As soon as Jacob returned, she’d excuse herself and head back to her apartment so she could begin to sort everything out.
And when she had, she’d tell Jacob who she was and why she was really here.
11
Jake pushed his laptop away. His eyes were crossing. He’d looked at so many applications over the last few days and none of them felt right.
He knew he had to choose one. It had been a week since the first file had landed in his inbox. More than a week since he’d seen or heard from Lory. Nine days to be exact. The fact he knew how long to the day since he’d clapped eyes on her should have him worried. It didn’t.
No, that wasn’t what kept him up late into the night whether he was in his own bed or the bunk at work; what had given him over a week of sleepless nights was that he wondered if Lory was okay. If he had her number, he would have sent a text to check she was all right.
Andthat, his concern for her welfare was what had him worried.
He hardly knew her. They’d spent one afternoon together—barely more than an hour—and one lunch. Again, barely more than an hour. Not even a full day together and in that time he felt they’d connected on a level that years of knowing each other would give them.
What also had him worried was the small fissure of anxiety that had opened up during lunch. If he were honest, he’d admit Lory had been reluctant to join them from the start and he’d kind of railroaded her into it. But he thought she’d been okay with it. Now he had to wonder if that were true; even aside from the anxiety he’d felt coming off her, she appeared to enjoy getting to know his friends, spending time with him and Mad.
He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed they hadn’t spent more time together. The anticipation of having her in his house longer, while it was just the two of them because Mad was down for his nap, had bubbled beneath his skin all through the meal to the point he was happy to see his friends leave.
The sensation could be attributed to attraction; she was beautiful, there was no denying that, and he was a man with functioning eyes and blood flowing in his veins. As much as the way she made him feel tilted his axis, he’d wanted to spend time with her. Wanted to get to know her better, to decide if what he was feeling went both ways or if his head had been turned by the first woman in his new town to show him and his son genuine care.
He’d been counting on that time to determine what he should do.Ifhe should do anything at all.
Except it hadn’t turned out that way. After he’d seen Ry and Maz off and come back inside, Lory had been clearing the last of the plates from the table. She’d thanked him for lunch then made an excuse about needing to work and left before he could say a word, never mind go through the information she’d put together for him.
Not that he needed her to explain anything.
When he’d flicked through the pages she’d stapled together he’d found her to be clear and concise and he’d had no trouble at all when he’d contacted three of the agencies on her list. They had all been more than happy to help and sent him their available nannies’ files within a day.
Of course, he’d made sure to tell each person he spoke to he wouldn’t be making a quick decision and would get back to them in a week or two, and they’d assured him he had time to decide.
Except he couldn’t decide. Didn’twantto decide.
The only person he wanted looking after Mad was him. Or Lory.
And right there was the reason he needed to choose someone. This connection he felt to her didn’t make sense. He’d kept his son—himself—in a bubble since Mad had come into his life but this connection he felt for Lory was like an extension of that bubble.
It confused the fuck out of him.
And scared the shit out of him.
He couldn’t rely on a woman he barely knew. Besides, she’d said it herself—she wasn’t here forever. This was a stop in her life and she would leave as soon as her lease was up.
At least he thought she would. It was the impression she’d given him.
Dragging a hand down his face, he blew out a hard breath and pulled the laptop back toward him. Clicking through the five files he’d narrowed it down to, he reread each one from top to bottom. Nothing changed. He still couldn’t pick.
At this point he may as well go eeny, meeny, miny, moe. They were all qualified, with years of experience under their belts. He couldn’t go wrong with any choice he made. And yet he still couldn’t just pick one.
“Fuck sake!” He shoved his stool back and stood, jamming his fingers into his hair. “It shouldn’t be this hard.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
Jake spun to find Lory standing at the open glass door. She had on a sundress with thin straps that left her shoulders bare, the floaty skirt playing peek-a-boo with her knees. Her feet were as bare as her shoulders, as were her toe nails. And when he finally dragged his gaze back to her face, he saw flawless skin unmasked by makeup.
His arm lowered slowly, his dick pulsing, filling his jeans and pressing against his fly. She was the picture of sweet girl next door and the complete opposite of any woman he’d ever been attracted to. He shook his head. Clamped down on the desire racing through his blood.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been interested in sex. He knew the last time he’d had sex, and whom with, and other than the result of that encounter, he preferred to forget about it. Plus it hadn’t been desire that had led him to sleep with his ex; it had been grief.
