Page 15 of Kent's Honor
“Which he’s barely ever paid, according to Jackie,” Kent muttered. He understood she needed help financially, but if this Daniel guy was going to keep fucking with Nicky’s heart, then no amount of money would be worth it.
“She tried taking him to court, but according to the records, she had to bail because she didn’t have the money to continue.” Rex pushed his phone across the table. “That’s where she was living until a few weeks ago. She was evicted when she couldn’t pay the rent.”
Kent stared at the run-down trailer in a dumpy park. He’d seen worse. Hell, he’d lived in worse.
“She lost her job waiting tables when she could no longer afford daycare.”
“Jesus Christ.” He’d seen his share of hard times, but he’d always managed.
Jackie had told Kent things were rough for her niece, but she also said that Dixie had been making it work. That she was tough, resourceful, and stubborn. Obviously, she’d lied to her aunt until she couldn’t lie anymore. He understood pride.Respected it. He also respected a person who could ask for help when they truly needed it.
“You know my wife does a background check on everyone she hires, right?”
“She hasn’t hired Dixie.”
“Yet,” Rex said. “But she did the check anyway because she had one of her feelings and you know how Tilly gets when she wants to help someone.”
“This is beginning to feel like spying. I just wanted to know what happened to her ex. What kind of man he was since she’s babysitting my daughter, and I don’t want that kind of crap to touch Elle.”
Rex leaned forward and tapped his finger on the table. “Her bad judgment one night doesn’t make for a lifetime of poor decisions and just because he’s a deadbeat, doesn’t mean she’s not a decent person.”
“I never said that.”
“She’s a good woman. All three references she gave talked her up as this strong, independent person, with a good work ethic, and a kind heart. Even the landlord who evicted her and the restaurant owner who had to fire her, said they would have given her a second chance had she been able to pay her bills or have regular daycare. They all knew her situation and hated doing what they did, but they had businesses to run.”
“Hard to do when you’re in that vicious cycle.”
“She’s just a woman who is down on her luck and needs a break. Tilly sees this all the time, and I would bet the sports car my wife made me sell that she hires Dixie.”
“That would certainly help her get on her feet, and I know Jackie plans on babysitting Nicky to help her, but what if this Daniel asshole shows up? That’s the last thing she and her son needs.”
“This coming from the man who gets his panties in a wad when paternal rights are screwed with.” Rex held up his hand. “Let’s get to the heart of the matter. You’ve got the hots for Dixie.”
Kent tried to stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a smile but gave up. “That’s beside the point. Even if I acted on that, and I won’t, I certainly wouldn’t feel threatened if her ex showed up, but it would concern me for Elle, which is why I’m not going to pursue her.”
“Like hell you’re not.” Rex shook his head, laughing. “You can’t stop looking at her. Man, you’re practically drooling.”
“I am not,” he said, still smiling. Any man with a pulse would notice Dixie. “But she is super sexy.”
“Really? You think so? I don’t know. I haven’t really noticed her or anything.”
Kent balled up a napkin and tossed it at Rex. “You’re a married man, and Dixie is… she’s… well, off-limits.”
“To just us married folk? Or any man, other than you?”
Kent sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Any man.”
“Why’d you drop out of college?”
Dixie swallowed the thick lump that had formed the second she’d gotten in Kent’s car an hour ago. Between fighting her attraction and wanting this job, her nerves were frazzled to the point she could barely string together a coherent thought. She stared at Tilly and cleared her throat. The interview had gone along well enough thus far. Now it was time to be honest because hiding the truth hadn’t been working out too well.
“It was hard enough being a single mother; adding the expense of college, it was just too much.”
Tilly leaned back in her large white leather chair, resting her delicate hands on the armrests. “You wanted to be a social worker?”
“I wanted to do something in social services or maybe women’s health.”
“It must have been hard for you to give up your dreams.”
