ago, and she was perfectly happy to cut a wide berth around the subject of children. She’d been thinking about that a lot lately and, though she knew she wanted to have them someday and she knew she wanted to have them with him, she was afraid if she told him that, he’d start putting on the pressure for sooner rather than later.
“We don’t really have enough time to drive into the city for dinner,” he said, thankfully changing the subject. “I have some frozen burgers I can throw on the grill if you’re not feeling too picky. Unless you want to go to the diner.”
“No diner, thanks.” She laughed. “I have tomorrow off, so I’ll be eating frozen burgers tonight and oversleeping in the morning.”
A classic rock song came on the radio and Drew cranked up the volume. Liz put her hand out the window, catching the wind as she sang along. It was almost a perfect night.
“I know my yard’s looking a little ragged,” he said as he pulled into his driveway. “I’ve been spending all my free time with this hot woman who wants to have sex with me a lot.”
“You must be a lucky guy.” She got out of the car and looked at his house. It was a simple Cape style, neat and well tended, except for the landscaping. The cream siding and cranberry shutters gave it a homey feeling. Then she followed him through the open garage and through the side door into the kitchen. “Too bad you don’t live closer. The kid who mows my lawn does a nice job.”
“It’s all the stupid flowers that are really a problem. I either have to start taking care of them or rip the beds out and make those spaces lawn again.”
“It would be a shame. Maybe the hot woman who wants to have sex with you should help you out on the weekends sometimes.”
He laughed. “In exchange for sex?”
“Or frozen burgers.”
Because she had to use the bathroom, she gave herself a quick tour of the downstairs. The house had the look of a divorced man’s house, with most of the touches that made it feel like a home gone. There was a couch, but no pillows or pictures hanging on the walls. There was a fireplace with no knick-knacks on the mantel. It was a family home with no family, and she could understand how he’d feel a desire to fill it with kids. A house like this should have little handprints on the wall and Legos on the floor.
Since Mallory had obviously taken the dining room set, Liz sat on one of the bar stools while Drew rummaged in his freezer.
He tossed the box of frozen burgers on the counter, then stood there scowling at it for a few seconds before looking up at her. “Do you think I take you for granted?”