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But there was the moment when he unexpectedly shared information about his late wife. He could’ve been making it clear he was single, but I didn’t get interested vibes from him. The impression I got from him was that he’d rather be farther away from me than closer.
An unusual circumstance for me. I spent too much time around straight men who had either seen me with my top off or wanted to see me with my top off. And then there was the batch of guys who wanted me to make money for them by taking my top off—and several who thought I shouldn’t stop there and hated that I used pasties and tassels and thongs.
“You’re going to do what you want to do.” Thelma eyed me and flicked her cigarette into the trash can, where three more lay on top of kitchen scraps. It’d been a taxing morning for her. Was living with me stressing her out? “Milk Daddy,” she chuffed.
“I can’t have you paying Mom’s bills.” The only saving grace to my circumstances was that Frederick had waited to screw me over after the beginning of the month. I had until the end of June to figure out how to pay for another month of Mom’s care.
Once Mom’s care was nailed down, I’d turn my focus to how to deal with Frederick.
Her mouth tightened, and fine lines rimmed her lips. “I can help out, doll face.” Worry flashed in her hazel eyes. “For a short time.”
That was it. The issue making her pretend chain-smoke. Any more stress, and she’d light up for real and go back on a habit she’d kicked three years ago after my grandma died from emphysema.
Thelma had footed the bill to get me to Crocus Valley. She was feeding me from the diner and risking her job. I needed to work. I needed an income, and my old skills weren’t going to help in a town as small as Crocus Valley.
I gave her a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. “Thank you for everything, Thelma.”
“Remember, you feel unsafe at all—call me.”
“Will do.” The last thing I felt around Cody Knight was unsafe. He was a brooding wall of man, and pressure rode on his shoulders like a pet parrot, but his presence was comforting in a way I couldn’t explain. Like he was struggling to make his way in the world and fulfill obligations as badly as I was.
But I had to talk to him first. If he bailed after he heard what I had to say, then I’d call the grocery store back about the opening they had. The pay wouldn’t be half of what I needed to keep Mom where she was, but it was a start.
I slung my black tote bag, emblazoned with the logo of one of the burlesque clubs I’d danced at, over my shoulder and walked to the towering farmhouse. The old place was charming with its clapboard shutters and peaked roof, but Thelma said the landlord didn’t like to put money into it. He’d rather his renters do the work themselves than hire out, and he might give them a few bucks off rent, which was nowhere near what paying a professional would cost.
I knocked on the door, and footsteps pounded on the other side.
“G, don’t open the door without—”
Grayson whipped the door open, cutting his dad off. The collar of his little polo was flipped up, and his hair was mussed. Ivy was jumping up and down behind him.
Selfishly, I’d missed this. Kids were always happy to see me. I felt popular. I’d grown up an only child, getting uprooted regularly, and was eventually passed to my grandma when I was a teen. Kids gave me the friend network I didn’t have when I was younger.
Cody was right behind them, his usually stony expression exasperated and his phone in his hand. He pulled to a stop behind his kids and sighed. “What have we talked about when someone’s at the door?”
Grayson was unrepentant. “But we knew Tova was coming.”
I smiled and tugged down Grayson’s collar. “What if I was selling vacuum cleaners? Or...trying to lure small children to my van with kittens?”
“You have kittens?” Ivy bounced in place again.
I laughed. “No. I’m trying to point out that you didn’t know for certain it was me.” I pointed to the peephole in the door. “And I know neither of you are tall enough to check.”
Undaunted, Grayson shrugged. “It was you.”
I met Cody’s eyes, grinning. His features were smoothed back into his determined, professional mask. “Kids, go finish putting the dishes away so I can talk to Tova.”
The way he said my name sent warm tendrils of shivers down my spine. His deep, pleasing voice only made me wonder how much it’d rasp in my ear in the dark.
I inhaled a shuddering breath. It’d been a while since I’d been thoroughly pleasured. Men like Frederick could be selfish in bed. I’d gotten off—if I did half the work.
Cody probably wouldn’t need to do more than tell me to come, and I’d shatter.
Flustered, I dug in my tote and withdrew a bag of brown sugar. “I wasn’t sure if you remembered to grab some.” Cody’s dark brows drew together as he stared at my present. Was he annoyed? “I gambled that since you mentioned it was for oatmeal, you were after brown sugar.”
“We forgot it,” Ivy announced. Grayson was still standing next to her.
Cody’s expression shut down further, and he gingerly took the sugar without touching me. “Thank you.” He handed the bag to Ivy. “Put this away, please.” She didn’t move. “Both of you—now.” They scurried off, peeking over their shoulders.
