“As a cop, there were times when I could help, but other times when the court system left me tied up in knots. I’d see shit happening and I couldn’t do anything to make a real difference.” He stared into her eyes until the connection almost felt tactile. “The way you are, how much you care, it’s a big part of the appeal for me.”
Score one for the struggling single mom. “So.” She licked her dry lips, more than a little aware of how he tracked the movement of her tongue. “I’m super-flattered. I need you to know that, okay? You’re...” She gestured at him, at his gorgeous face and incredible body. “All that, you know?”
“All what?”
How could she put it into words? Scrunching her nose, she said, “A female fantasy? Mouth-watering?” When he quirked asmile, she rushed on. “I’m just sorry that having company at Christmas is such problem for you.”
“Hey.” That single word, said so softly, was followed by the brush of his thumb over her cheek. “Before you tax yourself with all your worries, I need to know if you’re interested or not. But understand, Joey, no matter your answer, you and Ryder are welcome to stay here for the rest of the month, rent free. In fact, I’d prefer that you stay because I have a hunch that your jumpiness is related to trouble, and – with no insult intended – I’m much better equipped to handle trouble than you are.”
She stared at him. “You said so much, I’m not sure where to start.”
“Interested? Let’s cover that first.”
Okay, sure, she could do that. Cautiously, because it felt a little daring to admit, she whispered, “I’m alive, so of course I’m interested.”
The second the words left her mouth, she bit her lip.What am I saying?Before Hendrix could reply, she held up a hand. “Wait.” Ordering her thoughts wasn’t easy. “You have to know that as Ryder’s only involved parent, I’m never alone.”
“I’m aware.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a soft kiss over her knuckles. That was sizzling enough, but then he turned her hand over and pressed another kiss, this one warmer, to the center of her palm.
Her toes curled and her breath quickened.
“Never,” Hendrix said, “not under any circumstances, would I want to come between you and your son.”
“That’s not how my husband had felt.” Remembering how Ted had been left a heavy weight on her soul. Almost from the day Ryder was born, he’d resented his own son. He’d been fine with letting Ryder cry as long as “the kid” didn’t interrupt his dinner or interfere with the game he was watching on TV. His parents hadn’t been much better, always complaining that shespoiled Ryder, as if she should have been spoiling her husband instead.
Their every interaction with Ryder had been about teaching him something. Not to touch their drinks, not to whine, not to laugh so loud, not to interrupt... The battle to protect her son’s feelings had gotten so maddening, Joey had chosen to skip the visits so Ted could go alone.
Looking back, she knew that had been her first step toward ending their marriage.
And Ted had blamed Ryder for that, too.
“Ah, Joey.” This time Hendrix cupped her face and touched his forehead to hers. “I see so much in your eyes. I need you to know, however your husband felt, whatever he did, I’m not him.”
Being this close to Hendrix, feeling his understanding, sent the disturbing memories away. “Believe me, I’m aware. It’s just that no one else has prioritized Ryder.”
“No one but you.” Gathering her close so that she rested against his chest, he moved his hands up and down her back. “It’s been tough, I know.”
God, it felt good to be held, to do some of thatleaninghe’d invited. “Loving Ryder is easy, but the rest of it...” Surreptitiously hoping he wouldn’t notice, she filled her lungs with his stirring scent. “My sister is great, but she’s so far away. He’s had wonderful teachers, too, and when I tutor, the other parents are nice to him and sometimes the student has a sibling he can play with.”
“But it’s not the same as family.”
“No, it’s not.” As she straightened away, she brushed back her curls and tried not to look so affected by his touch. “So now what? Just like that, you don’t mind the company?”
“I don’t mindyourcompany. If it wasn’t you and Ryder, yeah, I’d still want the park to myself.”
She could address the relationship stuff later.Holy cow, she had agreed to a relationship!For now, she wanted to know more about Hendrix. From the first day she’d met him, he’d fascinated her in that way of dark, mysterious, quiet men. “I think being here all by yourself sounds horribly lonely.” Especially at Christmas.
“It wasn’t. It was...” His brows gathered closer again in thought. “Well, I’d say peaceful, but that’s a lie. Maybe self-indulgent.” His lips firmed. “I decided I was against Christmas, so sealing myself off was a way to deal with it. The thing is, I also sealed myself away from my parents and my sister, brother-in-law and nephew, too.”
Sensing his pain, she put her hand to his jaw. He had rough beard stubble, and beneath that, his skin was so warm. Touching him was nice; it made her feel better grounded, connected instead of alone. “Hendrix, I’m sorry. I won’t pry, but you must have been hurting to do that.”
“More pissed than hurt.” He zeroed in on her mouth. “I’ll tell you about it someday soon, but for now, let’s concentrate on you.” As if they had a longstanding intimate relationship, he kissed her.
An undemanding kiss, like a brief exploration, tentative and curious.
A kiss that lingered three seconds, then four. As he lifted his head, he whispered, “God, I needed that.”
Apparently, she’d needed it more, because only a scant amount of space separated them before she closed in, and the kiss she initiated was a lot hotter. Stepping between his legs, she settled her body flush against his.Heaven. She couldn’t get close enough, fast enough.
