Page 14 of Reforming Hunt
Admitting her financial constraints was humiliating. “Yes, in part. I also can’t risk anyone so much as harming a hair on Noah’s head while under my care.”
Hunt’s eyes narrowed. “You’re going to have a tough time with that one. Noah is a kind kid, but even he’s been known to throw sand at other children. As for the cost of monthly enrollment, we’ve just established a scaled payment plan. Whatever your income, we can accommodate it.”
“I—You can?” This was the first she’d heard of a scaled payment plan at Club Tahoe. Was he feeling sorry for her? Making accommodations because she clearly couldn’t handle things?
That was all she needed, for her incompetence to be broadcast to everyone. If the community agreed with Vivian—that Abby wasn’t fit to parent her son—she’d have no hope.
Abby squeezed her eyes shut, the familiar burn of tears forming behind her eyelids. She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Hunt, the handsome man who, had she been carefree and younger, she would have given in to at the club. Just as she’d given in to sweet, charming Trevor.
She had her son. She’d never regret the short time she’d spent with Trevor, or the consequences she paid for daily in the form of his parents.
She looked up and blinked, clearing her eyes. “I appreciate what you’re doing, but I’m a single mother, and I’m currently working double shifts to support us. I can’t sustain that much longer.” Noah needed her. Somehow, she had to work less and still pay the bills. “Even with a reduced fee, I couldn’t swing it.” It was even more humiliating to admit she couldn’t afford the reduced cost.
Without even pausing, Hunt said, “If you can’t afford it, we’ll accommodate.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “No one gives away free daycare.”
“Noah is a part of the Club Kids crew. If he and his family need our support, we’re here for him.”
Here for her son, or…? No, of course this wasn’t about her. Why would Hunt be interested in her—a single mom with perpetual dark circles under eyes?
Super hot.She mentally laughed at where her thoughts had gone. Stress and raising her child alone had given her telltale signs of exhaustion no amount of napping fixed. She’d need an entire month of sleep to catch up.
So she was his charity case. Perfect. But there were other things to consider. “Thank you. It’s very kind, but I can’t.”
What if news got back to Noah’s grandparents that she couldn’t afford daycare? Could they somehow use that against her? Vivian had threatened to take Noah from her so many times, and in so many ways, that anything seemed possible.
Hunt huffed out a breath. “I’ve eliminated the cost issue. And we’ve discussed the fact that our team is hiring more hands to make sure the kids are safe as the program grows. What else could there be?”
So much more.
She dropped her hands to her sides, and a sneaky tear fell. Great, just great. Now she looked financially desperateandweak. She swiped her cheek quickly and plastered on a smile.
Hunt gently gripped her elbow. She allowed him to lead her to a quiet corner in the lobby. “What is going on, Abby?”
The way he spoke to her, as if he knew her, it was…disarming. She wanted to unload all on him, but she couldn’t. If he didn’t seem so determined to keep Noah in the program, and if Noah didn’t really love the guy, she wouldn’t have shared what she had.
“Noah is a good kid. I’d like to help,” Hunt said.
She sent him a side-glance. “You’ve done more than you needed to. The car. Offering to remove the cost of the program. But I can’t accept any more help. It might hurt me and Noah in the long run.” At his confused expression, she added, “It’s a long story.”
He leaned forward in the chair across from her, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve got time.”
She should feel self-conscious. He’d seen that stupid tear streak down her face, for heaven’s sake, but Hunt wasn’t the charming playboy he’d been at the bar the other night. With those beautiful turquoise eyes looking at her so intently, he appeared genuinely concerned.
Those eyes were a menace.
Even without the eyes, Hunt was extremely persuasive. It was his words, his confident manner, and the way her body leaned toward him when he was near, as though it recognized something it liked. It was a good thing Abby had put a lockdown on her hormones and barely noticed the opposite sex.
Noah’s father had been tall and not as muscular as Hunt, but he’d been handsome and charming too. And gentle, like her son.
Hunt didn’t look gentle. He was muscular, with a strong jawline and those insane blue eyes. But whatever spark she felt around him, it was eviscerated as soon as she visualized middle-of-the-night wake-up calls from Noah when he’d had a bad dream or vomited on her clothes while sick. No man in his prime would want anything to do with Abby. Not when he could just as easily find a fun, attractive woman without her problems.
“My boyfriend’s mother wants to take my son away from me,” she said. There, that should frighten him off. He thought she only had money troubles? He didn’t know the half of it.
“What does your boyfriend have to say about that?”
“He’s dead.”
