Page 95 of One Big Little Secret

“My mother’s place isn’t particularly homey anymore. I might’ve felt that way as a kid, once, but now that it’s just her living there? The place is cavernous. Too extravagant and too huge for just her, even if she likes hosting her parties. We keep wondering when she’ll downsize, but it’s hard to get past the memories.”

“Let her have them, Patton, if she can afford it. Your mom’s a lovely person.”

“Never said she wasn’t.”

Salem acknowledges that with a tilt of her head and glances at Arlo. He’s basically nodding off over his plate after polishing off a second slice.

“It’s been a long day,” she says quietly. “Let me put him to bed. You can make yourself at home.”

I stretch out on the sofa and help myself to more pizza. All the stress with the snow summoned a monster appetite. The rest of the pepperoni can stay—easy leftovers that will make the kid happy and hopefully save Salem from having to cook tomorrow.

Arlo’s head lolls on Salem’s shoulder as she carries him to bed. The tenderness in the gesture makes my stomach pinch.

It’s sad as hell that she has to deal with this little guy on her own when clearly someone helped make him. My eyes flick back to her photos again, studying them closely.

There’s no sign of a man in any, and oddly, no pictures with other relatives either. Where the hell are her parents?

It’s a shit feeling, knowing the kid might not have a father or a grandfather at all. I can’t wrap my head around it.

Having lost my old man, though, I know what it’s like to be missing a dad.

Also, Salem deserves help.

After the day she’s had, she shouldn’t have to handle Arlo by herself, bouncing from one crisis to the next with dinner in between.

I have just enough time to polish off the remainder of my food before she reappears and joins me on the sofa, leaning back just like I am. Her thigh hovers about an inch from mine.

Don’t notice her, you asshole.

Keep your eyes glued to the wall.

Does it matter? It’s not like I’m going to do anything about it, never mind the raging heat in my veins urging me to reach out and touch her.

“Thank you,” she says again with a sigh. “I know you keep saying it’s cool and it’s all for business, but you saved my skin tonight. If there’s any way I can repay you, Patton, please speak up.”

“I don’t need repaying. I’m not a damn machine.”

She raises her head as she looks at me, her hazel eyes glinting with gold curiosity.

“You say that now, but you came all the way out here, and you…” She raises her hand helplessly as her voice cracks. “I don’t know. It just feels like a lot.”

“I’m happy to help. Sincerely. Without sounding like an ass-kisser, I appreciate what you do for Higher Ends. The mentorship isn’t much of a bonus, all things considered.”

She snickers and mutters an apology.

“Sorry. But that sounds like you’re being ahugekiss-ass.”

“Well, I mean it.” Somebody stop me before I say something else I regret.

But hell, she’s here with her kid and a business she has no stake in. I don’t know how she handles it.

“I suppose it’s good to finally get a real compliment out of you,” she says.

I swivel to face her. “Do I make you feel unappreciated?”

She hesitates.

“…it’s more that you could just be nicer,” she says slowly, but it’s more of a yes than I want to admit. “I’m not saying you’re the bad guy. I’ve messed up a few times and made everything harder than it needs to be.”

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