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She inhaled as I grabbed her heel and pulled her pants leg down. “I’m fine, Hudson.”
“Be right back. I’m going to go get the blow-dryer,” I said, knowing the distance was needed to let my thoughts cool.
I went to my bathroom, retrieved the blow-dryer, and came back to her sitting on the floor in our usual spot. Something about herwantingme to dry her hair was setting my body ablaze. So much for trying to calm down. My heart was beating out of control. One would think I’d never touched a girl based on how excited I was because the flaming-haired woman living with me was letting me dry her hair.
As soon as I sat behind her, I had to adjust my cock in my pajama pants. She smelled like fucking strawberries again. She scooted back, and I closed my eyes, savoring how close she was. Did she not know what she was doing to me? She seemed to trust me so blindly that I should be ashamed of the hard-on I had.
“How did the dress shopping go?” I asked, trying to steer my thoughts to something safer.
“I found a dress,” she answered. “Your mom was sweet.”
“I hear a but in there.”
She tensed. “I believe your mom and your grandma are up to something with this Valentine’s Day event. Don’t be surprised if they try to hook you up with someone—maybe even a past someone.”
When her shoulders drooped, I asked, “Past someone?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
What did she mean? Grandma knew my intentions with Eugene, so she wouldn’t try to set me up with other women. But Grandma would try to rattle the one in front of me by bringing up others, which seemed to be the case.
I smiled. “Well, I’ve got a date to the event, and she’s already claimed all my time there, saying I must stick by her side. Grandma will have to stick her business elsewhere when it comes to me.”
Eugene looked back, beaming at me as if my words made her happy. “I try to tell her to leave you be, but she’s so determined that you give her more grandbabies.”
“Grandma will be fine. Don’t you worry.”
Hitting the power button on the dryer, I catered to my woman, who didn’t know she was mine yet.
???
I stopped in my tracks as I walked by Eugene’s car the following morning. Was that a spare tire she was using? I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed sooner. It was a little after six. None of the stores in town were open yet to buy a new tire. I’d have to take a long lunch and get it changed for her.
Since Eugene entered my life, the world became so fucking strange. It bothered me to see her using a spare. I knew she could afford it, but she likely didn’t bother. Didn’t she realize she lived with me? Why wouldn’t she use me? I wanted to beherperson.
Eugene had me wrapped around her fingers and didn’t know it.
I ran my fingers through my hair and glared at the cabin where Eugene slept. That woman… Knowing her, she likely forgot or didn’t care.
Staring at a tire, I decided I was done tiptoeing around her. Valentine’s Day was two weeks away. There was plenty of time for me to ease into something more with her. An extra touch, or my lips grazing her neck… A kiss. One of those hugs she liked to give me when I did something for her, but I’d slide my hand down her back.
Fuck. I had to get to work before I needed a cold shower.
THIRTY-FOUR
EUGENE
Homestyle was jam-packed the following evening. My legs were killing me from the constant running back and forth. Although the boss man hadn’t worked that day, I couldn’t wait to tell him how bad my feet hurt. I wondered what he would do or say after I complained.
I smiled as I parked my car in the driveway. Max was on the porch and ran to greet me. His fur was chilled when I petted his head. “How long have you been out here? Come on. Let’s go in.”
He hiked his leg up and peed on my tire. When I saw the tire, I remembered I was still using my spare. I shouldn’t have forgotten about that. How did the smaller tire hold up so long?
Walking around the vehicle, I expected to see the spare, only to find it had been replaced. When I popped open my trunk, the spare was inside.
I looked toward the cabin. Hudson must have noticed the tire and taken care of it. He was the only one with access to my vehicle. I was never going to be able to repay the man for everything he’d done for me. My shoulders slumped. I was tired of being the charity case, but I didn’t think I’d ever be on equal footing with Hudson. Compared to him, I was clumsy and forgetful. My sore, bruised knee was proof of that.
I still had a limp when I walked, but the pain was much better.
