Page 33 of Hard To Leave

The sound of her phone ringing had us pulling apart for the second time this morning. She dug it out of her purse, looking flustered when she looked at the screen. I couldn’t help but laugh even though I was feeling the same way.

I pulled back out into the intersection as she answered her call. “Hey, Phil.”

Phil. Who the fuck was Phil?

She turned her head away from me as she talked into the phone. “Thank you so much. I’ll be home in just a few minutes. You’re a lifesaver. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She laughed. “Yes, there will be a plate of chocolate chip cookies waiting for you tonight.”

Cookies? What the fuck? I just banged the shit out of this girl, and she didn’t offer me cookies.

“Okay, see you in a few.” She hung up and then slid her phone back into her purse.

“Who was that?” I snapped, feeling every muscle in my body tense.

“Oh,” she shrugged, brushing her hair off her shoulder like she didn’t just tell some guy she was baking him cookies tonight. “That was Phil. He lives next door.”

“Why is he at your house?” I asked, studying her before glancing out back to the road.

“He took care of the dog last night.”

I glanced into the review mirror. “He has a key?” I didn’t want to look at her, because I was afraid she would see the jealousy burning in my eyes.

I never got jealous. Ever.

“Yes, he watches the dog sometimes. He also does a lot of odds and ends around the house for me. He works in construction, so he knows how to do those things. The only problem is that he never lets me pay him, so I end up cooking dinner or baking him cookies as a thank you.”

I flicked the turn signal as we pulled onto her street. “Doesn’t his wife cook?”

“He’s divorced.”

Just then we pulled into her driveway. Phil, the fucking construction worker slash dog sitter, came sauntering out of her house as if he owned the joint with Smuckers happily trailing behind him.

“That’s Phil,” she said, stating the obvious. He looked exactly like I had hoped he wouldn’t. He was tall, tan, and built with tattoos sleeves covering both arms. “And that’s his house right there.” She pointed to the little brick ranch-styled home with a white Ford F-150 and a vintage Harley Davidson sitting in the driveway.

This was bad. Very bad.

His smile faded as he reached the car and his eyes cut to mine.

Chloe jumped out of my jeep with good old Phil catching her the second she landed on her feet. She had to place her hand on his forearm as Smuckers barreled toward her, almost knocking her to the ground. She knelt down to greet her furry little friend who continued to lick her face. The lucky bastard. “Did somebody miss me?”

I walked around with my hands on my hips as Phil sized me up. Smuckers came running over, tail wagging and ears flopping. “Good to see you again too,” I whispered and scratched his head in greeting.

Phil’s eyebrows raised and lowered in surprise. He extended his grease smudged hand out for me to shake. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Phil.”

I grabbed his hand. His grip was tight, but I wasn’t backing down. I returned the grip with equal force. “I’m Jack. Thanks for taking care of the dog last night.”

The smile on his face frizzled. The smirk on mine grew.

“Yes, I owe you,” Chloe said as I slung my arm over her shoulders, silently protecting my property. I didn’t want good old Phil to get any ideas because the thought of him making a move on her drove me crazy. “And thanks for fixing the bolt on the swing set. I’ll make sure to send Tanner over when he gets home to take out your trash.”

He laced his fingers around the belt loops of his faded, worn blue jeans. “You’re welcome, Chloe. I also fixed the leak under your sink. Just needed a new seal.”

Well, wasn’t he just super fucking thoughtful?

“I think that calls for two batches of cookies and a twelve pack of beer.” She grinned at him. I hated the familiarity and friendly banter between them; not to mention, the way he stared at her.

I pressed a kiss to her temple, intentionally pulling her attention away from him. “Sweetheart, I gotta get going soon. We should probably head inside.”

She looked up and watched me for a moment. Her eyes searched mine; for what, I wasn’t sure. “Right. Thanks again, Phil,” she called over her shoulder as I lead her inside.

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