Page 18 of Let You Love Me

Damn. Looks like it’s time to swallow my pride.

Chris:

I totally didn’t read these.

Chapter 4

LANE

I’m every bit asdistracted on the walk home from the park as I was on the way there. Only this time, Sophie’s hand is tucked safely inside mine, and it’s a certain boy occupying my thoughts.

Teagan Nichols.

I roll the name over in my mind, and I can’t help but smile as I picture him in my head. The blond curls, his toned chest beaded with sweat, those piercing blue eyes, and the dimples. Oh, lord, those dimples. They’re enough to bring a woman to her knees.

Which would explain why I gave him my number, because I don’t give out my phone number. Ever.

I’ve been on the mom wagon for four years now, and any time a guy even gets a hint that I’m a single mom, they run in the other direction. Which is fine by me. I’ve never once been tempted to give any man access to me since becoming a parent. My life is busy enough as it is between Sophie and school andwork without adding another dynamic to it. I barely have time for friends, let alone anything resembling a relationship.

Yet I gave my number to Teagan. Why?

Because complications make life interesting.

I shake my head, a smile ghosting over my lips. Maybe he’s right. Maybe complicationsdomake life interesting. And maybe I’m about to find out because that’s what any man entering my life would be—a complication—to me, to Sophie, and I’d certainly be a huge one for them. If I started something, I’d open not only myself up to heartbreak, but her, too. And even if I were willing to risk my heart, I’m not willing to risk hers.

She’s lucky to have people who love her so unconditionally. She has no clue what it feels like to have someone in your life walk away from you because they don’t feel like you’re worth the hassle. But I do. And I’ll protect her from that kind of rejection as long as I can shield her.

So, I wonder once again, what the hell provoked me to give him my number.

Because it felt good to feel desired?

Because for some reason, he came off as completely genuine in a way no one has in a really long time?

My gut tells me I can trust him, and tomorrow, I might very well wake up and regret giving him my number. But for now, I’m okay with it, even if I am dumbfounded by it. All I know is he saved Sophie’s life today. I hate to think of what would’ve happen had he not been there.

I shake my head.

I won’t go there. I won’t think of the “what-ifs” when everything turned out all right in the end. Instead, I’ll allow myself this rare moment of excitement and anticipation at the notion he might call.

Once we reach the house, I shove my thoughts of Teagan aside as I take Sophie through the garage, where we stow her new ball before entering the house into the laundry room.

I help Sophie take off her shoes, then watch as she runs toward the hallway for the kitchen as I follow close behind, finding my mother at the sink rinsing vegetables.

“Geema!” Sophia cries as she runs up to her and wraps her arms around her legs.

My mother curls an arm around her. “There’s my girl. Have fun at the park?”

I hold my breath, waiting to see if she’ll mention anything about Teagan or the ball. When she doesn’t, I breathe a sigh of relief, then wonder why that is.

Before I can give it much thought, I help Sophie wash her hands at the sink, then head for the pantry as she runs into the living room. I find a bag of the cinnamon apple chips she likes and take them to her where she sits on the couch, waiting for me to put a cartoon on.

Between the adrenaline from Sophie’s near run-in with a fender, my interaction with Teagan, and the stress of the roof estimate, I could really use some time to unwind. Maybe even close my eyes before I need to make Sophie her dinner. Which means I better get the conversation with my father over with before exhaustion sinks its teeth into me.

“Is Dad around?” I ask my mother as I enter the kitchen once more to find she’s moved on to bagging the veggies.

“You know where to find him.” She glances up at me with an arched brow, and I nod.

Of course. Though it’s his day off, any spare time during the season is dedicated to work: watching game tape, going over plays, and assessing strategy for the week.