“Miss Delaney,” Dash shouts, his excitement is quickly wiped from his face, and a frown forms it’s place, very similar to the one I’d seen on his father at the hospital. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I just . . .”
“Miss Delaney is going to stay with us for a while. There was a fire, and she isn’t able to go home,” Tyler explains, crouching down to his son’s side.
Dash looks from me to him, then back to me. “I’m sorry you losted your house. Daddy always says fire is bad and I’m not to play with it. You can stay in my room if you want.” He nods, determination written all over him.
“I appreciate that, but I’m okay with the couch,” I tell him, giving him a smile, his words tugging at my heart. “Hopefully, once I get a hold of my brother, I’ll be able to figure out where else I can go.”
I don’t realize I said it out loud until Tyler clears his throat and glares at me. Instead of saying whatever's on his mind, though, he straightens and motions me to the living room. “You get comfortable while I bring you some tea.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tyler
It’s been four solid days since I brought Delaney home after she called me about the fire. She hasn’t gone back towork yet. She couldn’t. Not while dealing with figuring out everything she needs to replace. I put her up in my room and slept on the couch the first two nights, but the couch, though comfortable to watch TV on, wasn’t meant for sleeping.
I ended up waiting for her to fall asleep before joining her, last night and the night before. I keep telling myself it’s better this way. I’m able to keep a better eye on her.
Both nights have been torture with her right next to me, mostly because every morning, I woke with her in my arms. Her petite body pressed against me, that perky ass of hers against my cock. I made sure I was out of bed before she woke.
I didn’t want her to catch my son or me walking in and be confused as to what’s going on here. I wasn’t sure myself. Delaney baffled me more than any woman has in the past. Not that any of them caught my attention the way she has.
It’s unnerving in a lot of ways.
With all the shit she’s had to put up with the past few days, she hasn’t fought me much about her staying in my room. The first night she protested, but it didn’t take much convincing to get her to sleep in my bed.
Every morning she slept through me doing what I had to do to get ready for the day. Even my shower, where I had to relieve the pressure in my dick because of her. That was something else that irritated me. I couldn’t get off with just a simple jerking off, it had to be images of her playing in my head.It hadn’t been hard to imagine her on her knees. I’d been able to bring up some good visuals of her with just the one time I had her beneath me. Not to mention seeing her walk around my house wearing nothing more than jersey shorts that barely cover her ass, and tank tops don’t help my situation. Even the few times I’d seen her in oversized tees that hide what she’s got on underneath.
Lexy thought I was crazy at first when she came home and found Delaney in the house. I had to tell her what was going on. To say she lost it on me at first, demanding to know what I was thinking, bringing a woman that I’d knocked up into the house. We ended up in a heated argument where she claimed I didn’t learn my lesson the first time around.
However, it seems in a matter of days Delaney won Lexy over, and they’ve become friends. It was Lexy who offered her the shorts and tank tops to wear until Delaney was able to go shopping to replace the clothes she’d lost in the fire.
Something she’d done yesterday after her brother came by the house after getting back from handling something for the club. I don’t think I’d ever seen the man as freaked as he’d been over the fire. The two of them ended up in a heated argument of their own. All because she hadn’t sent him a text or left a voicemail. He had to hear about it from the fire department instead.
I wanted to intervene between the two of them, but it wasn’t my place. I simply sat back and listened to them. Some of the colorful words Delaney used were hilarious for the most part, as she didn’t use cuss words toward her brother, and I found that when directing his anger at her, he didn’t either. By the end of the argument, he pulled her into a hug and held her close, whispering something I couldn’t hear.
Mammon did try to get her to go to the clubhouse with him, but I put my foot down and said she’d stay here. He hadn’t liked it at first, but I wanted her here and wasn’t going to back down. I shouldn’t have backed down the first time I offered to let her stay with me. Delaney reluctantly agreed with me that she was fine here.
We still hadn’t talked much. I went to work, and she stayed at the house while Dash went to school and Lexy went to the hospital.
One thing I quickly learned about Delaney is that she doesn’t sit still for long. Tuesday after work, I came home and found the entire house clean, top to bottom. There wasn’t a spec of dust to be found. Wednesday evening, she washed all the laundry that was built up, including the sheets off all of the beds. Last night, I stepped inside my house to the smell of her cooking a chili with five different beans in it and jalapeños. It was so good it rivaled Judy’s, and she’s won contests at the local fair.
Now, this morning, I find myself conflicted about her. I like having her here. Dash seems to as well. Even Lexy likes having her here.
After dropping my son off at school, I return to the silent house, regretting my thoughts about her, and head to my room to get my forgotten Stetson from the dresser. If we weren’t running late this morning, I wouldn’t have forgotten it in the first place.
The moment I step into my room, I hear Delaney in the bathroom gagging, and my steps falter. Should I go in there? Make sure she’s okay? Leave some crackers out for her?Maybe some of the ginger tea I found she likes?
I shake my head, grab my hat, and head back out. It’s not my place. We haven’t gotten to that place yet. Though on my way out, I stop in the kitchen, grab a mug, set it down on the counter next to the water kettle, and set a tea packet in front of it.
I stand there for a moment, staring at the mug, wondering what the hell I’m doing. This woman has me twisted up in ways I never thought possible. Not even my ex ever had me tied up in knots, and she was one vindictive bitch with issues.
I’m thirty years old, for Christ’s sake. I should have my shit together more than I do. I knew the risks when that condom broke all those weeks ago when we slept together under the stars. I should’ve manned up and talked to her about it then.Sheeven confirmed she knew it broke without me telling her.Sheopted not to take any preventative measures. That was her choice to make, and I can’t say I don’t agree with her, ‘cause I wouldn’t want her to have done that.
Shaking my head, I grab a travel mug and pour myself a cup of coffee. Thankfully, it is still hot since the brewing happened hours ago. I check my watch and grimace. Maddox is going to be pissed I’m running this late. I should already be at the barn. I’m never late. Not without a damn good reason. Thankfully, Maddox has always been understanding, knowing I’m a single dad, but even that comes with limits. It’s one of the reasons I don’t like being late for work. He put his trust in me, promoting me to ranch manager, and I don’t take it lightly. I never have.
With coffee in hand, I head for the front door once again as my phone rings in my pocket. Unless I’m on my horse, I keep the ringer loud for emergency purposes.
