Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) (12 page)

I took it. I deserved it because I hadn't been anything but a prick.

"Let me give you a lift."

"No, thank you."

She let out a small sigh in relief when Koda started crying for his food. She said, "You'd better feed him."

I didn't stop her when she gave Koda a kiss on the cheek and me a defiant look, before she headed to the front door and then out it. I wanted to go after her, but I knew I'd get nowhere. So I'd just have to prove I was gonna change. I was gonna prove I wasn't a total dick, and one day, I'd admit what I really meant with those words she'd heard me say to Dodge that day.

That I thought she was stunning.

After I'd fed my boy and got him to bed, the phone rang.

"Mum," I answered.

"I was around your place today. I tried to tell Mena you're not usually a wanker, but she didn't want to hear it. But, Kalen, her eyes told me your words had cut her deep. Tell me you fixed her today. Tell me."

Sighing, I told her, "I apologised."

"Thank fuck you saw some sense. Now you give her time. Show her my child is the sweet, good boy I brought up."

"I've already decided to calm things between us, Mum. I don't need another lecture about my attitude towards her."

"Okay, Kalen. I'll shut it. Now when are Simone's parents coming up?"

"Sunday."

"I'll come over and cook—"

"Mum."

"Fine. I'll ask Mena if she can come early and help me out by cooking something decent."

"Not sure if she will." Though if Mum asked, I could see Mena helping her out.

Mum laughed. "Oh, she will. I tried to make lunch today while she was busy doing some washing. She witnessed I wasn't good at it, yet she still tried it. Lost count of the times she cringed and pretended she loved what I made. Heart of gold, that girl. That reminds me, did you know she does her washing at your place also."

"No." I was never home when she did household shit. "Why?"

"She said her washing machine wasn't working. I told her you wouldn't care she was, but she asked not to say anything to you about it."

"Fuck, I don't give a shit. I bet she doesn't have a phone for herself yet either. What in the hell does she do with the money she gets off me?"

"Can't say I know."

"Maybe it's time I find some more shit out about her."

"Go in easy, Kalen. We can't lose her."

Mum had always wanted more kids and a daughter to call her own, but after I was born, she'd discovered she couldn't have any more. It'd been hard enough to fall pregnant with me. I wasn't blind to see she saw Mena more than just my worker. She cared for her deeply.

Wasn't hard to do.

Chapter Eleven

Two Weeks later

Mena

My back was killing me. I'd slept the wrong way. Being cramped up in the back seat obviously didn't help. Actually, I was surprised it hadn't happened earlier. I hoped with some movement, my joints would click into place, so I risked walking and having Mr Brooks offer to drive me home. I also chose to walk because I thought Koda might like to take his first bus trip into town. Besides, I knew how to dodge around his offering to drive me home. I had managed it for the last few weeks. Then, if all else failed, I'd just make a run for it.

It was Saturday, a day I didn't work, but I'd mentioned to Mr Brooks about how I thought it would be good for Koda to start some swimming lessons while the weather was good. He agreed as long as I was the one to teach him.

Since Koda's birthday and those things he'd said, Mr Brooks had changed. He wasn't super great, but I knew he was trying. He didn't bark at me so much. When I'd cooked for his family and Koda's grandparents, he asked me to stay for the lunch. I didn't.

I wasn't a part of their family.

The reason I helped that morning was so Judy didn't kill anyone. It was no wonder Mr Brooks agreed to have me cook for Koda and himself. Judy was terrible in the kitchen. I was sure she knew it, which was probably why she ate out a lot with her friends, but I didn't say anything to her the day I forced down what she'd cooked for lunch.

Thankfully, she hadn't tried again.

I knew Mr Brooks was sorry for what he said, and I knew I shouldn't hold a grudge over it, but the words still lingered in the back of my mind. I admitted to myself they hurt more because I liked him in a way my heart fluttered wildly in my chest. Unfortunately, those stupid feelings didn't go away after he'd crushed me. I wished they had. I wished I hated him, but I couldn't. Not when I witnessed what he could be like when he was himself with Koda.

