Page 5 of Strip It Down (Spoiled by My Blue Collar Man #4)

Sayer

After they load everything into the back of my truck, I glance at my watch. Hell, it’s already lunch time. I text Dad and he replies everything is under control. He and Ayla are having lunch with a friend of his.

“How about some lunch before we head back. Today’s your official hire date, by the way.”

She smiles. “Lunch sounds good. I know the perfect place.”

She directs me to a quiet little mom and pop place with good old-fashioned home cooking. I order chicken fried steak with French fries and a salad, she gets a Caesar salad. I study my iced tea and the ring it makes on the napkin. She waits quietly.

“Ayla is my daughter. But I didn’t know about her until just a few months ago.

Her mother was an addict who supported her habit with sex.

” I look her in the eye. “I met her at a party. We’d just come back from a rough mission.

We’d lost some guys. I got drunk trying to forget.

It’s no excuse, and that’s not how I normally handle things.

“A few months ago, her mother tried to shake me down for money. That’s when she told me the baby was mine.

A DNA test proved I was the father of the two and a half little girl.

I was trying to get full custody. Ayla wasn’t abused perse, but she was neglected.

She’s behind on her speech and social interactions.

Social services and the courts got involved. Then the mother died of an overdose.

“I applied for a separation from the Army and signed up for the reserves to keep my years of service and pension. Along with everything else going on at the time, Dad had a small heart attack. The doctors say it was minor, but… I can’t lose him.

I need to take more of the load off his shoulders.

” I glance out the window and give myself a mental shake before continuing.

“Another month of red tape and rules later, Ayla came to live with me for good. I moved back here to be with Dad.

“I’ve taken a bunch of mandatory childcare classes, but that’s not like living through the last two years with her. I’m playing catch up, getting to know her. Reading ‘what to do’ books and some days just fumbling through. She needs, deserves so much, I don’t want to screw this up.”

“How do you feel about her?”

“I love her. She’s mine. What kind of question was that?” I snap ready to do battle yet again.

“Stand down soldier. You just passed the only test you’ll ever have to take. For you or anyone else.” She smiles at me. “Love is the most important part and you’ve already got that. You’re trying which is more than some parents.

“The Boys & Girls Club used to have childcare classes for babysitters. I took them and did a lot of childcare when I was younger and then to help supplement when I was going to community college. If you want, there’s a good toy store here we could pick up a few things or bring her to the store and see what she’s drawn too.

A little of both would probably be best.”

“I still need to find a nanny. I’ve interviewed a couple, but none have… felt right. That’s something else that needs to be done before Dad takes off.” I run a palm over my head.

“Sayer, one thing at a time. Let’s go pick up a couple small toys. We’ll get the office set up today and I’ll start working with your dad. It’s all going to work out. It’s going to be easier than you think,” she encourages.

I smile back. Just talking to her, voicing my concerns has seemed to lighten the load.

After walking around the toy store, I pick out a dog stuffie, and a couple toddler plastic block and people sets since I know she likes the alphabet blocks.

At the last minute I see a little table set with a Bear and Bunny chairs that would fit perfectly in the office.

It gives me ideas for a few things I could make her.

Later, she’ll outgrow this quick enough.

Gentry takes my arm when I pause yet again on the way to the door, and laughs. “Enough, Dad. We’ll bring her back and let the two of you buy out the store together.”

A quick stop at the hardware store for the safety items I want for her apartment, and we head home. I’m feeling more relaxed. More hopeful.

I text Brody and he meets us at the house to help me rearrange the office, then carry in the new desk, and put it together.

Dad and Gentry talk and play in the kitchen with Ayla.

Once the office is set up, and Ayla is down for her nap, Gentry sets up the computer and she and Dad start working together.

“I’m going to go check on that new job site and make sure the crew is okay. I’ll be back to take you home, Gentry. Dad, why don’t you order in food and we can all eat before I take her home.”

“That’s not necessary, Sayer,” she says.

“Yeah, it is. It’s going to end up being a twelve-hour day. It’s the least we can do.”

Later than I hoped, I stop for gas on the way home. The Sheriff’s SUV pulls up at the pump next to mine. I can’t help but notice the mountain of a man that climbs out. “Tate is that you?”

“That you, Sayer?” he mimics.

“What the fuck man, you grow another foot?”

He laughs.

“Sheriff? How the hell did you wrestle that from Greg Archer’s uncle?”

“New people in town got sick of his bullshit and shakedowns. Of course, a half a dozen lawsuits against him didn’t help either. He packed up what was left of his money and moved to Florida. Left his dipshit nephew. Heard that’s where Greg’s daddy is also laying low from the lawsuits against him.”

“Speaking of that, I’m pretty sure he sliced the two back tires of Gentry Shaw’s car yesterday. I’d have reported it, but thought his old man was still around.”

“Got proof?” he raises an eyebrow.

“I’ve got pictures of the tires. It was in the parking lot on main. Are there any cameras in the park across from there? They might have caught him.”

He shakes his head.

“I’d been at the diner. When I approached my truck, the car next to me had two flat tires.

On inspection I realized they’d been slashed.

There was a truck on the other side basically hiding the little car between us.

I decided to wait and see if I could help the person or at least be a witness if they chose to report it.

“Gentry showed up a few minutes later. I helped her out. She confirmed the other truck belonged to Greg.”

Tate, glances away but I don’t miss his clenched fist. “He’s had it out for that girl as long as I’ve known her. In spite of her upbringing, she’s got more class in her little finger than he’ll ever have.”

“He got her fired yesterday from her job at the restaurant. About the same time I suspect he slashed her tires.”

Hands on his hips he shakes his head, steps away and comes back. “How you know that?”

“She told me when I stayed to help her with the tires. She told me she was the bookkeeper, and Greg wanted his girl to have the job.

“Dad and I were looking for a bookkeeper. When I learned that was what she did, we interviewed her and hired her. She started today. I went to pick her up early so we could get her what she’d need to take over and computerize it for us. Greg was at her door when I walked up.”

Tate raises an eyebrow.

“I suggested he might want to leave. He did. I picked up some new locks for her door. She’s with my dad. After I pick her up, I’ll take her home and install them.”

“The place she’s living isn’t safe. Of the twenty-four units only about six are rented. And two of those are working girls. She’s upstairs back side, right?”

“Yep.”

“You paying her enough she could get out of there?”

“I’ll help her start looking.”

“Watch your six man, and your building sites. Greg’s even more slimy than he was in high school.”

I study him. “Has there been theft or destruction?”

“Both.”

“Sonofabitch,” I shake my head. “Has my dad had issues?”

“Not that I know of. But not everyone reports.”