Page 59 of His Wounded Heart

Just how old is this? I think back to when Maddie gave me my make-up gift set. I remember it was for Christmas. Bella was still crawling. Well no wonder it’s drier than dust. I throw the mascara in the trash just as I hear knocking on my door. Maybe I shouldn’t answer.

Who am I kidding, of course I’m going to answer. Simon has beautiful gray eyes, and he seems like he is at the George Clooney level of niceness.

I practically run to the door as he knocks again.

I take a moment to breathe deep. I don’t want to be panting when I open the door.

Okay, I’m ready. I pull open the door.

Chapter Fourteen

Her house might be small, but it really appeals to me. She has recently planted flowers alongside her walkway, and she’s trimmed back the rose bushes that are on each side of the house. I bet during springtime this place is gorgeous.

The house I’d shared with my ex-wife in La Mesa had never looked this good, and half the time she was out of a job. Here Trenda is, taking care of Bella and a home business, but she still makes time to keep her house looking good.

I knock again. She opens the door.

So pretty.

Even with a face that’s still a little blotchy with tears, she’s pretty as a picture.

“I wasn’t sure you were going to answer the door.”

“Neither was I.”

I laugh. She makes me laugh a lot. It feels good.

“I suppose the nice thing would be to invite you inside.”

“Hey, you don’t have to be nice. If you’re comfortable heating the outdoors, then we can talk while I’m on the porch.”

She rolls her eyes and backs up a step. “Come in.”

I do.

The first thing I see is her front room, and it looks like she’s picked out some nice furniture, but the place looks comfortable. Nice, big, yellow, soft-looking couch that you could really sink into, two blue chairs on either side of the couch and a low coffee table that looks like it’s been made of a real chest, not something you would buy from one of those shops at a mall. There’s a low wall that has three stools facing the kitchen. Everything is in yellows and blues.

“Have a seat and can I get you something to drink?” She waves me to the couch.

I amble over and sit down. It’s just as comfortable as I thought it would be.

“What would you like? I have beer, sodas, sweet tea, coffee, and water.”

“How about conversation?”

Her eyes narrow. “I’m all out of that, but I can get you a nice beverage.”

I can’t stop the chuckle that pops out of my mouth. “Well, in that case, I would love a cup of coffee.”

“How do you take it?”

“Black.”

“Of course you do. I’ll be right back.”

I watch her heart-shaped ass as she heads to the kitchen. Yoga pants were one of the best inventions of the twenty-first century. It doesn’t take her long to come back with two mugs of coffee. She bends over to place them on coasters on the coffee table in front of the couch, and now I get a peek at her pretty pink bra. Even better, I get a look at the tops of her creamy breasts.

Stop it.