Page 40 of Under Control
Grant shrugged. “Suit yourself, but let me know if you change your mind.”
He wouldn’t. He’d thought about finding a vehicle that was more “him” now that his finances had settled post-divorce. His rent wasn’t bad and, other than child support, it was his only big expense. But the car was paid for and the truck that had caught his eye one day when he was driving by a dealership had such a ridiculous price tag, he’d laughed at the salesman.
He wouldn’t mind having a heated steering wheel in February, but he hadn’t picked the winning lottery numbers yet.
An image of Olivia trying to climb up into a truck in one of her skirts and those high heels popped into his head, making him smile. Of course, if she couldn’t quite make it, he’d be more than happy to give her a boost up.
“Kincaid’s?” he asked as he opened the door. The hinge creaked and Grant rolled his eyes. The kid was a vehicle snob.
“You know it,” Scott said. “See you there.”
He’d go and have a beer. Shoot the shit with the guys for a while. But he’d make sure he was home in time to call Olivia. He liked to end his days with the sound of her voice.
Chapter Ten
Since Derek had offered to drive her home and that meant more time with him, Olivia took a Lyft to his address late Saturday afternoon.
She hiked her bag on her shoulder and walked down the driveway to the set of stairs he’d told her would have a garden gnome in a Red Sox T-shirt on the bottom step. That staircase led to his second-floor apartment.
The bag was heavier than usual, since she’d suffered a rare bit of indecision about what to bring.I’ll make you breakfast.She’d taken that as an invitation to spend the night, but it would feel awkward to knock on his door with an overnight bag. If she was driving her own car, she could have left it in the trunk. In the end, she’d compromised by throwing a few things, including her toiletries and tightly rolled leggings and a shirt, into a zipped tote.
Derek must have heard her footsteps on the stairs or been watching for her, because he opened the door as she reached the small landing where another garden gnome sat, this one wearing a Patriots jersey.
She felt that jolt of excitement and anticipation she felt every time she saw him, and wondered if that would fade with time. She hoped not.
And today’s anticipation was heightened by the fact he looked delicious in a white T-shirt stretching across his chest and shoulders, along with faded jeans that hugged his legs. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he responded, and he kissed her before pulling her inside. “Sorry the place is kind of a mess. Usually the kids do a better job of picking up after themselves, but they left in a hurry because Amber hasn’t started packing yet.”
She set the tote bag down by the door as she looked around. The place wasn’t fancy or big, but it was clean and had big windows. They were standing in a kitchen and dining area that was totally open to the living room, and there were several doors she assumed were bedrooms and a bathroom.
“It’s not much,” he said, “but the neighborhood’s not bad and finding an affordable three-bedroom isn’t easy. I didn’t want them to have to share a room when they’re with me, but I also didn’t want to sleep on the couch with my feet hanging over the arm of it.”
She laughed. “That could be pretty awkward when you have company, too.”
“That wasn’t really a consideration at the time.”
A framed photo on the wall near the TV caught her attention and she moved closer. He’d shown her some pictures of his kids on his phone, of course, but his phone’s camera sucked. This shot of Isaac and Julia had been taken on the beach by somebody who not only had an actual camera, but knew what they were doing with it.
They were in pretend surfer poses, both of them laughing, and Olivia could practically feel the joy radiating from them.
“That’s my favorite picture of them,” Derek said. “Amber and Ellen—Jeff Porter’s wife—took them to the beach last year and she does photography on the side.”
“I don’t think I met a Jeff at the bar.”
“One of his kids had a thing, so he couldn’t make it. I took over his shift, actually, when he retired. I used to work Saturdays which sucked with the kids and all. He had a bum knee and...some other issues. But he’s doing good now that he’s off the job. The pain in his knee is better and he and Ellen and the kids are a lot happier.”
There was a lot more to that story, but Olivia didn’t pry. “That’s good. And you need some glass wipes or something.”
She reached up to swipe at some of the fingerprints in the bottom corner of the glass, but Derek caught her wrist and stopped her. He gave her a sheepish grin, his cheeks pink. “That’s how I say goodnight when they’re with Amber sometimes. I touch the glass on my way to bed.”
Olivia’s insides turned to mush and she turned so she could wrap her arms around him. Maybe luck reallywasa thing, because there was no other way to explain getting stuck in an elevator with a guy this great. “Like the picture of that hockey player at the bar?”
He chuckled as he ran his hands over her hips. “Kind of. And I can’t believe I’m dating a woman who calls Bobby Orrthat hockey player.”
“I’ll write his name down in my book so I’ll remember it.”
“If you remember all the names of the athletes I talk about, you might expect me to start remembering all the computer stuff and books you talk about, so I’d rather you call himthat hockey guyfor a while.”
