facing her right side.
“If you’re thinking of jumping in the lake to end it all, let me know in advance.” He stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. “These shoes set me back a couple hundred bucks. I’d want a chance to take them off before I dive in after you. There’s also my wallet and cell phone to consider.”
Alex always could make her smile.
“I’ve never heard Superman complain about having his cape dry-cleaned,” she replied. “I’ve never seen Batman ask for time to remove his utility belt. The Incredible Hulk never asks for a safety pin. If you’re going to be a hero, you’ve got to be tough.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “So that’s who you’ve been dating since I’ve been gone.”
Lacey shook her head. “You can tell by the way my kids reacted to you that my social life is fairly nonexistent. After today, I plan to keep it that way.”
“Well, if you’re off the market, maybe I should check out Casey’s mom. Do I know her? Is she cute?”
Lacey became serious. “I’m ashamed of Jerrod for talking about her that way. Donna Sullivan is a nice girl, trying to raise a kid on her own. She moved here a couple of years ago. The only job she could find was at the Road House, waiting tables at night. It hardly pays enough to make ends meet. And sometimes she looks for love in the wrong places. As you know, I’ve got my own reputation in this town, so I don’t judge her.”
Alex lowered his voice. “Where do you look for love, Lacey?”
“I don’t waste my time.” Lacey responded too quickly. It was the truth. She mostly kept to herself.
Alex paused in thought. “I suppose you’re waiting for Prince Charming to show up. If he does, you’ll have to move the compost pile behind the barn. He’ll need a place to stable his white steed, and royals have very sensitive noses.”
Lacey smacked his shoulder.
“Take it easy, slugger. You’ve got a nasty right cross.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Lacey recalled the scene in the kitchen and felt her eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know what came over me in there. I swear I’ve never hit one of my children before tonight. I’ve got to be the world’s most horrible mom.”
“You and Jerrod have both been under a lot of stress today, mostly because of me.” Alex scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just shown up the way I did.”
“That’s no reason for Jerrod to bait me the way he has today. It’s just not like him. You can ask anybody in Indian Lakes. He’s normally a great kid.” It was so easy to lean into Alex’s warm shoulder. What would it be like to have this comfort all the time? Lacey couldn’t afford to entertain that thought.
“Oh, I believe you, but you need to look at this from his point of view.” Alex tightened his hold on her. “Face it, sweetheart. Those kids didn’t miss the heat coming off the two of us, when they found us kissing. I was at the edge of my control. And I’m a stranger to them. Jenna thinks it was romantic, but Jerrod feels like he has to protect you. He’d like to punch my lights out, but he knows he’s too small. Then, to add insult to injury, he fell through the porch and hurt himself. I heard him scream and saw him cry-big ego buster, babe. To top that off, I had to carry him to his room.”
Lacey hadn’t realized how degrading all that must have been for her son. “What am I going to do?”
Alex stood and offered Lacey a hand up. They began walking back to the house. “Let me come back next weekend. Jerrod’s leg should be better by then. I could help him with his chores and spend some time with him. If we both live though the weekend, maybe we’ll start being friends.”
“You, here, for the whole weekend?” Lacey was astounded by Alex’s suggestion. A man in her house overnight? A smoking hot, built for sex, kind of man? What would people say? She should say no, but she couldn’t make the
“If you’re thinking of jumping in the lake to end it all, let me know in advance.” He stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. “These shoes set me back a couple hundred bucks. I’d want a chance to take them off before I dive in after you. There’s also my wallet and cell phone to consider.”
Alex always could make her smile.
“I’ve never heard Superman complain about having his cape dry-cleaned,” she replied. “I’ve never seen Batman ask for time to remove his utility belt. The Incredible Hulk never asks for a safety pin. If you’re going to be a hero, you’ve got to be tough.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “So that’s who you’ve been dating since I’ve been gone.”
Lacey shook her head. “You can tell by the way my kids reacted to you that my social life is fairly nonexistent. After today, I plan to keep it that way.”
“Well, if you’re off the market, maybe I should check out Casey’s mom. Do I know her? Is she cute?”
Lacey became serious. “I’m ashamed of Jerrod for talking about her that way. Donna Sullivan is a nice girl, trying to raise a kid on her own. She moved here a couple of years ago. The only job she could find was at the Road House, waiting tables at night. It hardly pays enough to make ends meet. And sometimes she looks for love in the wrong places. As you know, I’ve got my own reputation in this town, so I don’t judge her.”
Alex lowered his voice. “Where do you look for love, Lacey?”
“I don’t waste my time.” Lacey responded too quickly. It was the truth. She mostly kept to herself.
Alex paused in thought. “I suppose you’re waiting for Prince Charming to show up. If he does, you’ll have to move the compost pile behind the barn. He’ll need a place to stable his white steed, and royals have very sensitive noses.”
Lacey smacked his shoulder.
“Take it easy, slugger. You’ve got a nasty right cross.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Lacey recalled the scene in the kitchen and felt her eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know what came over me in there. I swear I’ve never hit one of my children before tonight. I’ve got to be the world’s most horrible mom.”
“You and Jerrod have both been under a lot of stress today, mostly because of me.” Alex scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just shown up the way I did.”
“That’s no reason for Jerrod to bait me the way he has today. It’s just not like him. You can ask anybody in Indian Lakes. He’s normally a great kid.” It was so easy to lean into Alex’s warm shoulder. What would it be like to have this comfort all the time? Lacey couldn’t afford to entertain that thought.
“Oh, I believe you, but you need to look at this from his point of view.” Alex tightened his hold on her. “Face it, sweetheart. Those kids didn’t miss the heat coming off the two of us, when they found us kissing. I was at the edge of my control. And I’m a stranger to them. Jenna thinks it was romantic, but Jerrod feels like he has to protect you. He’d like to punch my lights out, but he knows he’s too small. Then, to add insult to injury, he fell through the porch and hurt himself. I heard him scream and saw him cry-big ego buster, babe. To top that off, I had to carry him to his room.”
Lacey hadn’t realized how degrading all that must have been for her son. “What am I going to do?”
Alex stood and offered Lacey a hand up. They began walking back to the house. “Let me come back next weekend. Jerrod’s leg should be better by then. I could help him with his chores and spend some time with him. If we both live though the weekend, maybe we’ll start being friends.”
“You, here, for the whole weekend?” Lacey was astounded by Alex’s suggestion. A man in her house overnight? A smoking hot, built for sex, kind of man? What would people say? She should say no, but she couldn’t make the
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