Chasing Marisol (Blueprint to Love Book 3) (10 page)

Jeff patted his beefy arm. "Thanks, Buddy. But don't work too late. We need you bright and early tomorrow."

"I got your six when you and Miss Ortega leave. I don't want any incidents like last night."

Jeff froze in his tracks.
With Mari and Hector
. Her explanation had lacked detail. He’d gotten the sense she was hesitant to discuss it with him. But asking in front of the little guy was not cool.

Nodding to Hector squirming against his shoulder, he signaled Pete that he didn't want to discuss the incident in front of him. "How about I meet you here for coffee tomorrow morning? We can talk then?"

Catching the look in his eyes, the giant nodded. "Affirmative. See you at 0700." He held the door for them before closing it behind them.

"Can I ask you something?" The muffled question came from his shoulder.

"You can ask me anything, Hec and I'll do my best to answer." Jeff discovered he liked the feeling of the little boy's arms wrapped around his neck. It was nice— sort of protective and powerful at the same time. And where the hell had that thought come from?

"I gots a question about bullies."

Damn— his first real test and it might be a difficult one. Though he could have set Hector down, Jeff continued to hold him as they passed through the quiet corridors leading to the cafeteria. "Okay. Lay it on me."

Hector lifted his head to stare at him. "Well— it's sorta for my friend. He needs to know what to do when someone bullies him."

"My advice depends on where the bullying happens. Can you tell me more about it?"

When they reached the cafeteria, Jeff could see it filling with the dinner crowd. Not only that, but he was surprised to see Hank— making time with Annie at the counter. Even more shocking— she was smiling. Though her face was flushed crimson from the attention, there was a spark in her eyes he hadn't ever seen before. Way to go, Hank.

"What do you mean?" Hector stretched away from him to stare into his eyes.

"Like— is it happening at school?" Not wanting to derail his conversation with Hector, he turned down the hallway to the conference room. Once there, he set him on the edge of the table and closed the door. "Because if that's the case then I would say your friend should talk to his teacher first. And his mom. Then she could work with the school to fix-"

He shook his head. "It's not happenin' at school."

The worry visible in the little boy's knowing brown eyes sent a frisson of warning through his system. "What is it, Hec? An older brother? A playground thing?"

"He might— get in trouble-"

Jeff squatted before the little boy, his heart sinking over his troubled expression. "I promise he won't."

"He's worried 'cuz . . ." Hector glanced over his shoulder at the door, then dropped his voice to a whisper. "He's worried because it's . . . his daddy."

Jeff rocked back on his heels, his mind reeling. Sweet God— he was five. Hector was five friggin' years old. He should be worrying about his baseball card collection— or what healthy snack he had to trade from his lunchbox to get something good. But he sure as hell shouldn't be worried about child abuse. Taking a deep breath, Jeff released it slowly.

He chose his words cautiously, making sure his voice betrayed none of the fury coursing through him. Stay calm. "His dad . . . is . . . hurting your friend?"

        When Hector nodded matter-of-factly, Jeff's gut clenched as though blindsided with a sucker punch. Between the conversation he'd overheard earlier with Mari and now this— he was suddenly at a loss. Hell— the more he thought about it, he was in way over his head— with both of them. He had no more business pretending he knew how to help this sweet kid— than he did getting involved with Marisol.

Because she was different. From anyone he'd ever met. Not that he would have acknowledged it to Hank, but she was special— in a way he grew more sharply aware each day. And he— was a flight risk. Increasingly, he didn't want to risk taking advantage of her.

"And their mommy. So— he wants to protec' her— but he's sorta . . . not big enough."

And their mommy
.
Their.
It was more than one friend. Brothers? His ears roared with the surreal buzz of shock over what he was hearing. "Does your friend live here? At the shelter?"

Hector paused, his sad, puppy eyes gauging whether he could trust him. "Yes."

"Then— aren't they safe here? At least for now?"

His eyes filled with tears then, his brave, sweet face crumpling under the weight of a worry too big for his slender shoulders to carry. "He k-keeps f-findin' them. And I h-heard Mama Sharon tell Mari they might have to m-move again. But . . . they're my friends."

Hector's sobs tore at him— exposing a gaping wound in himself that Jeff didn't know how to fix. How the hell did Mari and the staff do this job? How did they not allow anger and sadness to win? He scooped him up again, needing to hold the little boy probably as much as Hector needed to be held. "It's okay, buddy. We're going to fix it. We'll help him. I promise-"

"You promise?" Hector's tear-stained face pulled back from his shoulder to stare at him.

Oh God.
What was he doing
? The little guy had a thing about promises. And now, here he was— guaranteeing something he had absolutely no idea he could deliver. What the sweet hell was he doing? What if he screwed up? "I want you to promise
me
something, Hector."

"What?" The little guy was stoic as he dried his eyes on his sleeve.

"I've made you a promise— that I will do everything I can to help. Now you have to promise me you won't worry about this anymore. Do we have a deal?"

Marisol
. He could discuss the issue with her. She knew what she was doing. She had parenting skills. She'd know best. Together, they would develop a plan. Hector trusted her. And he did, too, Jeff realized. She would help him keep the promise he'd just made. Releasing the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, Jeff forced himself to calm.

"You really mean it?" Hector's mouth slowly lifted in a smile as the worry cleared from his eyes. He stuck out a sturdy, little hand. "It's a deal."  

***

Mari found them in the conference room, deep in discussion. She cracked the door open with a smile. "Are you boys lost?"

Hector glanced up, his eyes brimming with excitement. "Mari— guess what?"

"What, carino?"

"The third surprise— Jeff's takin' us out for supper. And I get to pick where."

