Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) (19 page)

"Shit. I heard him crying and just came running." My dick grew stiff; he wanted to show off for his sunshine.

"You sleep naked," she commented, peeked out her eyes, and closed them again tightly, and then her already blushing cheeks deepened and dipped down to her neck. She jiggled Koda gently in her arms and finally his cry settled to a whimper. Poor boy, being sick sucked, but first, they both needed to get clean before I could take care of him.

Chuckling, I stepped up to them and said, "Head for the bathroom, babe. Need to clean you both, and I'll be there to grab Koda from you once he's clean. I'll even put on some boxers." I steered them to the doorway. "Unless you don't want me to."

Another chuckle when she didn't answer straight away, as if she was thinking about it. "No, um, boxers would be good."

I couldn't resist. As we hit the hall, I leaned in and kissed her shoulder. She stiffened until I tapped her arse and said, "Bathroom."

"Um, right." She nodded and started for the door. I walked off to my room, though I looked back just as she was going through the doorway to see her eyes on my arse. When I caught her, her eyes widened. I threw her a wink before she disappeared in the bathroom.

With black boxers on, I stepped into the bathroom to find Mena, still in her clothes, was already standing under the spray of water with Koda in her arms.

"Just called my boss. Told him I wasn't coming in today."

"You didn't have to do that. I can take care of him."

"I know you can, but I wanna be here for him." Her eyes warmed, and she nodded. "How's he doing?"

"Can you help me undress him? Then I'll wash him down, and we can get him dry. He'll need medicine to settle his stomach."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan." I got in the shower and stood just outta the spray. I didn't want to get wet and freeze my balls off while I took care of Koda, and Mena showered the puke off her. Reaching out, I grabbed Koda under the arms and held him out while Mena quickly got his clothes off and washed him down with his baby soap. At least he seemed to like the shower. He wasn't crying, just in his own thoughts, watching. Kissing his temple, I told him, "You'll be okay, buddy." He tried to reach up to my face, but he was held out too far. Ah, fuck it. I brought him back to my chest, and his hand reached up for my beard, absently playing with it.

"He looks so tired. How did he sleep last night?"

"Good. Not a peep outta him."

She smiled sadly. "He'll need more sleep today, though. I doubt we'll be doing much."

"Sounds good to me. Lazy day it is until my boy is back to himself."

"He's ready to hop out."

"Thanks, you get cleaned up. I'll get him dry and dressed. Then we'll swap, and I'll have a shower."

"Okay."

Before hopping outta the shower, though, I leaned in and kissed her cheek. I heard her suck in her breath. When I pulled back, my eyes locked on hers. "Thanks, sunshine. Couldn't have done it without you."

Looking up through hooded eyes, she said, "Yes, you could have, but thank you."

After wrapping the towel around my boy, and just as I was out the bathroom door, I turned back to see her watching me and said, "Call out if you need a hand." With a wink, I walked out, but I didn't miss her mouth drop open, her eyes widen, or her cheeks heat.

Quickly dressing Koda, worry seeped into my mind. Fuck, I hoped he was gonna be okay. Maybe I should call in a doctor just in case. The one good thing though was if it was just a stomach bug, I wouldn't have to use that snot sucker this time around.

Chapter Nineteen

Mena

My heart went out to Koda. I hated seeing him sick. At least his dad stayed at home to help take care of him. Despite doing everything we could to get him feeling better, I wondered if we should call the house doctor in as a just in case. Kalen was a worrier, so if a doctor came, it would ease his mind.

The thought of Kalen, in all his naked glory, had been a welcome shock.

With his good-looking penis staring at me.

Even if all for a second, because I'd stupidly closed my eyes and missed my chance to take in his whole body. Instead, I stored the bare glimpse to memory, so I could use it at night when I pictured him…

Then, he'd kissed my shoulder. I was sure I hadn't imagined it. It was a light peck, but still, I'd felt it down to my toes. In fact, they'd curled, and my vagina got over her anger at me. After the swat on the butt, I'd nearly died; my heart had beat so hard in my chest. Of course, I couldn't not look back when I knew he would be walking to his room, and I managed to see his sculpted bottom. His arms were covered in delicious tattoos, but his back, only one sat right in the middle. It was of a Hawk. Not that I looked longingly at him like I had his butt. When he'd caught me, I'd almost swallowed my tongue.

