“I can guarantee she will be cool.” He winks and my stomach somersaults. Holy crap, what was that? Perhaps I’m just lonely. Lonely and desperate, which is why I’m getting excited about the slightest bit of attention.
“Well, if it’s a problem—” I stutter, trying to regain my composure.
“Hey. It won’t be.” Now his hand is on mine, and shivers run up my arm. What is going on with me today?
He casts a glance my way and the air crackles between us. It’s an odd, warm feeling. Despite that, it still surprises me.
Tommy looks at his hand held over mine. “Hey,” he says, as he takes it away, leaving me cold without his touch. “How about Josh coming over for a sleepover soon, if it suits.”
I clear my throat. “He would love that. Thank you.”
“Cool. I’ll check with Cal first, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” He gets up to leave and stands in front of me, his head to the side and a killer smile on his face. “I’ve missed you, babe.” Again, our eyes catch.
My stomach somersaults again. “I missed you too.” Then I look at my hands and notice I’m twisting my wedding ring around my finger. Am I sending some kind of subliminal message to myself? Maybe he’s noticed it too.
He gives me a warm smile. “I should get going.” He turns around, about to leave, but I think of another way to keep him here for just another thirty seconds. “Oh, um, about Connie. I’ll want to pay for her time.”
He steps forward again. “You don’t have to. It’s covered.”
“You can’t keep paying for things and I—I’d like to.” He has no idea how fast my heart is beating.
“Whatever, babe. If it makes you happy.”
“Thank you.” I look down. I can’t risk being captured by his eyes again.
“No worries. Will you be okay now?”
His hand is on my arm, giving me a fuzzy feeling. Okay. This is getting ridiculous. He’s just Tommy. My friend. The person who helps me out in times of crisis. “Yeah, you know me. I always bounce back.” I smile.
“Okay, I’d better get going.” He signals with his thumb, pointing over his shoulder. “I want to see Ozzie before he goes to bed.”
“Well, thank you for helping me today.” I stand behind him as he opens the door, but I’m desperate to curl myself around his body once more. Having him around today, someone to listen and give me a hug in support has meant so much.
“It was good seeing you,” he says, almost lingering himself. Maybe he doesn’t want to leave either.
He’s about to go when he turns around again. “Oh, and I’ll get Connie to work out the logistics of working between two houses.”
“Okay and thank you.”
“You take care, and…see you soon, I guess.”
Why are we so awkward? Today was easy with him and now it’s not. This isn’t us. “Yeah. See you soon.”
I close the door, rest my back against it, and slide down to sit on the floor.
What was that? Something between us has shifted in some way. I’ve just got to figure out what the hell it is.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TOMMY
The soundof knocking wakes me in the early hours. I’m not the best in the morning, and I’ve momentarily forgotten where I am, so when I answer, I swing the door back and growl. “What the fuck sort of time—” My bleary eyes finally focus on a worried-looking Ash. He wouldn’t wake me at shit o’clock unless something was wrong. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”
“No problem. Look, man,” he says while Calla and their sleepy kids head downstairs behind him. “I just wanted to let you know we got a call a couple of hours ago. Cal’s grandmother in Greece had a bad fall. They’ve taken her to hospital, but Cal wants to get over there as quickly as possible. I’ve spent the last hour or so sorting out a crew. I’m taking the band’s jet, by the way.”
“Whatever you need. Did they say how she’s doing?” I ask, genuinely concerned for such a cool lady.
“Pretty shaken up and badly bruised. They think her arm is broken, but she needs an X-ray to confirm. It means we could be over there for a while. The kids only have another week at school before the summer holidays anyway, so, asyou can see—” he signals behind him, “—we’re all going. Will you and Max be okay here?”