It seemed I was an idiot when it came to a certain man.

Still, as long as those words kept shooting around in my mind and heart, I could keep my distance. I could pretend nothing he did fazed me.

I was there for Koda, which had become my mantra.

As I made my way down the driveway, I saw Mr Brooks already outside with Koda. My feet halted. What was going on? They were never outside to greet me. Picking up my pace, I called out, "Is everything okay?"

"Yep, you ready to go?" he asked, looking down at me through aviator sunglasses, which I hated to add, he rocked with his jeans and a black tee.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, stopping in front of them beside his car. I looked in it. The door was already open, and a bag was sitting on the seat.

"Swimming."

"Yes, I thought I was going to be taking him. In fact, I was going to take Koda on his first bus trip, which is why I walked." I reached out, to take Koda's hand and kiss it. He giggled. Then I noticed Koda was already in his full-body swimsuit.

Pushing his sunglasses to his head, he leaned in and ordered, "Nope. Hop in."

"But—"

"Dada," Koda yelled. My eyes widened, and I gasped.

Clapping, I grinned like a fool and said, "Yes, baby boy, that's your daddy. Can you say Mena? Mmmena."

A deep chuckle hit me. "He's been doing that all morning. It's like all of a sudden he woke up and decided he was gonna talk."

Taking Koda's cheeks in hand, I lay kiss after kiss over his face, "You're such a good boy. You're so smart, Koda. Smarter than any kid your age."

"Mena, get in the car, please."

Maybe it was the please or maybe it was the warm eyes I looked up into, but I found myself moving the bag and sliding into the front passenger seat.

Once he had Koda strapped in, Mr Brooks came around and jumped in, started the car and began down the drive.

"Are you swimming?"

"Nope, just coming to see how he goes."

That was actually sweet.

"Dada, Dada, Dada," Koda sang in the back.

I leaned around and smiled brightly at him. "I'm going to buy you something special in town for being so awesome, Koda Brooks."

Suddenly, my eyes teared. Koda was growing up so fast. It was amazing to watch. If I was that excited over his first word, I couldn't imagine what I'd be like when he started walking.

When we pulled up out front of the local outdoor swimming pool, I got out and went around to help Koda, but his dad was already there, so I reached in for the bag and threw it over my shoulder.

"Oh, no," I exclaimed after walking through the gate.

"What?" he asked.

"I forgot my towel." Where was my head at? How stupid was I?

"I have a spare."

"Mr Brooks—"

A deep rumble, sounding something like a growl, hit the space between us. "For fuck's sake, call me Kalen." His head went back; his face tipped to the sunny sky and he cursed again. When he looked back to me, he reached out and took hold of my wrist. Could he feel my pulse take off from his touch?
Old men in spandex, old men in spandex
. My heart slowed with the picture in my mind. He then added, "Mena, I would feel better since I use your first name if you would use mine."

Dazed, I nodded.

"Thank you." He smiled.

Fight it, Mena. Fight that damn smile like you have been since he started torturing you with it for the last two weeks.

I nodded again.

As soon as he stepped back, the spell broke. I shook my head and pulled off my sundress. I was already wearing my black one-piece bathers. With my eyes on Koda, I clapped, and he reached out to me. Kalen gave him right over, and I headed for the solar heated swimming pool.

Slowly, we walked into the water. At first, it took my breath away. Not wanting to scare Koda, I didn't let it show. He watched with wondrous eyes when we went deeper and deeper into the water. He smiled, laughed, and wiggled in my arms. A couple of times he tried to jump away from me, reaching with both hands out to splash the water. I knew then that Koda was going to love to learn to swim.

Dive

My eyes stayed glued to them. I was glad Mena didn't look at me when she claimed Koda from my arms because she would have seen the heat in my eyes. Then again, they'd been hidden behind my sunnies, which I was fuckin' grateful for because I got to watch them both, not just Koda enjoy himself, but also Mena. I got to watch when she slipped out of her sundress to show her hot body with curves in the right places. When she'd first shown on my doorstep, she was skin and bone. Now she had curves I wanted to get to know.

