“She’s Amelia’s friend,” Mark points out.
“And she’s my employee. My wife likes her too, so don’t screw this up.” Ridge slaps me on the shoulder as he walks behind me to gather the rest of the tools as we pack up for the day.
“I don’t plan on screwing it up.”
“But maybe scr—” Kent starts, and I punch him in the shoulder to shut him up. “What was that for?” he asks, grinning.
He knows damn well what that was for. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think it,” I warn.
“Come on, you know you’re thinking about it,” he counters.
“Kenton.” My voice is stern and his smile grows even wider, and I didn’t think that was possible.
“Fine.” He holds his hands in the air in mock surrender. “I got it. Mara and her… Mara’s off-limits.”
“Asshole,” I mutter, and Ridge throws his head back and laughs.
“Each and every one of you deserves this and so much more. I should have recorded y’all when I was falling for Kendall. You were relentless with the shit you gave me.”
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject because he’s right. I might be ready for it, but that’s not going to stop me from calling them assholes when I see fit. “We’re having dinner tonight, so I gotta jet.” Looking at the time on my phone, I see it’s just after six. I know she left at four thirty, so I hope I’m not too late and they still want to have dinner.
Rushing out to my truck, I climb in and am grateful I started it earlier. Actually, it was Kent who started all of ours. Fucker, I can’t help but shake my head and smile. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I start to type out a text but decide to call instead.
“Hello.” Her sweet voice answers after one ring.
“Hey, I’m just leaving the job site.”
“Long day?” she asks.
“Yeah, but that’s the norm for us. Are we still on for dinner?”
“Seth, it’s fine. You’ve had a long day.”
“You’re right, I have. I’d like to end that day with you, Finley, and some cheesy extra sauce pizza.”
“How did you know that?” she asks.
“Mara.” I chuckle. “I remember every one of our conversations.” She doesn’t reply, so I push on. “I’m going to stop by my place and grab a quick shower. You ladies be ready in thirty.”
“Okay,” she says, surprising me. I was prepared for her to try and argue out of going.
“See you soon.” I end the call, not giving her the chance to change her mind, and point my truck toward home. Lucky for me, the job we’re on is only ten minutes from my place.
Pulling into my driveway, I leave the truck running and head inside. I strip naked in the laundry room, tossing my clothes in the washer to start later. I then take the world’s fastest shower, towel dry my hair, slide into some jeans and a hoodie, and call it good. I find some tennis shoes in the laundry room, slip into them, grab my keys, wallet, phone, and lock up, racing back out to my truck.
I make it to Mara’s with time to spare. Again, I leave the truck running as I bound up the front steps and knock on the door. I shift from one foot to the other, warding off the cold. It doesn’t help that my hair is wet. I should have used the blow dryer but didn’t want to risk being late.
“Hey, get in here. You’re going to freeze.” Mara steps back, allowing me to pass her and enter the living room.
“You ladies ready for dinner?”
“We are, but you need to do something about that wet hair. You’re going to get sick.”
“I’ll be fine.” I grin. She’s worried about me.
“And we can eat here.” She places her hands on her hips and gives me what I can only guess is her “mom” look.
“Fine. Do you have a hairdryer?” I ask. “Oh, and we’re going out,” I say, giving her a look that tells her I’m ready to argue if she is.
She sighs. “Yes, come with me.” She reaches out, takes my hand, and pulls me behind her, leading us to her bathroom. She drops my hand and bends to open the cabinet under the sink, and I can’t help but stare at her ass in those leggings she has on. “Here.” She stands and hands me the hairdryer. “Handle that.” She points to my head. “I’m going to get Finley ready to go.”
“I left my truck running.”
“We need to take mine for the car seat.”
“I’ll move it over.”
“That’s a lot of work just for dinner. I’ll go start mine now.” She turns on her heel and leaves me standing in her bathroom holding her hairdryer and thinking I need to get a car seat.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I plug the dryer in and run it over my hair. It’s still damp, but not as bad. Running my fingers through it, I tuck it behind my ears. Good enough. Once I’ve wound up the cord and placed it back under the cabinet before shutting off the light, I follow the sounds of Finley’s giggles.
“Sef!” Her eyes light up when she sees me.
“Hey, Finny. You ready for some pizza?”
She bobs her little head up and down, wiggling in her seat on the chair.
“Hold still.” Mara laughs. “We have to get these boots on you or no pizza.” Immediately, Finley stops wiggling and cooperates with her mom. “There.” Mara stands and lifts Finley from the couch. She reaches out for me and I grin, taking her from her mother.
“How was your day with Sonia? Did you have fun?” I ask her.
She doesn’t answer; instead, she rests her head on my shoulder. Her little eyes take me in as if she’s trying to figure me out.
Mara collects Finley’s coat and stops to stand in front of us. “We have to put your coat on so we can go.”
Finley folds her little body into mine and refuses to let her mom help her into her coat. “Finley,” Mara says, her tone of voice a clear warning.
“Hey, Finny. You want to go get pizza?” She lifts her head and nods. “Okay, you have to listen to your mommy and put your coat on. It’s really cold outside, so if you don’t wear a coat, we can’t go,” I explain, having no idea if she understands what I’m telling her. She’s almost three, but I’m not sure reasoning with a two-and-a-half-year-old is the right thing to do. I only know what I’ve seen the guys and their wives do with their kids. I hope it works.
Moving to the couch, I set her down and take her coat from Mara. She holds out one arm and then the other, allowing me to help her into her coat and zip it up. As soon as her hood is up, she holds her arms out for me, and I pick her back up. “Ready?” I ask her.
Again, she bobs her little head. “Peza!” She cheers.
“How about you, Momma? You ready to go?”
She smiles a watery smile and nods. “Yes.”
“Hey.” I reach out and place my hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” She shakes her head and her smile grows.
“Tell me.” I step closer.
“You’re so good with her, and she’s enamored with you.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.” I’m not really. I want to help her. She’s been raising this little lady all on her own, and I want to be there to support her. Give her a break now and then. But, I also don’t want to piss her off. Finley is her daughter, after all. I have no claim to either of them—something that doesn’t sit well with me.
“It’s not that at all. I worry about letting her get too close to you. You’re the first man to ever really be in her life.” She waves her hands on the air. “You know that already. I’m rambling. Never mind, let’s go.”
“Mara.” I wait for her to look at me. “You don’t have to worry about her getting close to me. I’m not going anywhere. I know that it’s more than just your heart I’m vying for, it’s hers too. I understand this is a package deal. I wouldn’t be here if I was any less than all in.”
“Momma, peza,” Finley says, demanding our attention.
Leaning in, I kiss Mara’s forehead. “All right, let’s get moving.” I bounce Finley in my arms and head outside, making sure
I cradle her close to my chest to ward off the cold. I buckle her without any issues as I’ve had practice with the guys’ kids.
“Let me shut my truck off,” I say to Mara once I’ve closed the back door to her SUV. Rushing to my truck, I switch it off, pulling the keys from the ignition and locking the doors before climbing into the passenger seat.
“Sef,” Finley says, pulling my attention. I turn to look at her and she smiles at me.
“Silly girl,” I say, making a funny face. She laughs, as do I. Turning back around, I look at Mara. “She’s a ham.”
“She’s showing off for you.”