“Are you sure?”
He scoffed and she could hear the smile in his voice. “Knowing that you are working behind my house daily? Yeah, I’m sure. At least this way I know you’ll be safe and you’ll be good.”
Geez, he was sweet. “But being so close, I might need you for some lifting,” she teased and he chuckled.
“If lifting you against the wall as I pound into you is one of these ‘lifting’ requests, then, sweetheart, sign me up,” he said, his voice dropping a few octaves.
“You dirty, dirty man,” she accused breathlessly as she looked up at the sky. His laughter ran down her spine as she shook her head.
What in the hell was she doing?
She was doing what she had to. This could blow up in her face, but then, maybe it could work. She had to get the ball rolling. She had to get her business back up so she could find a permanent place to stay for her and Angie. So even though she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, she had to follow her gut. And it was telling her to say yes.
“Okay, have your lawyer get with me.”
“Will do, but is it okay if I give him your number?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, dork. What am I going to do with you?”
“I have a few ideas,” he suggested, his voice so low and rough she felt it between her legs.
“I’m sure. Okay, let me let you go.”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes, gosh, you drive me crazy.”
“Good, crazy is good,” he decided and she smiled.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she sucked in a breath. “Thanks, Benji.”
“Always, babe. Anything you need, I got you.”
And for the first time since her divorce, Lucy trusted someone.
She trusted Benji.
She just hoped it didn’t blow up in her face like everything else always did.
It was one o’clock in the morning when Jayden came through the back door, his brow rising when he saw Lucy at the kitchen table, working.
Matching her brother’s expression, she said, “Hey, you’re home early.”
“Yeah, we took off earlier than we thought. I think everyone was ready to be home,” he said, dropping his suitcase by the table and then leaning over to kiss her head. “How’d you know when I was coming home?”
She paused. “Baylor told me,” she lied and he smirked as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Sure.”
“Sure? What’s that mean?”
He shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
Oh, he was such a liar, but she ignored that, clearing her throat. “Well, I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but you can shut it.”
Okay, she tried to ignore it.
He chuckled. “What would I need to insinuate, Lucy? Got something to tell me?”
She glared. “Nothing at all, why?”
His gaze was knowing as he grinned. “Oh, just making sure. You look like you want to share something.”
“Shut up.”
He scoffed as he leaned against the doorjamb. “Why are you working so late?”
“’Cause it’s what I do. Gotta make money to find Angie and me a good place to live.”
He nodded. “So, it’s final, you can’t go back to your shop?”
She exhaled sadly. A part of her had thought maybe, just maybe, she would be able to go back. But nope, that wasn’t her luck. “Yeah, they cut me my checks today, and I’m gonna store my crap in my warehouse until I find something.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, Luce,” he said and she shrugged.
“Eh, that’s my life,” she said with a soulless laugh. “But I did find an office today.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yup,” she said, clearing her throat. “It’s actually your friend Benji’s little guesthouse in the back. He’s gonna let me rent it.”
He nodded, a small grin on his lips. “Good dude, Paxton is.”
“Yeah, he is,” she agreed, looking away as her phone vibrated.
“You know he’s single,” Jayden said, pushing off the wall.
She swallowed hard as she reached for her phone to see the text was from the guy they were speaking of. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, you two would be good together.”
Her brows came together. “How do you know who I would be good with? Don’t you need to shower? Jesus. Leave me alone.”
Jayden laughed as he walked away and she clicked Benji’s text. “Yeah, yeah.”
Letting out a long breath, she read his message, her lips curving.
Benji: Completely and utterly disappointed.
Looking to confirm that Jayden was climbing the stairs, she went back to her phone.
Lucy: Why is that? Are you home?
Benji: Yeah, and my bed is empty. Bullshit.
Lucy: lol. Sorry. Told ya it would be.
Benji: I was hoping you were playing with my mind.
Lucy: Nope.
Benji: Then why are you awake?
Lucy: Working.
Benji: You work too much.
Lucy: Got a daughter to care for.
Benji: True. Has anyone told you you’re a great mom today?
Lucy couldn’t smile any bigger if she tried. Her heart, man, it was going crazy, and her stomach, those butterflies were having a dance party.
Lucy: No, they haven’t.
Benji: Well, let me be the one to say it. Because you are a great mom, Lucy Sinclair.
Lucy: Thanks <3
Lucy: Are you about to go to bed?