“No. No. I’m fine.” He pressed the backs of his fingers to her forehead as she protested. “Oh, stop I’m fine.”
“You do seem warm.” Leo spoke in an attempt at stern. “You go take it easy. We won’t be long.”
“Leo just wanted to show me...” I trailed off because I didn’t know.
“Beatrice and the kids,” Leo provided.
Janice’s eyebrows shot up. I was more confused than ever. Did he have a secret family? A pet cat that had kittens?
“You’ll be going to the basement, then?” Janice asked.
And . . . my confusion grew.
“Yes, but we will be quiet. Don’t you worry.”
“Wha—” I lifted a finger as though to ask a question but nothing came out.
“Oh, pishposh.” She waved him away. “Take your time.”
“We will,” I said. Even if I had no idea what was going on, I could help Janice by getting Leo downstairs quickly. “Enjoy your bath.”
I sent her a final smile before I followed Leo to a door off the kitchen and she made her way to the stairs going up.
Leo flicked a light switch that illuminated a set of old wooden stairs heading into the basement. “Watch your step. These are steep and have no handrail.”
I followed him closely as we descended, my eyes adjusting to the mostly dark area as I pondered what had just transpired upstairs. Janice had been single as long as I had known her, or at least incredibly private.
“Do you think your mom will ever date again?” I asked gently.
“Janice?” He laughed. “No. No. I don’t think so. Janice was never a big believer in relationships.”
I rolled my eyes behind his back. Men were so oblivious sometimes.
“Though I definitely think she’s hooking up with someone now,” he added.
The surprise of his comment caused me to misjudge the last step. He turned in time to catch me before I face-planted. I was in his arms, and the height of the step put me at eye level with him for once. His dark eyes moved over my face. We were so close and that heat was back. He smelledgood, even wet from the rain. Masculine and fresh and a hint of sweaty.
I found my footing, and he gently set me back on the ground. “Thanks,” I said. “I wasn’t sure if you had any thoughts on all that.” I pointed at the first floor.
“She wasn’t exactly subtle up there, was she?” he asked.
I sucked in my lips. “You may want to start knocking before you come home,” I said. He wasn’t as clueless as I’d thought. Leo continued to defy my expectations of him.
He huffed a laugh but also squished his face up in a wince. “She clearly isn’t ready to talk about whoever is upstairs, and quite frankly, I’m not sure I want to hear it. I don’t know if that makes me immature, but there it is.” He tugged at his damp curls, which had begun to fluff out. “As long as she’shappy.” He sighed. “I guess there can be complications with having your mom as your best friend.”
I couldn’t help the little tug on my heart. That was so damn sweet. And only a tiny bit weird. “I’m sure she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”
“Mama’s boy struggles,” he teased himself and then added, “Good album name.”
I snorted. I loved commitment to a bit.
He nodded, holding my gaze for another second. “Well, anyway.” He gestured to a massive black shadow in the corner and said, “There’s Beatrice and the kids.”
“Is she a grill?”
He chuckled. “Not quite.” He went over to the dark shape, flicking another light on the way.
The metallicsizzleof cymbals filled the room as he whipped off a dusty sheet.
