She gave her million-watt smile and pulled out a flat-head screwdriver. "Totally just ssin’ with ya, honey. I don’t have alcohol in the house. I’ll make you a cup of tea."
"Oh, yes, please." I relaxed. The last ti I’d been in London, six years ago, actually, I’d loaded each of our hos with enough "proper" tea to last a while. "I’ll just say hi to Poppy, then I’ll fill you in."
After getting a half-hearted hug from my daughter who was clearly miffed I’d interrupted her and Grace, but loved enough to fake affection for a second, I headed back out to the kitchen where I sat on a stool at the island and dropped my head to the granite.
"It can’t be that bad," Ali said, pouring water into a teacup.
"It’s worse." I sat up and filled her in on the evening, her sarcastic smile making realize she probably wasn’t going to be on my side. "What?" I demanded.
She chuckled. "It sounds like he’s protective. Sothing happened with his sister and he didn’t really want to cut the night short, but he did it because he loves his sister."
"No, that’s not at all what it was!"
"Oh? Well, enlighten , then."
"I just did," I ground out. "When I asked about his parents he shut down and gave vague answers."
"What if it’s bad, Maisie?" Ali leaned across the island. "What if he really likes you and wants to ease into stories about the tragedy of his childhood, or whatever? What if his parents were criminals or sothing and he doesn’t want to scare you off?"
I frowned. "Even if his parents were, it doesn’t an he is."
"I know that, you know that, but people judge." She smiled gently. "The motorcycle club concerns a bit, but otherwise, he sounds like a decent guy."
"Why does the motorcycle club concern you?"
"Because most of them are outlaw clubs. Like mafia or glorified gangs." She slapped her hands on the island. "I’m gonna have Ryan do a background check on him."
"No you are not." I grabbed her hands. "I’m not going to see him again, so it’s a moot point."
"Maisie," she admonished. "Don’t jump to conclusions, honey. I get that you’re feeling jittery and uncertain, but please recognize this as normal and relax. Don’t stop seeing him because he makes you feel too much. Try to enjoy it."
"Don’t talk to like you know ."
"Okay." She smiled. "Lecture over."
"Thank you."
I heard the front door click closed and Ryan walked in, a smile on his face. "How are my two favorite ladies?"
Ryan stood about five-foot-eleven and had short, dark hair and piercing green eyes. He was muscular, not like Hatch, but definitely more than Niall, and was an all-around great guy.
He kissed my cheek, then pulled Ali in for a make-out session a little too in-depth for my comfort, but I’d gotten used to it since neither of them seed to mind an audience to their affection. I stared at my tea until they finished their X-rated mont.
rrick ca bounding in, followed closely by Grace and Poppy. "Hey Dad," rrick said, and Ryan pulled him in for a hug, then Grace, then Poppy.
I loved how Ryan treated Poppy like one of his own; lessening the blow of losing Niall by providing a father figure she could look up to.
"We need to get going, Poppet," I said, and slipped off the stool.
Washing out my cup and saucer, I set it to dry next to the sink, gathered up my daughter, and then we headed ho.
As soon as we got ho, Poppy and I did our nightly reading ritual. Once Poppy was settled, I curled up in Niall’s chair and thought about Hatch. He was everything Niall wasn’t. Niall had a nerdy confidence and I thought he was handso and sexy, but in a different way than Hatch. Niall was certainly the smartest person I knew, but it was a brain smarts kind of thing. Ryan used to joke that if we got jumped sowhere in Portland, I’d probably be the one to fight our way out... Niall would be screwed.
Hatch, on the other hand, would probably take on several assailants at one ti. The man was big... tall and muscular... and commanded a room when he walked in it. Where Niall was clean cut and the type to bring ho to your parents, Hatch had long hair and a scruffy beard, and he used the f-word in regular conversation. It was sexy as hell. It shouldn’t be. In my circle, it would be offensive, but for , it made want to strip down to nothing and offer myself up as a sacrifice.
I shook my head. What the hell is wrong with ?
I couldn’t get involved with a man like that. I couldn’t get involved with any man, really. I had a daughter to think about, and I needed to make good choices so she’d grow up and make good choices. I needed to steer clear of the sexy as hell Hatch. And this was what I told myself as I climbed into bed.
I awoke the next day feeling groggy, but still resolved to my decision. I had no business chasing after a man who ran in totally different circles than . He was gorgeous, yes. He was sexy... oh, hell, yes. He seed like he took care of his family, yes. But I reminded myself I was a single mum and I needed to focus on my daughter and my business. I didn’t have ti to date, and a man like Hatch was a distraction I couldn’t afford. Even if he would be a lovely distraction.
I leaned into the hallway. "Poppy, ti to rise and shine. We’re a bit late."
"I’m up, Mum," she called from her bathroom.
"Will you hit the button for the coffee while I shower, please?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, love."
I lost a little resolve when Hatch left a voicemail later that day, and I really lost my resolve when he left another one two days later, but I finally felt like I could relax when two days after that, his third voicemail said, Hey, babe. It’s all good. Won’t be callin’ you again. Have a nice life.
I was sad, but at least I could move on.
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