Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“We’ll have to talk to your mom about that,” Dane finally answered. At least it wasn’t a no.
“Yay!” Hailey replied. “I wanna slide!”
I stopped the swing, and she got off, then ran to the jungle gym. Dane and I walked behind her slowly. “She likes you.”
“I like her too.”
“You’re good with kids.” There was a hint of shock in his voice.
“Why do you sound surprised? I’m not a monster.”
He chuckled softly. “I know. I just…wouldn’t have guessed it.”
Yeah, I couldn’t fault him for that. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know, Uncle Dame.”
“It’s weird when you call me that.”
“Sexy Dane? Grumpy Pants? Storage-room Sex Beast?” I teased, and he rolled his eyes, but again, there was a smile there. He tried to hide it, or hell, maybe he just didn’t want to smile at me, but he was.
His phone rang before he had a chance to reply. He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned. “It’s my sister. I need to get this.” I nodded, and he answered. “Hey.” His sister said something, and Dane frowned. “But I picked up an extra shift. I told you about it earlier.” He was quiet again, then dropped his head back, looking at the sky. “He’s her dad. I understand he has to work, but we also need him to be home when he says. Our jobs matter too. We were counting on him, and now I don’t know what to do. Chet will be pissed if I call in, and you know I need the money.”
From the sound of it, his sister was at work, and Dane was going in soon, and apparently Hailey’s dad was supposed to stay with her and now he couldn’t.
“Shit.” Dane ran a hand through his hair. “You can’t get off early?” She spoke, and then Dane added, “Okay…then that only leaves about two hours. I can maybe go in later, but it defeats the purpose since Chet needs someone.”
“I can stay with her,” I offered.
Dane frowned at me, his face all squished in confusion.
“Seriously, I don’t mind. We can play at the park and go grab some lunch or something. I’ll find a way to keep her busy for a couple of hours, and then her mom can meet me here, or whatever.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” Dane replied.
“You didn’t. I offered. Unless you don’t feel comfortable.” That would sting. We didn’t know each other well, but I could take good care of his niece for a couple of hours.
“No, no. That’s not it. It’s just…” But he didn’t finish the sentence. He just looked at me in that way I was beginning to get familiar with, like he couldn’t figure me out. He gave me a simple nod and then said into the phone, “You remember that guy I work with—Jesse? The one she’s always talking about? He’s here with me and said he can hang out with her for a couple of hours, then meet you if you want.” He listened, then turned around and lowered his voice as though he didn’t want me to hear him. “I trust him. He’ll take good care of her.”
My heart thudded at that, which was not good, not good at all.
Dane said a few more things to his sister before hanging up. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Absolutely. I love kids. She’s great. And she thinks I’m fun.” I smiled.
“I, um…I really appreciate this. I wouldn’t leave her with just anyone, so…”
So what? He liked me? Trusted me? Whatever it was, I knew he would struggle saying it, so I simply shrugged and said, “No biggie.”
“But it is,” Dane replied softly.
Man, he was locked up tight. Oh, I really wanted to know what made this man tick. “It’s really more for me. I’m bored, and I want you to have to owe me.” I winked, and he laughed.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
“But you want to do something?” I asked.
Hailey ran over before he could reply, and Dane knelt beside her. “Hey, kiddo. Remember how your dad was going to pick you up? He got called out to take another load, so he won’t make it. Mommy gets off work in a couple of hours. How would you feel about hanging out with Jesse until then?”
“I want to! Desse is fun!”
Dane looked up at me and smiled. “Yeah…yeah, I know he is.”
What I heard was, Thank you. Don’t ask me how I understood Dane so well, but I did.
“I have a few more minutes until I have to head in,” Dane said, standing.
“Imma slide some more!” Hailey said and ran off.
“Can I get your phone number? I’m going to send it to Bree and keep it for myself too. I’ll give you both of ours as well, and if you need anything, whatever it is, call me, okay? I’ll leave work if I have to.”