Page 30 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

“Yes, and I can’t wait.” I try to smooth over my annoyance. “I just got so caught up painting that I lost track of time out here. Sorry.” I grit my teeth as I force out the apology he doesn’t deserve.

“Who are you?” Bennett asks, looking at Eli.

“Oh, sorry. This is my neighbor, Eli Hargrove and his daughter, Wren,” I say, “and this is Bennett Cross,” I say to Eli, finishing the introduction.

“Dr. Cross,” Bennett says as he sticks out his hand to shake Eli’s. I can see that sexy muscle in Eli’s jaw flicker with irritation as he tries to hold his tongue. He towers over Bennett in every way. Even with a little baby in his arms, Eli is a million times more intimidating.

“Have a good night, Kendra. Benny,” Eli says flatly before he spins and takes Wren back across to his own house.

“What a dick,” Bennett says, as he eyes one of the flower plates. “What’s all this?”

“Let me finish cleaning up so I can get dinner started and I will tell you all about it,” I say, biting back more frustration. I’d like to lock myself in this garage, alone . . . for the rest of the night.

“Why do you keep looking over there?” Bennett asks, his tone snappy and harsh.

“Oh, umm. I’m just worried about Wren, I could hear her crying, and it’s been a long time. Usually it’s easier to settle her down.” I pull my attention back to the pasta primavera in front of me and away from the breeze coming from the open window that carried the distracting cry from next door.

Taking a sip of wine, Bennett says, “It’s not your kid, you shouldn’t worry about it, especially when we’re on a date.”

“I know, but it’s hard not to. She’s so sweet,” I reply with a sad smile.

“So . . . do you go over there a lot? Help him? Play house?” Bennett asks accusingly.

“It’s not like that at all. I can barely stand Eli, but he just had Wren dropped into his life out of the blue. He had no idea the mother was even pregnant. Now he’s a full-time single father. So our group of friends is trying to help when we can,” I explain.

“I think you can cross yourself off that list, darlin’. You have other things to worry about than helping cover babysitting duties for his irresponsible mistake.” He finishes off his glass of wine and reaches for the bottle between us to refill it.

If the wedding was not next weekend, and I had not already asked Bennett to be my date, I would un-invite him. But I definitely don’t want to show up alone, and I don’t have time to find a new date. So I will suck it up, and once the wedding is over I will never have to see this asshole again.

24

Eli

My dick is killing me. The guys thought it was absolutely hilarious that I backed myself into the dumbest bet of my life and lost. Now I can’t even work out, film my jump rope videos, or jerk off to inappropriate thoughts of my neighbor. Everyone at the bachelor party also harassed me, tried to convince me to really commit and get a full Jacob’s ladder and plan multiple appointments to complete that with Marcus, but fuck that. One rung on that hellscape was high enough for me to climb.

A couple more weeks of healing and it should feel much better. Should being the key word here. It’s not like I am planning on using it anytime soon. Some of the options that Marcus showed me could take six months or longer to fully, one hundred percent heal. No thank you.

“Good morning, peanut,” I say to a sleepy Wren, snuggling her close to me and kissing her cheek. I lay her carefully on the changing table and get to work. Once she is fresh, we make our way to the kitchen, both needing our first meals of the day.

My coffee brews while I make Wren’s bottle, the routine second nature to me now—something I would never have imagined myself becoming a natural at. My actual breakfast can wait until my baby girl is fed and happy. It’s a beautiful morning, so I decide to feed her out on the back deck. We can soak up some gentle rays of vitamin D together before the sun turns harsh and blazing hot. I settle onto one of the navy-blue padded chairs at the patio table and lean back, letting the soft morning sun kiss my face. I hear a tiny groan, pulling my attention across the lush green yard.

The lights in Kendra’s garage studio are on, side door wide open, and a gaping Kendra is standing in her doorway. She locks eyes with me, tries to quickly spin back into the space to hide her embarrassment, but it’s too late . . . I caught her gawking at me. And I fucking love it. Love knowing that I still have some kind of effect on her, that it’s not just hatred, no matter how hard she tries to mask it as such.

“Good morning, neighbor,” I say, my voice still gravelly from the early hour.

Biting that temping bottom lip, she replies quietly, “Morning.”

“Come have some coffee with me?”

“I have a lot of work to do.” She points over her shoulder.

“Coffee will give you the boost you need to keep going. How long have you been out here?” I give her a knowing look.

“Since four thirty,” she admits reluctantly.

“Exactly, you need the caffeine. Come on.”

Her shoulders droop with exhaustion, and she trudges across the space between us and up my deck stairs. Taking the seat farthest from me, she settles in and says nothing. I study her for a minute before I ask, “Do you mind finishing up Wren’s bottle while I get our coffee? I had a fresh pot brewing while I fed her, and I am sure it’s ready now.”