After staring at him for several silent seconds, I said, “I wouldn’t have felt like I needed to explain it to you.”
He winced. “Liz, I’m sorry. The neighbor across the street shared your story and I just… I obviously have no tact.” He laughed bitterly at himself and I wanted to change the subject.
I needed to change the subject.
“Mrs.Mitchum. She has troublemindingher own business.”
His dark eyes softened a little. “I noticed.” He rocked back on his heels, clearly putting his next sentence together in his head before he spoke it. I glanced up at my house and desperately wanted to escape there. Sure, five minutes ago, I’d dreaded walking through that door. Now, thanks to Ben Tyler, I couldn’t wait to get inside the safety of my own place.
“Well, I guess, I’ll see you-”
“If you need anything, you can always knock.” He took a step forward when he interrupted me. We stood just three feet apart, but I swear I could feel his aura or something. He radiated this energy that grated against my skin. I had no doubt that he was a successful person, and not just from the size of the house he’d bought. He had this charisma that poured off him. It annoyed the hell out of me, but I saw that in real life he could charm whomever he set his sights on.
“Thanks,” I answered simply.
“Seriously,” he emphasized. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Okay.”
“And my pool!” His words came out almost desperately. I didn’t know if it was guilt pushing him into wanting to be friends with me or what, but it was getting to be a little much. “Any time you or your kids want to go swimming, the pool is yours.”
I cleared my throat, “It’s going to get cold soon.”
“Well, until then.”
“Honestly, I have too many kids for that. I can’t watch them all. It’s too stressful.”
“Oh.” His shoulders deflated some and I could tell he was disappointed with my answer.
Clearly he had never taken kids under six swimming before. Sure, Abby was a freak of nature when it came to water sports, but Lucy andJaceweren’t even close to being water-ready. If I had someone else to go with me, it wouldn’t be so bad. I could split up the two littles and Grady could have helped me keep an eye on the two older ones. But I didn’t have Grady anymore, and I didn’t trust a complete stranger to help me keep my kids alive.
Plus, it was just weird. We hadn’t known each other for twenty-four hours yet. I wished he’d stop forcing his friendship on me.
“Liz, I have to go soon! Get your a-s-s in the shower now or you’re going to have to wait until Thursday before you can take one!” Emma’s voice called from the front porch. She heldJaceon her hip and Lucy clung to her leg. Her wild blonde hair whipped around her face in the fall breeze.
She looked like the well put-together mom I would never be.
Of course, she wasn’t a full-time, single mom and therefore had time for things like hair appointments and manicures. Also, her body had not pushed four bowling balls out her vagina, so she had that going for her too.
I snuck a glance at Ben to see him watching my sister intently. Yep, she did that to all men. Poor guy.
“I’ll be right there!” I called back.
It was too late; she’d noticed Ben and now her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
“I guess I’ll see you around,” I said quickly to him in hopes I could escape before my sister wanted a formal introduction.
“Mommy!” Lucy slammed into my thighs and wrapped her short arms around me. “You smell icky.”
My face flushed with embarrassment. No doubt I smelled icky. Ben tossed his head back and let out a loud bark of laughter.
“Thanks, Babe,” I grumbled.
“You do smell icky, Sis,” Emma chuckled on her arrival.
“That’s why I need that shower.”
She ignored me, her sparkling eyes already on my new neighbor. “I’m Emma.” She smiled widely at him.Jacemade a dive for me and I caught him before he tumbled out of Emma’s distracted arms.
