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I turn my body in time to see Holden stumble on the monkey bars and fall to the ground. It’s not a hard fall, but his little head drops forward and his hands reach out to break his fall.
My legs are moving before I can think about it. I’m already at his side before he cries. His knees are dirty, but he’s not injured. I help him up and brush the mulch from his clothes.
Arden kneels next to me, checking him over again.
It wasn’t a long fall, considering the bars barely come up to my waist, but Holden wipes his eyes. His nose scrunches up as he looks at Arden, but I think he’s more startled than hurt.
“It’s okay, buddy. You didn’t get hurt.” She kisses his forehead.
Within seconds, he’s back to climbing on the equipment.
“I hope he’s always this resilient,” Arden says.
I stand and hold my hand out to her. “You should finish your dinner before it gets dark.”
She smiles wide, and I realize it’s the most genuine smile I’ve seen on her face.
“You’re pretty quick,” she says, resting her hand in mine.
I hadn’t told her the most annoying part about the last two weeks of work, or the reason I wanted something to distract me from Talon and Bax’s commentary through dinner. Growing up around their family, I’ve heard enough about the legendary “boom.” That feeling that strikes when you meet the person you’re meant to spend your life with. I still think it’s all a load of bunk, but I haven’t been able to think clearly since meeting Arden—and both Talon and Bax seem to know it. It’s not enough that I can’t stop thinking about her, I have to deal with their baiting me anytime I see them.
Arden takes a seat and picks up her fork again. “So, you’re still not second-guessing your agreement to keep me company?”
“No.”
“Well that just leaves me to question your sanity.”
“You wouldn’t be the first.”
Laughter explodes from Arden’s mouth, and she covers her face while she recovers. “I’m sorry.” She wipes the tears from under her eyes.
“Why? I happen to enjoy hearing you laugh.”
“Ooh.” She looks toward the sky. “You’re moving into cliche territory. I expected better of you.”
I can’t help it. I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Tonight, she’s nothing like that closed-off woman I met when her car broke down. She’s opening up, blooming like a beautiful flower.
One that I intend to never let wilt.
“You were right.” She stares off toward Holden, who has moved on to the swings. “Earlier, when you asked about his father. Shane was a nightmare. I’d been trying to get away from him for months. To find a way out that prevented him from following me. So, he forbade me from even going to work and sabotaged my car to make sure I couldn’t leave.”
My nostrils flare as my skin heats. I want to punch the asshole.
“A friend picked me up. Shane tracked us down, dragged that friend out into a side alley and beat him up. Fortunately someone noticed the commotion and called the police. They got there just as he pulled a knife.”
“Shit,” I whisper without thinking. Thank fuck she’s free now.
Arden’s eyes narrow, and she studies me before continuing. “He claimed that he thought I was in danger, so I had to testify two days after I found out I was pregnant.”
“He doesn’t know?”
She shakes her head. “I sure as hell never told him, but you know how people talk.”
I reach for her, brushing my fingers against her cheek. I half expect her to pull away, but she closes her eyes and remains motionless. “I don’t know why I just told you all of that. I guess I needed a brain dump.”
I let my fingers run down her cheek, gently dropping my hand to her shoulder. He’s the reason she was so afraid of being indebted to me.
“I’m glad you told me,” I whisper.
Arden glances down at the ground and her cheeks redden. I can’t explain the mixture of emotions I’m feeling. The need to hold her is so strong that I’m barely holding back. I’d intended to ask her out to dinner sometime this evening, but now, I think I need to give her some time to process.
Arden reaches up and covers my hand with hers. Her skin is smooth, and the contact sends shivers up my arm. Then, as if she pressed a button to hide the emotions away, she composes herself, gathers the empty salad container, and tosses it into the nearby trash can. “I should get Holden home.”
