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“I like the work that goes into fixing up a bike,” I countered.
He sighed heavily, shaking his head as he stared at the heap behind me. “That’s a lot of work.”
“Yeah. You know something about it?”
He swiped at his nose again, shaking his head. “No.”
“Have you ever been around a bike?”
He shook his head again, but then his eyes lit up. “I have a monster truck, though.”
“That’s pretty cool.”
The screen door on his house banged shut as his mom came running out. She wasn’t dressed in scrubs, though. She was donning a blue EMT outfit. Maybe the kid had it mixed up.
Her eyes scanned the yard for her son and the panic was evident when she saw he wasn’t by her car. Then her eyes landed on me and the panic turned to fear. I didn’t like the gnawing feeling in my gut from that look, but I shoved it down. It wasn’t my job to make friends with her, and any involvement would only make my life harder.
“Parker!” she shouted, rushing over to him. She pulled him against her, keeping her hands firmly locked around his shoulders. “You can’t wander off. I told you not to go outside.”
“I was looking at his bike,” Parker answered.
“I didn’t know where you were. You scared me.”
Correction. I scared her. I was with her son, and it was pretty fucking obvious that she thought I was a threat to him. That was good. Better for her to assume that I was dangerous. Besides, any goodmother would be terrified based on the way I looked. This was really for the best.
“I’m sorry if he bothered you.” The slight shake in her voice gave away how terrified she was, though she was trying to hide it. She didn’t quite meet my eyes, and despite trying her best to appear calm, I could see her pulse fluttering at the base of her neck. Her only thought was to get away from me as fast as possible. Those were good instincts, ones that she should abide by.
“It’s no problem,” I shrugged. “I was just working on my bike.”
Her eyes skittered over the bike quickly before she looked away. “I have to get to work.”
“He said you’re a nurse,” I said quickly, stopping her just as she was about to leave.
“Uh…that’s right. But I don’t work outside the hospital, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she added quickly.
I shook my head slightly, trying to put her at ease. No matter how much I said I didn’t care that she was afraid of me, deep down, I fucking hated it. I didn’t like being seen as the bad guy. I fought for those who couldn’t protect themselves, and while that vision might have been skewed while working for Rafe, it would always be who I truly was.
“Just wondering because you’re wearing an EMT uniform.”
She glanced down, then back to me. “I take shifts twice a week.”
“To help pay the bills,” I surmised.
She flinched at my astute observation. I didn’t mean to put her on the spot. It was just how I did things.
“His old man in the picture?” I asked, overstepping my bounds.
She stiffened at my question, then steeled her spine, finally looking me in the eyes. “That’s none of your business.”
“You’re right. Sorry.”
It was clear she didn’t give a shit about my apology, and that bothered me a hell of a lot more than I wanted to admit to myself. I didn’t need the complication of a woman and kid in my life, especially not when her kid was the son of my enemy. But the longer I stared at her, the more I hated that look in her eyes. She shouldn’t feel terrified to live next to me.
I slowly held out my hand, knowing this was the beginning of the end for me. “I’m Jack.”
Her eyes flicked to my hand for a second. She was nervous, worried about appearing rude when she should be only concerned with her son’s safety. Then again, she might be worried that in offending me, she was putting herself in a bad position with her baby daddy.
She finally took my hand, shaking it once before snatching her hand back. “Skylar.”