If I hadn't been so sore below and I could have taken longer in the shower, I would have touched myself, and I knew I would have come fast from everything that I'd seen, and he'd done.

By the time I was dressed and walking out of the bathroom, I found Kalen in the kitchen with a grumpy Koda in his high chair.

"I was thinking maybe we should ring a doctor?" I suggested.

Kalen grunted while he concentrated on measuring out Koda's medicine. When he turned, he said, "I was thinking the same thing. Can you do it while I give him this and see if he'll eat anything? If not, I'll get him to have some water."

Walking to Koda, I felt his forehead; heat pressed against my skin. Gently, I kissed him on the forehead, and he looked up at me and offered a quick smile. Then his attention went to his dad when Kalen stepped up.

"Are they good at taking this?"

"Usually kids love the taste of it," I reassured him and added, "At least you don't have to suck the snot out this time. Actually,"—I started for the living room where one of the phones were—"I'm surprised you didn't dry heave when Koda vomited."

"Not funny, woman."

Laughing, I went and made a call.

Koda spent the morning napping on and off on the couch covered in towels. We'd piled cushions on the floor in case we weren't quick enough to catch him. Still, we made sure one of us was sitting on the couch with him to try to catch the vomit. The doctor arrived late afternoon.

A brooding Kalen stood behind the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. He glared down at the doctor as he checked Koda all over while simultaneously glancing at me over and over. I was sitting on the couch with Koda in my lap because Koda started crying when the doctor got close. I was convinced Kalen chose not to sit with Koda in case he had to attack the doctor for some reason.

The doctor stood and smiled down at me. "Are you his aunt?"

"No, I'm—"

"What's that got to do with my kid? Just tell us what's going on."

The doctor blanched and stepped back. "Yes, it seems to be just a stomach bug. Nothing serious. All he needs is what you're already doing. Rest, a heap of fluids, and Panadol at the appropriate time. Don't worry if he doesn't eat. He may not want to at all even."

"Right." Kalen grunted.

I stood, placed Koda back to lie on the couch, and said, "Thank you for coming, Doctor. Mr Brooks will fix up the bill by the end of the day." I took his arm and led him to the door. A low rumble started behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Kalen's eyes zoned in on my hand on the doctor's arm. I quickly removed it and opened the door. The doctor stepped out. He turned as if to say something, but I blurted out, "Have a great afternoon and thanks again," before shutting the door after him.

Spinning around, I glared and said, "Why would you act like that when he was here to help Koda?"

He rolled his eyes, moved around the couch, and sat with his son. "The good old doctor was too busy staring at your tits and legs than examining Koda."

My eyes widened. "He was not. And you shouldn't swear so much in front of Koda."

"He was. And Koda will learn what is wrong and right."

Throwing my hands up in the air, I asked, "Do you want to get another doctor to visit for a second opinion?"

"No."

"So you trust what he said."

He shrugged. "He is a doctor, despite all the perving he did. Next time, you don't touch him."

Exasperated, I snapped, "I was just leading him to the door."

"Don't touch him," he shot back roughly.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Because I don't like seeing it."

Silence pierced the air until I whispered, "Oh." Shuffling a foot, I said, "Um, I'm going to start dinner and see if anything will coax Koda into eating. I'll also fill up his drink bottle and do some cleaning."

Kalen looked from his son to me with a smirk on his lips. "Yeah, you do that, sunshine."

Yes, I was running from the heart-palpitations situation, but I needed to sort out my mind. Kalen, it seemed, was acting interested in me. More than his housekeeper and more than Koda's nanny. I wasn't sure how to take it, but I knew my body loved the idea of Kalen showing interest; at least, that was what I thought he was doing. I didn't have much experience in men. Mark was my only lover, and we'd grown up together. Everything about this was different. Fresh, exciting, and new.

Still, I was concerned I was convenient for him.

