Page 26 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“Aha! I knew it.” Liz slapped the table and sat back, satisfied. Then she leaned forward. “How was it?”

Jill sighed heavily and lowered her hands. “Indescribable. But that was it for us, just that one night. We both agreed to no more, and I wasn’t even supposed to see him again before he showed up next door. He’s heading to San Fran soon. It’s over.”

“You really believe that?” Liz asked.

“Yes.” Jill shook her head. She laughed ruefully. “No. I’m trying to make myself believe it, but I’m starting to cave. And that frightens me. If I let myself have more, I’m going to want the whole package…and that’s not something Cole can give me.”

Liz covered Jill’s hand with hers. “I know the one-night stand thing is not you, honey. But I’m happy that you got to have that experience. You’ve spent so much of your life taking care of people. First your daddy…having to take care of him every day when he couldn’t even remember your name…” Liz shuddered. “I can’t imagine how hard that was on you. Then, having to be strong for your mom until the end. And now taking care of these babies every day. You deserve some plain old fun sometimes. But I’m glad you’re being careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I don’t want me to get hurt, either. That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. He’ll be gone soon. I just want to help him through this if I can, but I’m keeping my head about me. And my hands to myself. I have to.”

“Just remember,” Liz said, “it’s not your job to take care of him. He’s a big boy, Jill.”

Oh, yes he is, Jill thought.

The rest of the day flew by. Seven scrambled eggs on toast and seven glasses of milk. Seven brushings of teeth and washing of hands. A little bit of cartoon watching until everyone was there, then working on numbers 1-10, practicing ABC’s for the older kids, and stacking blocks for the little ones. Snack time, Chutes and Ladders, lunch time, naps, crafts, then story time. It all whizzed by in a blur until finally they all sat down with snacks and a movie, as one by one, the kids got picked up to go home.

Jill sat with Anaya on her lap and Charlie pressed up against her other side. Together, they relaxed in a big, happy clump. By the time six o’clock rolled around, only Jill and Stanley were left. Stanley’s father was getting later and later with his pick-ups, with no explanation or prior arrangements. Yes, given some of her kids had parents who were sick, she was all about being flexible. She would be flexible even in cases where a family member wasn’t sick, as was the case with Stanley. But Jason’s tardiness was unexplained and frequent. It just wasn’t right. She’d hate to start charging him extra but she didn’t want to feel taken advantage of either. She’d have to talk to him about it. But worst of all was her worry over what Stanley might be feeling, like maybe his dad didn’t want to come get him.

Fifteen minutes after the movie ended, the doorbell rang. Finally. She opened the door to let Jason in and took out Stanley’s things from his cubby. She struggled with her conscience—she really needed to inform Jason he must be on time, but she didn’t want to lecture the man in front of his son. She’d give him a call tomorrow, she decided, then knelt down to say goodbye to Stanley. “You be good, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.” She gave him her usual parting hug.

Stanley surprised her by putting his little arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. He wasn’t usually such an affectionate kid. “Bye, Miss Jill,” he said before letting go.

When she straightened up, Jason surprised her even more by touching her arm. She had to physically hold herself in place to keep from jerking away. “Nothing bad ever happens to him here.” Jason stared into Jill’s eyes a little too long. “I tell him all the time how lucky he is that he gets to spend so much time with you.”

Jill plastered on a polite smile. “Oh, how lovely. Thank you.” She tried not to sound too happy, so he wouldn’t pay her another compliment. He was only being polite, but still, she didn’t want to encourage him, either.

“Evening,” a male voice said behind them.

Jill took the opportunity to step back and out of Jason’s touch. “Cole! Hello!” She smiled at Cole and tried sending him please-help-me vibes through her widened eyes. “Come on in and I’ll get you what you needed.”

Cole apparently recognized the discomfort in her stance and gaze. He moved in a little closer. “Yeah…the thing…I was coming to get. ’Scuse me,” he said to Jason, so he could get past him.

Jason hadn’t stopped staring at Jill but eventually turned to face Cole. Stanley darted out the door and past his father, his head down, but Jason didn’t move. The two men stood with their feet braced apart, sizing each other up.

“Cole Novak,” Cole said with his hand out.

Jill let out a breath as Jason shook hands with him. “Jason Baker.”

Cole nodded. “Stanley’s dad, I take it.”

Something flashed over Jason’s face, but Jill couldn’t figure out the emotion. Instead of glancing at his son, Jason shoved past Cole and walked out the door. He paused halfway down the walkway and turned around.

Cole slid one massive arm across her shoulders and said softly, “Baby, I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day.” Suddenly, Cole leaned down and planted a kiss on her mouth—not a slow and sensual one, but a quick appetizer of a kiss—then he shut the door.

“Oh, my God, Cole, thank you!” Without thinking about it, Jill rested her head against Cole’s chest and took several breaths.

“What the hell was that?” He nudged her back to look in her eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry…I…” She immediately felt her cheeks heat. Maybe she shouldn’t have reached out and touched Cole to calm her nerves?

“No, not you,” he said, lacing his arm around her shoulder again. “I mean, what the hell was that vibe between you and that guy?”

“Nothing.” She waved a hand.

“I’m not buying it. As soon as I saw your face, I knew whatever was happening wasn’t good. Has he been causing problems?”

“No, no problems. He brings Stanley here five days a week and now he’s picking him up later and later.” She didn’t want to mention how she suspected Jason was interested in her. She was afraid Cole would think she was trying to make him jealous, but then again, it was probably all very clear from the interaction he saw.

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