and I’ll be just a block away if she needs anything.”
“Joan,” Lindsey said, “this isn’t a good idea.”
“Of course it’s a good idea,” Mom said.
“I’m not marrying her, Mom,” Owen said. Might as well get that all out in the open. “I know you’re old-fashioned and think the parents of a child have to be married—”
“Old-fashioned?” Mom interrupted. “It’s not old-fashioned to want what’s best for my grandchild. So even if you aren’t married to the mother of your child, I don’t understand why she can’t live here. It’s not like you’ll be home much before the baby is born anyway.”
“Mom,” Owen said, trying to reason with her without breaking his promise to Lindsey. He wouldn’t tell her that there were other potential fathers. And he did want to help the woman. But he absolutely did not want her to live in his home. His home was his sanctuary, and if Lindsey moved in, he’d be the one with no place to go. “She’s not moving in here.”
“Just until they get the bathroom remodeled,” she bargained. “Ben promised it would only be a few weeks.”
“I don’t want to be a burden,” Lindsey said.
“You’re not a burden, doll,” Mom said, patting her shoulder before turning a harsh glare on Owen. “And I can’t believe you insist on making her feel like one.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You get a sweet innocent girl in trouble . . .”
Owen couldn’t hold back his scoff. Lindsey might be a lot of things, but innocent wasn’t one of them.
“. . . and then make her feel like a villain.”
“I’m not the villain either, Mom.”
“I know that, sweetheart. Just think about it, okay? I’m sure she doesn’t want to stay at my house in your old room with posters of half-naked starlets staring down at her.”
For some reason, the thought of Lindsey staying in his childhood bedroom was even worse than her sharing a roof with him.
Lindsey handed him the plastic container she’d been holding. “Your mom taught me how to bake your favorite cookies.”
And thus it began, the war against Owen’s bachelorhood. He should have known better than to bring Lindsey to his mother. He’d thought he’d have less to worry about if his mother was around to look after her, but his mom didn’t just take in strays, she made them a part of her family. And with a baby in the equation, of course his mother would get attached to the young woman and share her oatmeal cookie recipe with her.
“Thanks,” Owen said, accepting her thoughtful gift. He opened the lid, selected a cookie, and stuffed it into his mouth. He was going to need the entire batch to get him through this night.
“So she can stay here until the bathroom is remodeled, right?”
Owen swallowed the sweet, chewy delight in his mouth. “She’ll be lonely here by herself. I leave tomorrow. She doesn’t know anyone in Austin but me.”
“And me,” Mom said.
“I won’t be lonely,” Lindsey said. “I’ll be too busy to be lonely. I’m going out looking for a job tomorrow, and then I’ll be working.”
That didn’t change the fact that he didn’t want her to live with him. Even if the baby was his, he’d have a room for the child in his house so he could be a part of the baby’s life, but he didn’t want to get involved with Lindsey. Even if it would make things easier on all of them.
“Lindsey—”
Lindsey grabbed his arm, her pretty blue eyes searching his. “Owen, I promise as soon as I have the funds, I’ll move out. Even if the bathroom remodel isn’t finished. I’ll find my own place.”
“I thought you loved the apartment,” Mom said.
“I do,” Lindsey said, giving Mom a quick hug. “The little office would make a perfect nursery.”
She might as well have punched Owen directly in the gut.
“There’s that lovely park on the corner,” Lindsey continued. “And the rent is so reasonable.”
Owen knew apartments in the area were not reasonable at all. Unless she found a really good job—and he hoped she did—she’d be raising his kid in a low-income area. If it was his kid, and even if it wasn’t, he was sure any father would want what was best for his baby and the baby’s mother. Living here was what was best for everyone. Except for Owen.
He selected another cookie and said, “You can stay at my place until the bathroom is remodeled.”
“Oh, thank you,” Lindsey said, hugging him tight. “I’m keeping track of everything you do for me, Owen. I will pay you back.”
“Unnecessary,” Owen said, stuffing the cookie into his mouth.
“Charity is given without expectation of reciprocation.” Mom repeated a saying she’d taught Owen when he young.
“This isn’t charity,” Lindsey said. “It’s just a loan.”
Owen swallowed the cookie. “Lindsey, you don’t have to—”
“A loan,” she interrupted him, ferocity in her eyes.
“If it will make you feel better.”
“It will.”
Mom was all smiles as she went out on the porch and picked up Lindsey’s overnight bag. Owen rolled his eyes. His mother had known he’d cave long before she’d arrived.
“I’ll see you Tuesday morning and take you to meet Dr. Kurt. She delivered Owen. Did you know that?”
Lindsey smiled. “Thanks, Joan.”
“She can borrow your Jeep to job search tomorrow, right?” Mom asked Owen. “If not, I can cancel my appointments and drive her around.”
His mother was a master manipulator, yet he knew she really would cancel her appointments and not complain about being Lindsey’s taxi.
“She can borrow it, but she’ll have to take me to the airstrip in the morning unless I can get one of the guys to give me a lift.”
“Of course I’ll take you,” Lindsey said. She blinked at him, her eyes wide with incredulity. “Are you really going to let me borrow your car?”
“Just until we can get yours here from Oklahoma.” He still wasn’t sure how they’d accomplish that feat. If he’d had more time off, he’d have taken a road trip.
“You are the sweetest guy,” Lindsey said. He tensed when she hugged him.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Mom said, looking far too pleased for Owen’s comfort.
Within seconds Mom had vanished and he really was alone with Lindsey. He sighed and picked up his bag and hers and carried them upstairs. He heard her light footsteps on the stairs behind him, but he wasn’t in the mood to talk to her. Kelly was the one he wanted to talk to. The guy always gave the best advice, and Owen could use a truckload of the stuff at the moment. But Kelly was undoubtedly busy with Dawn. He hadn’t even answered his phone when Owen had called him on the drive back to Austin.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking . . .”