I Never Knew Love 'til You (I Never 4)

Chapter 19

Jaxon

Iforgotwhatit’s like to arrive home at a decent hour—when the sun is still shining. I’ve been so used to the extra-long commutes, arriving home with enough time to feed Andy, bathe him, and get him into bed. I have to admit that it’s quite nice as I pull into my driveway.

I get out of my truck and pocket my keys as I head across the street to Kate’s house to pick up Andy.

“Daddy,” Andy shouts from the front porch as I make my way up the sidewalk. When I’m close enough to the steps, he jumps into my arms, clinging to me like a spider monkey.

I hope they’re not sitting outside already because Kate can’t wait to get rid of him. Would she write her own version of Judith Viorst’s classic book and rename it Kate and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? I didn’t hear from her all day, not that I honestly expected to. Zach and Haylee seem to have faith in her to watch Emme from time to time, so I figured it would be okay. Deep down, I know I can trust her.

“Hey, buddy, I missed you today.” I wrap my arms tightly around him as I walk up the steps and find Kate standing in front of the porch love seat, wiping crumbs off her lap. She gives me a warm smile, and I carefully glance over my shoulder to see who she could be smiling at because I can’t imagine it’s me on the receiving end of that beautiful and genuine smile.

“Hey there. I hope he wasn’t too much trouble for you today.”

“What?” she shrieks, and a piece of hair falls onto her face. “Of course not. We were just having a snack. I hope that’s okay.” She finally tucks it away, and my shoulders slump because my fingers itched to do it myself.

“We had peanut butter crackers. Miss Kate let me use the knife,” Andy says as he rests his head on my shoulder. I can smell the peanut butter breath from here.

“I held the knife with him, and it was just one of those little cheese spreader knives, nothing sharp.”

“And we had chocolate for breakfast.” I chuckle at his honesty.

“It was just Reese’s Puffs cereal,” she clarifies again. She taps Andy’s nose. “You’re gonna get me in trouble, little dude. Those were our secrets.”

He pretends to zip up his mouth and hands her a pretend key, and she winks at him when she dramatically places it in her pocket. Wow, she’s such a natural with him.

“Anything else I should know?” I glance back and forth between the two of them. Kate shrugs, and Andy presses his lips together as if he really had locked his mouth shut. “Do you have your bag ready?”

Andy lifts his head and looks around, but we don’t see it on the porch.

Kate claps her hands together. “Oh, it’s over by the couch inside.”

I pat his back and set him down on the floor. “Why don’t you go get it, and then we can head home? I’m thinking pizza for dinner.” Andy is out of sight inside before I can even tell him not to run.

I shove my hands into my pockets because I might do a crazy thing and touch her. “Thank you for today, seriously. It’s going to be a long week.”

“Were you able to figure something out?” Kate asks as she piles up their dishes on the table.

“Nah.” I shake my head. “I brought work home with me, and I’ll just have to wing it.” Just another day in the life of a single dad. It’ll be fine.

Kate looks lost in her thoughts for a moment and opens her mouth a few times as if she’s conflicted.

“What if I watch him for you until Denise is better?”

Of course, at that exact moment, Andy’s running out the front door. At least he didn’t Kool-Aid Man right through the storm door.

“I don’t know.” I rub the back of my neck and feel sweat coating my skin. I’m unsure if that’s from the sun shining or being this close to Kate. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“I mean, you did last night when you called about today.” She shrugs one shoulder as if it’s no big deal, but her offering to watch my son is a big deal.

My stomach drops, and I must wince, feeling bad that I had. “But that was—” I stutter. “—that was different. That was one day.”

“Calm down, I was only kidding. But it’s not really all that different. Just one day versus multiple. Plus, you’re not asking. I’m offering.”

“Come on, Dad, please.” Andy tugs on my arm.

“Jaxon, stop being a stubborn asshole and accept my help. You said it yourself that it’s going to be a long week, so relax knowing I’ve got Andy under control while you work.”

“Miss Kate,” Andy gasps, and she throws her head back in laughter.

“Add it to my tab, kiddo.” She winks and giggles.

I smirk, wondering how much, in fact, she owes him after today.

I don’t know that this is a good idea. We went from complete avoidance to now wanting to see me every day—well, spend every day with my son, but she would at least have to see me when I drop him off and pick him up.

Andy rushes to her side as she kneels, both pouting with the bottom lips out. Great, these two are ganging up on me. I sigh, giving in. “All right, fine.”

Mainly, I concede and agree because seeing her pout on her knees has me wanting to throw her over my knee and spank that plump bottom or have her sticking her lip out while she begs for my cock. I’d say anything for her to stand up again.

They both stand, and Andy dances around. I recognize some of those moves from Kate’s performance this morning. It seems even after one day together, they’ve already formed a bond.

“Are you really sure it’s not a bother?” I guess I’m just expecting her to pull the rug out from under me and say “gotcha.” Or maybe, in a way, I’m hoping she does. It was easier to push my feelings aside when we rarely interacted, but seeing her every day? It may be good for my son, but what about my heart?

“Jaxon, will you calm down? It’s fine.” The seriousness of her tone tells me not to question it, that it’s a done deal. “Do you prefer here at my house or over at yours?”

“Umm, here is fine. But I’ll leave you the spare key tomorrow, just in case.”

“Be careful. Kyler and Dani gave me a spare key, and I raided their food and booze when they were on their honeymoon.” She laughs before realizing I didn’t join in, and she grows serious. “I’m kidding, sort of.”

“Well, we should get going.” I reach down and grab the backpack that Andy had dropped by my feet moments earlier.

“Daddy, can Miss Kate have pizza with us?”

Kate’s and my eyes lock, and I give her a weak smile. I know I should have seen this coming.

Kate swoops in to save the day, crouching down to his eye level. “Not tonight, little dude. You wore me out today. I need to rest up so we can do it all again tomorrow. How about you bring over that dinosaur coloring book you were telling me about tomorrow? Okay?”

Andy nods and puts his arms in front of her, nonverbally asking for her to pick him up, and she does. She stands, holding him tightly, and my throat grows thick, and my nerve endings tingle as I witness the motherly love in front of me.

I take a step back and cross my arms to keep the desire at bay, to move closer and touch her, pulling them both into my arms. I close my eyes and count to three as I will my racing heart to slow.

When she sets Andy down, she smiles at him with adoration in her eyes, and it shoots a direct line to my heart. I’m in trouble. But maybe this is going to lead us down a fresh path. Or maybe set the stage for a category 5 destruction. If only I could guarantee I won’t self-destruct first.

After confirming for me to bring him over, I swoop Andy in my arms, and we head home. He continues to tell me all about his day at Miss Kate’s that in his words was “awesomely epic,” all through pizza, bath, and story time.