Just My Type(41)

All of a sudden, I jerk away from his side and out from under his arm, my back slamming into the doorjamb opposite Baker. I hear the opening of Greg’s car door, and Lincoln shouting my name, but I can’t move. I’m too busy staring at the man who just fucking urinated all around me, marking his territory.

Double son of a bitch!





CHAPTER 17





BAKER

Pizza with a Porn Star


Ember looks like a deer in headlights as she holds herself perfectly still, trying to become one with the doorjamb a foot away from me. I should probably be worried that I freaked her out by acting like a jealous boyfriend with that cheese dick who wouldn’t stop staring at her tits, but I’m not. And it’s not just because she has beautiful fucking tits, especially when she’s wearing a loose-fitting V-neck and I can see every single curve and outline of them hidden beneath the thin cotton material, and I want to chop off the arm of any man who so much as glances at them. I’m not worried, because Ember needs to know I’m not really taking this whole “keeping things professional” bullshit seriously.

The sound of her son’s voice calling for her a second time finally makes her remember how to blink, and she looks away from me toward the street. I watch her demeanor change in an instant. Her shoulders relax, a huge smile lights up her face, and her eyes are practically shooting sparkles and fairy dust out of them as she looks at her son. Her entire body vibrates with excitement and the need to run to him and scoop him up in a hug.

Someone should take away my man card, because the goddamn sight of her looking this fucking overjoyed almost brings me to my knees.

“Mom!” Lincoln shouts again as cheese dick pulls away from the curb, and Lincoln takes off in a full sprint across the small front yard.

Stepping back into the house to give them a little privacy, I watch through the doorway as Ember walks down the steps, meeting Lincoln at the bottom. Bending over, she wraps her arms around him, squeezing him and peppering kisses all over his face until he finally starts laughing and pushes her away. The nerves start coming back as I watch her take his backpack from him and the two of them start slowly making their way up the porch steps, chatting about Lincoln’s day at school.

I like kids. Kids like me. Probably because I, myself, can be an overgrown child from time to time. I really want this kid to like me. I’ve never been with a single mom before, but I’m assuming if her kid hates you on sight, that’s pretty much the kiss of death. I don’t want this thing with Ember ending before it’s even begun. Even though it sure as shit has begun, and Ember just doesn’t realize it yet.

“You swear you don’t have any homework this weekend?” Ember asks Lincoln as they pause at the top of the steps and turn to face each other.

All of a sudden, her hand comes up between them, and she’s making a fist with her pinky up. I’m smiling so hard my face hurts.

“Pinky swear,” Lincoln says with a nod, wrapping his finger around hers as they shake on it.

I’m getting all googly-eyed, because of a fucking pinky swear.

Suddenly, it means a hell of a lot more to me, those pinky swears we’ve been making, knowing it’s something she also shares with her son.

Jesus, don’t fuck this up, Baker.

Ember and Lincoln finally step into the doorway, and I take a few more steps back to give them room.

“Lincoln, this is my friend, Baker. Remember the gentleman I told you about who I’ve been interviewing?” Ember asks, tossing Lincoln’s backpack to the ground by the wall before closing the door behind them.

The handsome young man in front of me, who looks so much like his mother it’s almost freaky, cocks his head to the side and looks at me curiously, while I swallow nervously and smile at him.

“You mean the asshat?” Lincoln asks innocently, looking away from me and back over his shoulder at his mother as she moves to stand next to him.

I snort loudly, and Ember mutters, “Oh my God,” under her breath with a shake of her head.

“You can actually call me Baker.” I smile, holding my hand out for him to shake.

“Nice to meet you, Baker,” Lincoln says politely before dropping my hand.

“Baker was nice enough to go with me on an errand today, to help me get you a surprise,” Ember tells Lincoln.

He starts jumping up and down immediately, but Ember quickly holds up her hand in the universal stop signal.

“First, no more using the word asshat.”

“But you said asshat,” Lincoln points out, making me snort again, which earns me a glare from Ember before she looks back down at her son.

“I’m an adult. I’m allowed to use that word, as well as many other colorful words, which you shouldn’t repeat.”

“Your mom doesn’t think I’m an asshat anyway,” I whisper loudly to Lincoln, leaning in his direction conspiratorially with my hand up by my mouth. “I think she just likes to say the word asshat.”

Lincoln gets a case of the giggles then, which makes me feel damn proud of myself, even when Ember glares at me again.

“Can I have my surprise now? Pleeease,” Lincoln begs, folding his hands together under his chin and giving Ember big, fat, puppy dog eyes.

“Go ahead. It’s over there on the coffee table.” Ember laughs, pointing behind me.