Second Time's the Charm

“I don’t doubt that, Jon.” Lillie’s voice was soft. Tender. And, inside, he softened toward her.

“We’re working on potty training, too,” he added, still proving himself, just in case.

“Not too vigorously, I hope,” she said. “Boys generally train later than girls, closer to three than two. It takes that long for them to feel the sensation that they have to go. And trying to get him to understand what you want when he can’t recognize the feeling inside his body yet will only lead to frustration. For both of you.”

He’d read all of that.

“But sometimes they’re ready early,” he said. “I just wanted to give him the chance to move forward if he was ready. It’s not an everyday thing. Just an occasional invitation.”

He was talking about peeing with a woman he was attracted to.

“So—” Jon cleared his throat “—make a list of things you’d like done around your house,” he said, getting back on track. “Tomorrow is Sunday. I have the day off.” Except for cleaning the bathroom, washing the sheets, picking up groceries and studying. “I could come over and fix that door for you.”

They’d reached their vehicles, sitting side by side in the parking lot. Her newish dark blue Malibu next to his quite a bit older, four-door Ranger.

He wasn’t ready to leave her.

And he’d promised Mark that he and Abe would sit with Nonnie so Mark and Addy could have a night out.

“Tomorrow would be great.” Lillie leaned into him and, for a second, Jon thought she was going to kiss him.

And knew he’d kiss her back.

She kissed Abe on the cheek. “Anytime after noon would be fine,” she said.

What was she doing before noon?

He told himself it was none of his business as he watched her drive off.

Alone with Abe once more, Jon opened the back door of his truck, fastened the toddler securely in his car seat and settled himself in for the drive to Mark’s.

All in all they’d had a good day. Fun in the park. Good food.

And Abe had five words now instead of four.

Jon turned the truck toward Mark’s house, looking forward to a couple of hours of sparring with Mark Heber’s recalcitrant grandmother.

Hopefully Abe would fall asleep soon and Jon and Nonnie could get in a game of penny poker. The old bat had five dollars of his money.

CHAPTER SIX

JON HAD ASKED her to make a list of things she’d like done around her house. She did so, mentally, as she drove to Phoenix on Sunday morning. Overall, she loved the little house she’d bought close to the center of town, but a few of the rooms needed ceiling fans.

He’d have to bring Abe along when he installed them. It wasn’t like he could leave the toddler home alone.

She really wanted to have new faucets in the master bathroom. And one in the kitchen, too, with a pull out sprayer....

She’d need to baby-proof her home. She still had the cupboard safety catches she’d purchased when...

Maybe Jon could undermount her kitchen sink—a style of mounting that put the counter on top of the edge of the sink. She had granite countertops, which she’d had in her home in Phoenix and loved, but the sink was traditionally mounted. She’d grown used to undermounting. Preferred not to have to worry about water and other debris spilling over, wetting her outfit as she leaned against the edge of the counter as she worked.

A little boy in her home. Wandering from room to room...

The electrical outlet in her living room, the one behind the couch, didn’t work. Could Jon do electric?

She had brand-new sippy cups, still in their plastic. Was Abe too old for those?

There was the sticky latch on the window in the office. And she’d been meaning to get quotes on having a front porch put on....