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“We’re going to head out,” Ridge says.
“I’ll stay back, and if she’s forgot something, I’ll toss it in my truck if it won’t fit in her SUV,” Seth tells him.
“Thank you all so much for your help today. You’ve made this process a lot less stressful.”
“That’s what we do,” Kent says.
Seth and Amelia have both said something similar to me. “I have a key. You okay with us moving stuff in? We can move it where you want it later,” Mark asks.
“That’s perfect. Thank you.”
With a wave from the guys and a hug from the girls, they all leave. “I’m going too,” Amelia says. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Drive safe.” I hug her tight. Amelia and I were college roommates and she quickly became my best friend. I was sad when she moved home and missed her like crazy. I have to admit being close to her again is a big part of the appeal of this new position. Not to mention the flexibility for me as a single mom. I like the fact that if she’s sick, I can bring her to work with me since I’ll be the only one there for the majority of the day. Ridge and Kendall both assured me that needing time or adjusting my hours as needed was fine. I had them put it in writing. Not that I didn’t believe them, but human resources is my background. If it’s not signed and documented, it didn’t happen.
“Okay.” I look over at Seth and Finley. “I guess it’s time.” I start down the hall, and they follow me. I go into Finley’s room and let the memories of my baby girl wash over me. Sliding open her small closet, I check to make sure nothing is left behind. It’s empty. “On to the next room,” I say, holding in my emotions. Seth and Finley follow me to the bathroom, where I find a drawer with extra hand towels. “Oops,” I say, and Finley repeats me.
“Oops.”
I don’t find anything else in the bedrooms or bathrooms. Checking the kitchen, I don’t find anything either. “The washer and dryer are loaded,” I say, so I don’t need to check them. “I think we’re good.” Grabbing my keys from my purse that’s on the counter, I take the house key off the ring and leave it in plain sight. “My landlord said they would come by and pick it up.”
“All set?” Seth asks.
“Yeah, just need to get this little one in her coat.” With Seth’s help, since she refuses to come to me, I get her in her winter coat and all zipped up.
“I’ll carry her out for you.” Seth grins.
“I really am starting to get a complex.”
“Aw, babe. I’m sorry. Finley, Mommy needs some love,” he tells her. Leaning her over, he prompts her to give me a hug and a kiss, which she does obediently before settling back in his arms. “I need to run outside and start our cars. Hang with Mommy for a minute, okay?” She nods and reaches her arms out for me. It’s like my kid is in some kind of Seth trance. “Hand me your keys.” He holds his hand out and I give them to him. “I’ll be right back.”
“What do you think, Finley? Do we like him?”
“I wike Sef.” She grins, showing me her teeth.
I chuckle. “Yeah, Mommy likes him too.”
“Shew, it’s gotten colder out there.” Seth walks back into the house, rubbing his hands together. “I’ll follow behind you two. You remember the way?” he asks.
“Yes. You don’t have to wait on us.” He gives me a look that tells me he’s going to follow us back to Jackson regardless of what I say. “Okay,” I concede. “Thank you.”
“Much better.”
“Let’s get you loaded up.” He reaches his arms out for Finley, and she leans into him, letting him take her from my arms. “Ready?” he asks me.
I nod. I’m ready despite being sad; this is all so final. A new chapter is about to begin. “Yeah,” I say, my voice giving me away.
“Come here.” With his free hand, he pulls me into him. Finley loves this idea and wraps her hand around my head. The three of us stand here in an embrace.
“My go bye-bye,” Finley says, and we pull away smiling at her.
“Yes. Let’s go bye bye,” I say.
Seth helps me load her into her seat, kisses the top of her nose, and closes the door. “Call me if you need to stop or anything. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Thank you, Seth. For everything.”
He cups my cheeks with his large calloused hands. “I wanted to be here.” That’s all he says, but his eyes tell me so much more. He feels this too. I know he does. It sounds crazy to have this kind of connection to him this soon, only meeting him twice, but it’s there all the same. After all those messages, I feel like I’ve known him for years.
Chapter Three
Seth 3
* * *
The guys’ trucks are lined up on the street, and the driveway is open. I wait for Mara to park her Pathfinder before I back into the driveway. I take my time getting out of my truck. I was hoping there would be more to unload so I could stay busy, but the guys’ trucks are unloaded. I know it surprised everyone I was there early today. They’ve known me long enough they can see right through me. It won’t take much for them, especially Amelia and the wives, to put together who the girl is I can’t stop thinking about. The one that I’ve only met one time.
Mara.
“Sef!” I hear my name being called. Turning, I see Mara and Finley standing outside my truck door.
Grabbing my keys and my phone, I open the door, careful not to hit them. “Let’s get you ladies inside.”
“You okay?” Mara’s green eyes study me as if she can see right through me.
“You know it.” Unless you count this attraction that I feel for you. The way I want to crush my lips to yours, trace every inch of your skin, and make you mine. I’m just fine unless you count all that.
“Sef,” Finley says again, and leans away from Mara, reaching out for me.
I take her into my arms and bounce her. “Look at your new house. Are you excited?” She just watches me for a minute, then turns to look at the house. With my hand on the small of Mara’s back, I guide her to the front porch. I’ve been to this house more times than I can count. The guys and I have late-night poker nights; we take turns and end up crashing on the floor or the couch. Mark’s old place was no exception. The guys are married off, well, all but Kent and me. They have wives and babies growing our family. I’m happy as hell for them and a little envious if I’m honest. We still have poker night, just not as religiously as we used to. I get that their lives are changing with wives and kids. I understand that, but the green-eyed monster of envy sometimes does not.
“Honey, we’re home,” I call out as we enter. Mara walks ahead of me, breaking our connection.
“Home,” Finley says, mocking me.
“You little stinker.” I tickle her belly, stealing Mara’s word for her. Her laugh, it’s the sweetest damn laugh I’ve ever heard. “You sound like a mockingbird,” I tease.
“Come see Aunt Amelia.” Amelia holds her hands out for Finley and she shakes her head and then snuggles into my chest.
“Aw, sweetheart, look, Aunt Amelia is sad.” She turns just enough to glance at Amelia, who’s playing along and has her bottom lip jutted out. “I think she needs a hug. Can you do that for me?” I ask her.
She nods and sits up, holding her hands out for Amelia. “You’ve captured her full attention, that’s for sure,” Mara says, coming back to stand next to me. “She usually can’t wait to run around like a little tornado. With you around, all she wants to do is be carried.”
“Just hers?” I ask before I can stop myself. Thankfully, Amelia is already out of earshot, taking Finley to see her new room. A faint shade of pink tints her cheeks.
For the second time, she says, “I’m a single mom.” It comes out like the fact should scare me.
“I know. To an adorable little girl, who is already my biggest fan.” I smirk and she laughs. I love this, seeing her eyes sparkle when she laughs. The way she tilts her head back just slightly. All things I missed when we were texting. I missed getting t
o see her like this. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her now that she’s here in the flesh.
“I’m sure you have women falling at your feet.” She tries to deflect.
“Not the one I want.” It’s true. I want her. I’ve fought it, and I’ve thought about it long and hard. I know what it means to date a single mom. I know the responsibility that comes with it. I also know the consequences if I’m not all-in. One being that I’ll eventually have to see her and Finley with another man. That’s just not going to work for me.
“What are you saying, Seth?”
“I’m saying that for the last, what, six or seven months, you’re all I’ve been able to think about. I know you’re a single mom. I know what that means. That doesn’t scare me, Mara. She’s a part of you.” At this point, I couldn’t even envision Mara without Finley. They’re a pair.
