Page 34 of Say Yes to the Hot Mess

Something about that laugh, which is still going strong, causes me to realize the ridiculousness of this situation—one cabbage leaf plastered to the wet driveway, the other still flapping about in my hand—and despite my complete embarrassment, my lips twitch.

“Shut up,” I say to him, finally letting go of the cabbage leaf I’m holding. My smile tugs further at my lips. “It’s embarrassing, okay?”

He shakes his head, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says, his smile broad and slightly crooked. “I’m so sorry.”

“Clearly,” I say. I rub my hands over my cheeks, trying to figure out how to explain, but—

“Go feed Archer or whatever you need to do,” he says, waving toward the house. His laughs have died down, but he’s still chuckling. “I’ll finish your tire.”

I can admit I’m impressed by this. I look at him with mild disbelief. “You know about what cabbage leaves do?”

His eyes sparkle as he folds his arms across his chest and says, “I know all about the cabbage leaves. My mother was too posh to breastfeed, but we had a nanny who had a baby. She liked to remind us what mothers go through for their children whenever she was particularly annoyed with me or my brother.”

“Huh,” I say, nodding slowly. I tilt my head, looking more closely at him. “You just never struck me as the kind of man who knows what vegetable a woman should shove down her shirt when she’s engorged.”

He shrugs, still smiling. “Consider me informed. Now go take care of your business.”

I bite my lip. I really do need to go pump, but…

“I sort of want to stay and watch so I can learn,” I explain. “So I can do it myself next time.”

Dex tilts his head, studying me with an unreadable expression that frankly sort of freaks me out. What’s he thinking?

But then he just shrugs and says, “If you’re sure. Your call, of course.”

Nodding, I fold my arms across my chest—and wince.

He notices and laughs.

“Har har,” I mutter, but I’m smiling. “Fine. I’m going. Archer will be up soon anyway,” I admit, nodding to the baby monitor still clipped to my pants. “I should check on him. Thanks again for the help.”

“Yep,” he says lightly. Then he gestures at the cabbage leaves on the ground. “And thanks for that. I hope it didn’t seem like I was laughing at you, but…I needed that. I feel lighter than I have in a week.”

I open my mouth to ask what’s got him so weighed down, but I decide at the last second that it’s none of my business. What comes out instead is “Glad I could help, then.”

Dex turns back to my car and crouches down again, saying as he does, “I called maintenance about your dryer; they’ll be over sometime tomorrow morning.”

“What?” I say dumbly. “I’ve been calling for over a week now. I’ve left messages. How did you get someone to pick up?”

He shrugs. “Could be that I’m the one who signs their paychecks.” He looks at me. “They are understaffed, though. My guess is that’s why they haven’t responded. I’ve spoken to them about that; in the future, they’ll hopefully at least get back to you sooner.”

“That’s just lovely,” I mutter. Then I sigh. “Well, thank you for that. I’ll be ready for them tomorrow morning.”

Nodding, he says, “And I have your number at the office; can I text you to finalize details about the wedding?”

“Sure,” I say, because a deal is a deal, and I’d say he’s going above and beyond by helping with the tire.

He nods. “Perfect. Just…” He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck and looking awkward for the first time in this conversation. “Maybe don’t wear the cabbage?”

I grin and wink at him. “No promises.” Then I turn and make my way back up the driveway. It takes me all of two seconds to realize that I fully justflirtedwith Dexter Anthony, the man who’s trying to kick me out of my apartment.

What a weird day it’s been.

Eight

Dex

Maya thinks I’m hot.

---