Page 52 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

She winced, remembering what her mother had said. “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.”

“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other,” he answered her in her first language.

“True. And I’m okay with him going out with you,” she admitted. Nash could be gruff, but he was different with Eli. He was protective and patient, and they had to start somewhere. And if he really was a killer like her mother had inferred, he’d had ample opportunity to murder her the night she was with him alone on a boat.

“Maybe Ariel would want to join us,” Nash offered. “Anthony will be with me too.”

“I appreciate you doing that.”

He ran a hand through his beard. “So, what is it that you do?”

“Well, I went to school to be a nurse, but then I got pregnant with Eli my first semester. I finished the year but had to quit because of complications.”

Nash’s body tensed. “Complications?”

“I was on bed rest the last two months. And then after he was born, it made more sense for me to stay home while Robert completed his degree.” Emotion welled in her eyes. A part of her wondered if she should be talking to him about Robert at all, especially after he’d accused her of betraying Robert by sleeping with him only six months after Robert had passed. But Nash didn’t know the whole story.

“Anyways, after Eli started school, I got my certificate to be a massage therapist. It made sense with the flexible hours and Eli’s needs. But then Robert was diagnosed with ALS. The disease progressed pretty quickly and he needed extra care, and then with Eli, it was too much.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Towards the end, I started working at my friend Tessa’s tattoo shop as a receptionist part-time to get out of the house.”

“Are you planning on getting clients here?”

“Probably. But I think I’ll wait until life is a little more settled. Routine is important to Eli, and I’ve already upended his world twice in the last month. I know he’s struggling with his dad being gone too.”

“If you need money—”

She shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m—we’re fine. Robert always planned ahead, and he had a life insurance policy that will carry us through for as long as I need it.” As long as I’m careful.

“How old are you?”

“Thirty. Why?”

“You just seem older.”

“Gee thanks,” she answered sarcastically, trying to hide the flinch of hurt at his words.

“I didn’t mean it like that. You’re gorgeous.”

What?

“Fuck. I just meant, you’re a beautiful woman.”

“Well, being older doesn’t equate with ugliness either,” she teased.

His lips flattened. “Every time I talk to you, my foot ends up in my mouth. That isn’t what I meant. I just . . .” He blew out a breath. “Your eyes seem like they’ve seen a lot more of life than thirty years. Damn, just forget I said anything.”

She offered him a smile. “It’s okay. I get it. And they probably do. My life hasn’t been the easiest.”

A moment of comfortable silence passed as she snacked on the fruit and he stared towards the view of farmland below. Sometimes it was nice to just sit in the quiet with someone by your side.

“Have you made a doctor’s appointment yet?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s in a few weeks. Do you . . . I mean you don’t have to, but—”

“I’d like to be there. If it’s okay with you.”

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