And fuck no, I was not pushing that thought away because of guilt.

Simone always knew I was a huge fan of a woman's body. Besides, they were only lustful thoughts. I wasn't in the right place to act on them.

Still, the show was amazin' to watch.

Even better, when an hour later, they got outta the water and I followed every drip running down her sexy legs.

"He did such a great job, Daddy. You should be proud." Mena smiled before sitting Koda down on my lap.

Shit. Focus.

Wrapping his towel around him, I said, "Yeah, he looked like he was enjoying it." I picked him up, turning him to face me.

"Dada." He smiled before latching his hand onto my beard to give it a tug.

"You're a real little swimmer, buddy." Pulling him closer, I blew raspberries onto his neck, making him squeal. Glancing up to Mena, I was disappointed to see she had the spare towel wrapped around her body. "You ready for some lunch?"

"If you want to get going, I can take the bus back home."

"You're not hungry?"

"No, I'll get something later."

"Woman." I sighed. "Let me get you some lunch as a thank you for his first swimming lesson."

"I don't want to get in the car all wet. I was going to lie out in the sun for a bit anyway, get dry, and soak up the rays before it changes." She looked to the sky. Dark clouds were coming in even though the temperature was still warm.

"Don't worry about the car, Mena."

"Kalen, I—"

"Fine. We'll grab something here at the kiosk. Then I'll take you home."

"Um, okay, thank you. But I need to grab something from your place, so I'll get a lift back there and then catch the bus."

Standing, I handed over Koda. "I get the feeling you don't want me near your place, Mena."

Pink touched her cheeks. "No, it's not that. I… um… It's just…"

"How about I go get the food while you think of something."

"Fine," she snapped and actually stuck her tongue out at me. It took everything in me to walk off and not bite down on that tongue.

There was something goin' on with Mena, and I was gonna get to the bottom of it. I trusted her with Koda. But I needed to know what she was hiding. It was a guess, but I reckoned it had something to do with where she lived. So while I ordered the food, I activated a plan.

We all ate lunch sitting in the sun. Not much conversation flowed, but it was nice just sitting there with her. Later, she disappeared to the toilet, only to come back with a toy truck.

"Where'd you get that?"

"I ran across the road to the shops. I promised Koda I would get him something." She sat down next to him. As soon as he saw the truck, he started waving his hands around and squealed.

Fuckin' lucky she'd put her dress on before slipping out and heading around other people. She was already getting ogled by enough men around the pool. I was half tempted to join her. With me by her side, the other dicks would know not to approach her. Fuck, they'd probably approach her anyway. I clenched my hands into fists in annoyance.
Calm the fuck down, it hasn't happened yet… Not unless it has and she just hasn't said anything to me.

Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I grumbled under my breath with a few choice swear words.

The car ride was quick and when we pulled down the drive, and she saw Mum's car sitting there, she relaxed. No doubt she thought she was gonna be in the clear and slip away. I'd let her, but little did she know I was gonna follow her. I'd called Mum earlier and told her what the go was. She was all for it.

We pulled to a stop and got out. Koda was in my arms when Mum came out on the front porch.

"Afternoon. How'd he go?"

"He was amazing," Mena cried excitedly.

"Is that why he's got a new truck?" She smirked.

"Mena got it for him for saying his first word."

"What? He talked? What did he say?"

"Dada." I grinned proudly. I'd been working with him every night, and finally, he'd shocked the shit outta me and came out with it that morning.

Koda mimicked me and cried, "Dada." Then he smiled.

"Oh, what a sweet voice for such a little charmer," Mum cooed, grabbing Koda from my arms. "We need to celebrate. Dinner out somewhere, with drinks. No, let's go take a trip, let's—"

"Mum, maybe another day. He's had a big swim. He's probably ready for his nap." She eyed me and then Mena, who stood beside me looking at Koda with a smile on her face.

"Right, of course he is." She nodded. "I'll get him to bed. It was nice seeing you today, Mena." Mum turned and fled into the house.

It was almost comical how Mena paled. She looked from Mum to me, back to Mum closing the front door to me again.