“Get some rest. I’ll be right next door,” I tell her.
She frowns, but I pull her into my arms for a hug before she can get too sad.
“I guess I am pretty tired,” she says.
“The sun will do that to you. Especially when it’s not super warm because you don’t realize how much you are getting.”
“That makes sense.”
She pulls back, not moving from my arms. She looks up at me, a smile on her face. Then she leans up, pressing a kiss to my cheek, close to my lips. My eyes fall closed as my breath comes a bit faster.
“Mac,” she whispers.
My hands squeeze her tighter. “Jane.”
Then her soft lips are on mine. It’s not a hard kiss. I don’t deepen it.
It’s simply a brush of her lips against mine, yet it feels like the best, most intimate kiss I have ever had in my life.
“Good night,” she whispers.
Opening my eyes, I stare down at her.
“Good night,a mhuirnín.”
It slips out. A familiar Irish term my father used to call my mother.My darling.
She doesn’t question it as I step back and let myself out. I wait until I hear the lock slide closed before I look up at the sky and wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.
I’m slowly falling not only for Jane, but for those kids too. They own my heart and don’t even know it.
Iwipe the sweat on my brow as I pull another weed.
Mac had this place looking great when we moved in, but I’ve been slacking on the upkeep. Sure, he mows, but he hasn’t touched the flower bed since we moved in. Not that it’s his responsibility, but I figured I should do something about it.
“Nice house you have there. You buy it?” The young guy from the other side of me asks as he heads across the grass.
I don’t like it. I don’t want him talking to me.
I look over to the kids playing a little bit away before I turn back.
“Nope.”
One word. That’s all I say. I hope it gives off the message. I don’t want to talk.
“Oh, I swear it was up for sale recently. Saw it getting fixed up. Seen you around a lot, but not your husband. Where’s he at?” he asks.
“Not around right now. Can I help you with something?”
“I’m being nice. It’s what neighbors do around here. Not you, though. Where are you from?”
I go to brush him off again, but a roaring motorcycle has me turning toward Mac. Emily runs up to him, chatting his ear off.
He gives her a quick hug before saying something to Tanner. Tanner looks over at me, then grabs Emily and takes her inside.
Mac is on a mission as he heads over my way.
“Mac, my friend. How have you been?” The man next to me says.
