She was too fucking sweet, and it was killing me. I’d had to constantly remind myself that I was there as a Jackson Security employee to do a job, when all I really wanted to do was pin her to the wall and devour every inch of her. And despite how much I didn’t want to admit it, I wanted to talk to her. To get to know her. And then she went and made me lemonade.
5
BLAKELY
After a few days of keeping Kalen, I learned it was better if I waited until after he went down for the night before I took a shower and had dinner. It worked out well since I liked to eat later than most, and he liked to cry whenever I was eating.
And since I had one of my favorite meals in the oven, I wanted to sit down and enjoy it. It’d been a rough week, and I deserved it.
I was still in the bathroom drying off from my shower when my phone buzzed on the counter with a text from a number that looked vaguely familiar but wasn’t saved in my phone.
Unknown Number:Hey. This is Grant with Jackson Security.Did I leave my tablet there?
When I walked out to the kitchen and immediately spotted it on the counter, I wondered how I hadn’t noticed it before.
Blakely:Yes, you did.
Grant:Sorry about that. Can I come pick it up?
I looked down at the tank top and leggings I had planned to wear for dinner and had a minor moment of panic.
Blakely:Can you give me about thirty minutes?
Grant:I’m at your mercy. I’ll make any time work.
Blakely:Okay. See you then.
Grant:Thank you.
I set a timer for twenty-five minutes and ran to my bedroom to find something to wear. I had no idea how long it would take Grant to get to my house, and I couldn’t answer the door in what I currently had on.
I wanted to shout with glee when I saw my laundry basket full of clean clothes sitting on top of my bed. “Score one for me for being somewhat of an adult.”
Once I was dressed, I returned to the bathroom to do something with my hair and face. I didn’t want to put makeup on since I’d just showered, but I at least needed to make sure I didn’t have any leftover mascara under my eyes or after-shower boogers in my nose.
I checked my phone and smiled gleefully. There was enough time for me to dry my hair and have a few minutes left over. Or so I thought.
I jumped when my alarm went off, and almost busted my ass when my socked feet hit the tile floor, and I lost my balance.
With my heart racing, I tiptoed across the hall to check on Kalen and make sure the door to his room was securely closed. I didn’t know if the doorbell would be loud enough to wake him, and I didn’t want to take the chance. Then, I hurried to the kitchen to wait by the side door and watch for Grant.
I was startled once again when the timer on the oven went off, and I laughed at myself for being so jumpy. I swapped the pans and reset the timer before resuming my perch by the door.
Even though I was expecting him, a jolt of anxiety shot through me when headlights I didn’t recognize turned into my driveway. Then, I breathed a sigh of relief when Grant got out of the driver’s side moments later.
I was about to step outside and take the tablet to him when the timer on the oven beeped.
Letting go of the screen door, I darted back to the kitchen to silence the blaring noise before it woke the sleeping baby. I never realized how loud everyday noises were until I had an infant in the house.
“Knock, knock,” he called out as he tapped on the screen door’s metal frame.
“Sorry. The timer just went off,” I said as I carefully removed the bread and placed it on top of the stove. “Come on in. Your tablet is right there on the island.”
I heard the door open and close, followed by the sound of his approaching footsteps.
I turned in time to see him inhale deeply and briefly close his eyes. “Mmm. Something smells delicious.”
“Thanks. It’s lasagna and garlic bread. Would you like some?” I offered.
