I want him, oh crap, Iwanthim…
Alex tilts his head and, as if seeing my terror, knowing I finally want a man who is technically forbidden fruit, so to speak, because he’s my student's parent, and I’m pretty sure you’re not meant to date a student's parent, he smiles softly before saying, “Brother, can you do me a favor?” without looking away from me.
“Sure…” Ace replies.
“Take Ly and Hol here to my house, but collect Caleb on the way from Dad's while I have a look at her car,” Alex commands and I blink.
Hol…
Why did my heart just skip a beat when he called me Hol?
“I can always–”
He cuts me off, “I don’t know how long I’m going to be, and Lyra would probably prefer to be on the jungle gym in my yard with Caleb than sit around here. Go on, I’ll be home soon and let you know what I find.”
My eyes race between his before I nod slowly, and he tilts his lip, making him look even sexier, and I swallow hard as Lyra grabs my hand and says, “See you soon, Mr. Dirty,” and he grins at her, which just lights up his whole face.
Damn….
I clear my throat, look at my daughter, and smile while I try to calm my racing heart and the urge to throw myself at this man who didn’t want to meet me before yesterday.
I say, “Come on then, sweetheart,” and she grins and without looking at Alex again, I walk over to Ace, who waits with a grin next to a black truck all while I feel eyes on my back.
I debated whether coming here was a good idea. We were on our way to the park when the steam came from the hood, and I just, I didn’t have a choice but to pull into here as we were driving past, and if my car hadn’t broken down, I would have lasted longer than sixteen hours before seeing the man again or, that is what I keep telling myself anyhow along with two words – Forbidden fruit.
***
I chew my bottom lip as I check the time for the fifth time in the space of an hour, and I swallow hard as the kids giggle on the jungle gym, the sun setting behind them.
It’s been four hours since I took my car to Alex, and I haven’t heard anything since Ace dropped me and the kids off here before heading to the club’s diner that he runs, two very excited kids at that.
Caleb’s still got a grin on his face, even now.
To say he was happy to see me was an understatement, for sure, but now I’m concerned. They’re both hungry, it’s getting late, and I’m beginning to think my car isn’t fixable.
Taking a deep breath, I look out over the children again, and I tilt my head with a small smile seeing their happiness.
The yard is amazing and a child’s dream with a two seat swing set and a jungle gym with a large slide, making the ones at school look cheap. The two-story Victorian-style house with a wraparound porch behind me is, well, it’s a woman’s dream home.
I feel out of place here, like I’m in some woman’s territory, maybe Caleb's mama, who was definitely not happy earlier, though today was the first time I’ve ever even seen her because not once has she been to school and not once has Caleb brought her up, heck, she isn’t even on the pickup list and I just automatically assumed she wasn’t involved. I guess my assumptions were wrong and of course she’s beautiful and not afraid to hide it.
I swallow the jealousy I can feel rising, jealousy I really shouldn’t be feeling right about now.
He’s a student’s father, and I am definitely not his type, though his being Caleb's father should be the reason why I shouldn’t lust over the man and not because I don’t go around wearing a ton of makeup and clothes that barely fit.
I chew my bottom lip. The last guy I was interested in was Adam, and I think that is why I’m struggling because I swore I’d never feel anything towards a man again, not after that nightmare, and yet here we are, nearly eight years later and I-I…
No, nope, not going there, I can’t, I won’t.
I look at the time and notice it’s nearly past dinner time, and I take a deep breath before getting my phone out of my pocket, then bring up the number Matty gave me if I ever have trouble with my car like today.
I hover my thumb over it before muttering, “Screw it,” and I press on the number before putting the phone to my ear.
It rings five times, and just when I think it’s about to go to voicemail, his deep, gruff voice echoes in my ear.
“Rebel’s Motors?” he answers, and my hand trembles at the little flip my heart just did.
“Hi, uh, hey, it’s uh, it’s Holly,” I stutter and instantly wince.
