Page 8 of To Build a Home
“Hmm, what? Oh, right. I brought you the specials you needed.” I grab the paper that I had placed on the desk before I took Gabby in my arms and hand it to Archer.
He looks it over. “Thanks. I’ll get these printed up.”
Unsure what to do and to keep from reaching out to touch Payton or Gabby, I shove my hands in my pockets and rock back and forth on my heels. “Well, I’ll be heading back to the kitchen. Terri is going to be swinging by with the order shortly. Pay, it’s good to see you. I’ll see you on your first shift.”
She nods.
I step up to her and squeeze her shoulder. “Everything will be okay,” I say before crouching down to Gabby. “Bye, Princess. Don’t be giving your mama too much of a hard time. She’s doing her best.”
I push to stand and catch Payton watching me with her mouth agape and unshed tears in her eyes before I spin and leave the office.
What was I thinking, being that close to her in front of her brother and my boss?
I can hear Archer’s voice from the hallway as he asks if tomorrow is too soon for Payton to start, and she responds, “Sure.”
Well, looks like I have twenty-four hours to get my shit together.
Chapter 5
Payton
“She’s beautiful, just like her mama.”
Rhyland’s words have been stuck on repeat in my brain since he let them slip from his mouth yesterday.Did he actually mean them? Does Rhyland Cole think I’m beautiful, or was he just being nice?No, there was definitely sincerity in his voice and in his eyes. God, those eyes are gorgeous. I could’ve gotten lost in them like the good ole days.
It’s not just his words, though, that have been playing over and over. Every time I close my eyes, I see him clutching Gabby to his chest as if she were his own. I was actually jealous of my daughter in his arms. Someone better call the crazy police to come get me. And as weird as it sounds, just seeing him holding a baby set me on fire. I definitely saved that memory aside in my spank bank for later. It sent his hotness radar up to the max,which I didn’t even realize was possible. Who knew something so simple as holding my child could turn me on?
Gabby kicks her feet toward me, the little wiggle worm she is, almost as if she’s shouting, “Mommy, look at me!”
“I think no matter what, Rhyland got something right yesterday—you, little miss thing,arebeautiful. Aren’t you, sweet girl?” I blow bubbles on her belly, and she coos. Ugh, we are so close to a giggle. So close, I curse at the sky. I’ve been trying so hard to get her to laugh, but nothing seems to work just yet.
My gaze is down toward Gabby where she lies on top of a spread-out blankie on my bed between my legs, so I don’t notice Mom entering the room. I swear she was a spy in a former lifetime with the way she can just sneak into places without being noticed.
It’s her laughter that alerts me to her presence as she observes Gabby and me.
Is that laundry in her hand?
“Mom,” I whine more than I intended to. “I told you, I’m an adult and can do my laundry.”
She ignores me, waving her hand in the air and heading toward the dresser in the corner. “Nonsense.” Mom sets the pile down on top before opening drawers up and placing items inside, starting at the bottom drawer. I don’t know if that’s even the correct place she’s putting things. Reaching for the top drawer, I realize I’m too late to tell her she doesn’t need to open that one when she shrieks.
“Oh my God, Mom.” I’m quick on my feet, at least, and shuffle around on the bed carefully, not disturbing Gabby, when I rush over and slam the open drawer shut.
My overdramatic slamming upsets Gabby, and she cries. “Oh no, I’m sorry, baby girl.” In a flash, I’m back by her side and scoop her into my arms. My voice is soft as I reassure her it’s okay, calmly swaying her from side to side.
I look over to find my mother clearly traumatized by the deer-in-headlights look still on her features. Can’t say I blame her, though. I know my daughter is only a few months old, but I worry about the day that I might open a drawer and see what sort of sex toys she might be holding. That thought alone makes me cringe.
“Mom,” I say, attempting to break the tension, even though, honestly, I’m not even sure how to respond.
Another moment of awkward silence washes over us before she clears her throat.
“Honey, I understand. You’re young, and I know well—” She clears her throat. “—how I got my grandbaby.”
My cheeks burn at the insinuation, and I hope, before she finishes that next train of thought, that the Hellmouth will open up and swallow me whole, halting all conversations about my sex life—or lack thereof, honestly. It’s not just a lack post-divorce, because, well, I couldn’t do anything for six weeks post-delivering Gabby. But it had been months since Joel had touched me. I always thought it was me, but I realized he didn’t need me when he was clearly getting it somewhere else. It’s not like I use those items in that drawer often, especially now that I’m living with my mom again. They’re there for standby, just in case. I mean, who the hell would want a young single mom with a few extra pounds that I still haven’t lost since my pregnancy?
“Mom, wherever you were planning on taking this, can we not, please.” I pause. “Like ever.”
“You forget I gave birth to three children, Payton.”
