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I blow out a heavy breath and straighten my dress before heading to the living room, where my son is describing every character inStory Botsto a very patient Atlas. This might be his one and only redeeming quality. He’s good with kids.
I hand him back his phone. “Thank you.”
He stands from the couch, looks down at my son, and ruffles his hair. “Why don’t you draw me a picture of all thosebots, and you can tell me about them one by one when I get back with supplies for the roof? Okay?”
Jackson runs off upstairs with new vigor, and Atlas draws his attention back toward me. “I see why you can’t punish him now. He’s cute.”
If my stomach wasn’t turning from the horrible decisions I was making, then I’d probably be biting back a grin. Instead, I’m blank. “That he is. I, ugh, I can pay you at the end of the week. Is that okay?”
Atlas looks away and back again, stroking his giant hand down over his beard. “If you need more time, I can float you a loan.”
“I don’t need a loan. I’m perfectly good to do all this myself.”
“Even with your phone needing to be replaced?”
I stand taller. “I have pride, Mr. Laskin. I can take care of my family.”
He glances to the side then steps forward, leaning into my ear as though he’s going to whisper.
Why the hell is he doing that?
Why does he smell like the forest? Why do I want him to touch me with those big, rough, working man hands? From a distance, the man is huge. But up close, he’s a goliath.
My clit reminds me of how attracted to him I am.
I squeeze my thighs together in an attempt to hush her alarms, but she keeps throbbing. In fact, the squeeze seems to insight some wetness.
I need help!
Atlas leans in, his tone is low and graveled as he says in my ear, “I’ve been broke before. I can’t imagine doing it with kids. If you need a loan, I can figure something out.”
My chest tightens as I back away from him. He’s handsome, but clearly, he can’t read a room. “I’m not broke. I’ll have your money by Friday.”
He drags in a deep breath and shakes his head. “I don’t get it. If you’re struggling, it’s okay to ask for he—”
“I don’t need your help, Mr. Laskin. In fact, you should add more money to the total because I want you to get paid fairly for your time. So, what is it… like five hundred more?” I know damn well that I sound like an idiot, but working as hard as I do and being called broke doesn’t hit right.
He shakes his head and steers toward the front door. “Pride is only gonna get you so far, little rabbit.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and try not to come as I reconcile what he’s just said. I think maybe it was an insult, but I’m too lost in the little rabbit part to address any of it… which is going to be a problem.
Chapter Two
Atlas
My little brother, Niko, has been messing with the snowmobile for the last two days. We’re going to need the fleet if we’re to make it out into the forest where the bear we’re hunting is currently located. Though at this point, I think he might be onto us. He’s evaded our efforts at every step and seems to have the terrain mapped better than we do. That, and we’re not on our best game.
“Any luck?” I hop down from the truck and crunch over the icy path to meet up with him.
He stands, scrubbing his bare hand down over his beard. “Not much. We need a part that’s got to be shipped in. That’s not the worst of it, though. All y’all are preoccupied. Rowan and Hudson are off with women, you’re fixing roofs, and Dad’s sick. The only one here working is me.”
“I’m here working, man, but I’ve got to make some money, too. We’ve been here way longer than expected.”
“We’ve got food for months. What else do we need?” Niko is the kind of guy who lives off grid up home. He doesn’t want for anything, and he makes his money in trades. Everything else he needs, he gets from the earth.
“You make it sound so simple, but how about the part you need to fix this damn thing? Problems have been coming up everywhere. We’ve used way more gas than expected and spenta small fortune on trying to get Dad the medical attention he needs, even if he fights us about it. How’s he feeling?”
“No change. I think it’s pneumonia. That doctor that he kicked out of here last week said there’s a nurse practitioner he knows that has better luck with stubborn old men. I think she’s the next best bet.”