He missed his wife.

But he also said he missed her for Koda's sake.

I knew Koda was more important to Kalen than going out and finding a woman to spend the night with, or an hour just to get his jollies off. So I was back to my first thought. I was convenient.

However, was my mind supplying that thought so I could keep him at arm's length still?

Could be a possibility.

All right, it was more than likely, but of course, I was scared about Kalen showing interest, even when it thrilled me at the same time. Exasperated with myself and my internal battle, I attempted to shrug thoughts of Kalen away and concentrated on preparing food.

For dinner, I made a vegetable soup with warm, homemade bread rolls. Even if Koda didn't eat the vegetables, but had the stock instead, he would be getting some nutrition. I walked into the living room with two bowls on a tray. "Dinner."

"Smells fuckin' awesome, sunshine." Kalen sat up and helped a very tired Koda sit also.

He went to take Koda's bowl, but I said, "No, you eat yours. I'll sit on the floor and feed Koda. He won't be in the mood to do anything himself."

"Thanks, babe."

Blushing, I said, "Not a problem." After Kalen had taken his, I placed the tray on the coffee table, sat on the floor, and spooned some to Koda. He was happily taking it, and after he refused about the tenth spoonful, I offered him a small buttered roll. He took it, but I knew he wouldn't be eating much.

Glancing out the corner of my eyes, I saw Kalen watching us both with a smile on his lips. Though, seeing it caused the question I'd thought of while I'd been making dinner to pop back into my mind. I was worried I would soon be losing the chance to look upon his smile. "Kalen?"

"Yeah, sunshine?"

"I was, um, if you don't mind my asking. I was wondering, you've said you'll eventually move back to Caroline Springs."

Tipping his bowl, he drank the last of his soup before placing the bowl on the coffee table and sitting back, his arms stretching along the back of the couch and armrest.

"Yeah, Mena. My home is back there. Fuck, I've been missing it for a while now. Love being around my brothers, working in the garage, and living in the place I have."

"You already have a place?"

He smiled. "Sure do. Live right next door to Dodge and Low. Three-bedroom brick home. Much like this really, and since I've been here a while now and gotten to love it, I'll keep this place and have it as a family retreat. Any time one of my brothers or even me wants to get away, we'll have this place."

My eyes widened. "You own this place also?"

"Fuck yeah. Had mum search for the right place before Koda was released from hospital. She knew what I'd like and picked the perfect spot. I got some money behind me, sunshine. Not only from what Dad had left me in his will, but I got my share in some of Talon's strip clubs over Victoria." He shrugged, looking around the room. "Now that I've lived here for a while, I can't find it in me to get rid of it. Still, can't find it in me to desert my brothers forever. I need to get back there."

"How come you moved in the first place?"

He shrugged and looked to Koda, so I did also. He was back to lying down, his eyes fluttering open and closed. "Stress. I'd just lost Simone and found out I was a father. My head was full of shit. The pain was too much. I needed an out and moving to somewhere new was the answer at the time."

"I can understand that." And I could. I'd moved to Halls Gap for a new start. Losing so much in life could push you to do wild, strange things. At least a change of scenery was all Kalen and I did.

"Sunshine."

Looking up, I said, "Hmm?"

"When I go back, you got anything to hold you here, or would you come and continue doing what you do?"

Oh, wow.

Tingles spread through my body. My heart told me to get up and jump for joy like it already was in my chest, but I didn't. Instead, I bit my bottom lip. My body stiffened, and I thought over and over,
Don't cry, don't cry.

He wanted me to go with him.

He wasn't prepared to leave me behind.

Though, did it also mean it was all for Koda? Kalen wanted me with him
just
for Koda?

Which in a way, I didn't mind if I was. I knew I was good at my job because I loved my time with Koda. I loved cooking and cleaning.

But, a small part of me hoped
he
was asking because
he
didn't want to see me gone.
He
hated the thought of never seeing me again.

"I—" Clearing my throat, I started again. "I have nothing holding me here, but I'll have to find somewhere to live." With the money I was saving, it could go towards a small bedroom, sharing with other people.