Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(119)
How could he expect her to keep it together while he said things like that?
“Kevin starts school in one more week, right?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Then for those few remaining days, I’m going to work on winning over both of you.”
He didn’t need to work on her. Shoot, she was already in love. But she’d yet to meet a man keen on waiting. “You really think you can be that patient?”
“I’m going to think of it as extended foreplay.”
She smiled with him.
Going serious again, he drifted his fingers through her hair. “But I’m taking off work that day, and I hope you will too.”
“The whole day?”
His attention went to her mouth; another, deeper kiss followed. Against her lips, he breathed, “It’s going to take me at least that long.”
Wow. After a much-needed breath, she nodded. “Okay.” The whole day. She could hardly wait. “I’m on board.”
“In the meantime, we continue working out the problems. Which include...?”
So now she needed to think—about something other than an all-day marathon of Jesse naked. Returning to reality, Tonya put a hand to her head and tried to order her thoughts.
Jesse watched her as if he wanted a list, so she mentally ticked off some of her priorities.
School was in the top ten. “He needs school clothes. A haircut. I need to rearrange my schedule because I don’t want him home alone afterward, at least not for a while.” When Jesse started to speak, she rushed on. “I know he’s twelve. I was babysitting at that age. But he’s—”
“A guy who needs you.”
“Yes.” Did Jesse need her too? More likely it was all one-sided. She needed him, in so many different ways that her independent nature wanted to rebel.
But more than that, more than anything, she valued the strong shoulder to lean on.
“Mind if I give a stab at the haircut?” He ran those strong fingers through his dark blond hair. “I’m past due, so I figure I can take him with me, introduce him to my barber and all that.”
“I’m sure that’d make for an easier transition. I don’t think he’s ever been to a barber. My sister just cut his hair.”
“Not uncommon.” His grin went crooked, adding to his charm. “My mom always trimmed mine when I was younger too.”
“I know. And I thought about giving it a try, but if I mess it up—”
“You are far too critical of yourself.”
She drew out her chair and sat down again. “Believe me, he’s got enough going on without having to possibly deal with a bad haircut from me.”
“I guess you’re right.” He teased her, saying, “Maybe someday you can practice on me. I wouldn’t mind.”
She stared at him, at that sun-streaked hair, and damned if she didn’t get a little warm just thinking about it. “If you’re really that brave, then okay.”
“Shopping decisions are all on you.” He, too, sat. “But if you want, I’ll go along. Assuming he’s like most guys, we can break up the very painful process with lunch, maybe an hour in the arcade or something.”
So many things he said and did gave her great insight and made her love expand. “You think it’s very painful, but you’ll do it anyway?”
“For you.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “For him.”
“You really are terrific.” So terrific that she wanted to keep him—forever. No way could she tell him that, not right now. So instead she gave his hand a squeeze and shared a very sincere smile. “Thank you. For everything.”
CHAPTER THREE
THE ROOM TURNED out perfect—in every way. The loft bed provided extra storage room that Tonya never would have had otherwise. Beneath the bed Kevin had not only a chest of drawers and a functional desk, but the coveted nook for Love.
Kevin liked it. The cat liked it.
Tonya was left speechless.
The once-crowded room now looked custom designed for a growing boy.
No one looking at it, complete with a favorite pet, would guess at Kevin’s background. Tonya hoped it would help him to forget—or at least be better able to accept the future.
“This rack,” Jesse said, “is for hanging anything from a jacket to a ball bat or...whatever.”
Would Kevin want to get involved with sports?
With Jesse encouraging him, she believed he would.
“Look,” Kevin told her. “The light for my desk is built into the bottom of the bed.”
“That way, he has more surface room for his school papers and stuff.”
Both Kevin and Jesse stood there smiling at her, and damn it, she felt tears gather in her eyes. “You both did an absolutely amazing job.”
Kevin took one look at her and retreated—until Jesse nudged him, muttering, “Women, huh? Always looking for a reason to get weepy.”
Kevin took another look, his uncertainty palpable.
“Happy tears,” Tonya promised. Arms open, she closed in on Kevin, giving him a big hug despite his unease, then she moved to Jesse and did the same.
Keeping her close, Jesse said in an aside to Kevin, “When she sees the plans we have for her office, she’s going to melt down. Just wait and see.”