She raised an eyebrow in question and Jeff shrugged. "If you don't already have plans."

"I picked tacos." Hector's expression was jubilant.

She smiled as a wave of eager expectation washed over her. "We don't have plans."

She was giddy, damn it. This crazy attraction had to stop. She could not go on feeling so ridiculously happy over spending time with him. It was dangerous to feel this way. So lighthearted. So— hopeful. Because feeling this good meant the only way left to go was down. Mari didn't want to take that plunge. And she sure as hell didn't want to take a soul-sucking dive with Hector in tow.

"Are you ready?" Jeff’s appealing voice broke into her thoughts— dispelling all those resembling rational ones. Was she ready? Not really. Falling in love was not on her agenda. Now— or a year from now. She had— plans. For herself and Hector. In half a year's time, with any luck— with the gods shining down on her, he would be legally hers. She had real-life decisions to make. Jefferson was a distraction— a gorgeous, sexy distraction. But the timing-  

Aware he awaited her answer, Mari nodded. Even if Jefferson turned out to be only a distraction— she had to deal with it. She couldn't continue avoiding decisions just because it was easier. Eventually, everything either blew up or worked out. And winging it just wasn't her style. She could face her fears head-on or she could be burdened with them subconsciously. Either way— her feelings for Jeff weren't going away.

"Great. I know the perfect place."

One way or another, she would have to give him a test drive. "I'm ready."

***

"Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

Mari turned her key in the lock and pushed the door open. Hector stampeded past her in his rush to get to the bathroom, leaving Jeff standing in his wake behind her on the porch. "Sure— I have to get Hector squared away. It's a school night and he still needs a bath."

"I'm sorry. I forgot about that. It can wait until tomorrow."

She sensed his hesitation . . . had sensed all evening he was only partially with them. Jeff had been brooding about something. If he was contemplating dumping them, it would be better to get it over with— before she made the mistake of letting him get too close. "No— please come in. I could tell there was something on your mind."

He frowned as he stepped into her foyer. "How'd you know?"

"I guess I picked up on the vibe." There'd been a wariness to his eyes all evening. Probably because after nearly eight weeks, he'd concluded she was too much damned effort. Perhaps he'd finally realized what the term 'single mother' entailed. She and Hector were a package deal which meant Jeff was probably getting bored. They were never alone for long— not the way they would be if they were really dating.

There was certainly no way Jeff could have failed to pick up on the stares he'd received from virtually
every
female in the restaurant. Single, beautiful women who didn't have children to bathe— who could linger over margaritas before taking him home for wild, uncomplicated sex. Mari dropped her keys in the bowl and hung her jacket in the closet. "What's on your mind?" 

He followed her into the living room. "This should probably wait until Hector goes to bed. I don't want him to overhear us."

"Okay." Great— he was definitely dumping them. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She'd known it couldn't last. So, why the hell had she allowed herself to hope? Why had she let down her guard? Damn it— she knew better. Guys like Jeff didn't end up with women like her.

Steeling herself against the pain knotting her chest, Mari prayed her expression was more serene than her churning stomach felt. This time around, she may not leave the relationship battered— but the time she'd spent with Jefferson would certainly leave her bruised.

"That won't be for an hour or so." She sighed. Why couldn't he have just left her alone? "I don't want to hold you here. Why don't we talk on the porch?"

"I'm not in a hurry. I mean— it's no rush." Confusion flashed in his eyes. "Is something wrong?"

Clearly she wasn't delivering on the calm, collected expression she'd been striving for. Getting dumped was one thing— but she still had to work with the guy for the next several months. There was no way in hell she'd leave him with the impression that she was broken up over losing him to some sexy, tequila-shooting twenty-year-old.

"No— but I get the feeling this is important." Mari moved quickly for the safety of the kitchen. "I'll just make sure Hector's cartoon is on and then meet you there in a minute."

It was more like five minutes by the time she assured herself Hector was settled before the TV, that he possessed none of the implements necessary to burn the house down, nor could he overdose on chocolate or cookies while she was outside breaking up with the man of her dreams. Mari paused for several deep breaths in the kitchen. "Let's get this over with."

God was allowing for small favors this evening, she acknowledged as she closed the door behind her. Twilight had arrived while she'd been inside hyperventilating. Without the porch light on, Jeff wouldn't be able to see her lips trembling. She'd be able to hold it together long enough to slip back inside. A sense of calm settled over her. It was the calm of despair, but she was grateful for it nonetheless.

"It's gorgeous out here tonight." Jeff was already sitting on the top step. "What's that smell?"

"I planted jasmine last fall." The perfumed breeze wafted over her like a shawl. It was a beautiful, sultry night— the kind meant for porch swings and holding hands. For sipping wine and stealing kisses before you crept inside and fumbled your way to a darkened bedroom-   

"It's fantastic. We should sit out here more often." He patted the top step beside him. "Come sit down. I'll try to be quick, so you can get back inside to Hector."

Huh? Was this how Jeff broke up with women? Why was he being so pleasant? Maybe with his experience, he'd become professional at it. Maybe— they'd end up friends. It would be just like him to dump her so skillfully that she still found him irresistible after it was over. Bracing herself, Mari dropped down beside him.

"What did you want to tell me?"
Just do it
. Rip it off. Like a bandage.

He shifted toward her, their knees touching. When he scooped up her hand in his, she startled. "Wow— your hand is like ice." Tugging her closer, he kissed her knuckles. "Are you warm enough?"

Mari shivered over the exquisite sensation before nodding— now completely at a loss as to what would happen next. "I-I'm fine."

His smile was a brief flash of white in the growing darkness. "Okay— here goes. . . Hector sort of . . . confided in me earlier today-"