Maid to Crave (Man Maid #2) (11 page)

He had to work tonight and Tori knew that, but he would figure out something for Zach. Chances were good he would end up at the apartment with Addie, Ronnie’s stepdaughter, watching him and Seth could let Tori know later on one of his breaks. Tori sighed with relief and then smiled, rolled her eyes, and mouthed the words “thank you” at him when Kara turned in her seat to set her wineglass on the end table.

The ability to carry on a whole conversation with nothing more than facial expressions was a talent he thought only he and Caleb possessed. Tori had yet again proven him wrong.

He spent the drive to the school calling Ronnie and Kayla’s house to see if Addie could watch Zach. Several phone calls later, he had a game plan mapped out and had to sigh in frustration that a network of three different people would be needed to ensure one six-year-old little boy was supervised to accommodate Kara’s wishes. A new respect for his own mother came to mind since she’d had
two
boys to find a sitter for.

Addie would watch Zach at the apartment until eight in the evening, then Caleb would watch him until Ian could get there between eight thirty and nine o’clock. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Zach with Caleb, even though his brother was getting around a little bit better every day. Seth almost called Rusty to fill the half hour gap between Addie and Ian until, in a defensive huff, Caleb said, “She’s my friend, too. Let me help. I’m not completely worthless. I can handle a six-year-old for less than an hour!”

Ian had almost sounded relieved to be asked to help babysit. He went on to explain that though Zach seemed to like him, he was almost certain he’d offended Tori by bench pressing the boy. Allowing Ian to watch her son was an indicator that she didn’t harbor ill feelings toward him. After hearing the explanation, Seth didn’t have the heart to tell Ian that it wasn’t Tori’s idea. By the time he had the plan mapped out, he couldn’t help but wonder if all single moms had as much trouble trying to cover babysitting when last minute things sprang up.

He figured worst case scenario, he could always take Zach back to Tori’s house when he got off work, since he was dancing locally, even though it would be really late. Then Kara would be none the wiser that he hadn’t been the one actually watching Zach or that he wasn’t always available to do Tori’s bidding.

The biggest difference between Tori and Kara was that even now Tori was probably worrying about who would watch Zach, while Kara thought nothing of the impact of her request. It made Seth wonder about Tori’s family, and about the boy’s real father. In the two weeks he’d been working for Tori, he hadn’t heard her mention Zach’s father nor had Zach mentioned a fatherly figure in his life. The thought that the man had ditched both Tori and Zach kind of made Seth want to send Ian after the bastard.

When Seth entered the classroom, the teacher smiled. “I think we are all set for you to bring your friend’s pet next Friday for Zach’s test. I am really glad to see you actively participating in his education.”

At least one thing was going well today. Kara had come in like a whirlwind, upsetting everything. The tension between the two women was nearly visible it was so thick and Seth felt bad for Tori. He had his mom and his blood brother along with his brothers in arms. Other than Kayla, Tori didn’t seem to have anyone.

Once he and Zach were in the car driving back to Tori’s house, Seth said, “How would you feel about hanging out at my house with Caleb, Ian and Addie?”

“Yeah!” Zach answered excitedly.

“Well, we need to go by your house first so you can say hi to your Aunt Kara and then we can pack up some things for you to play with while you’re at my place,” Seth replied.

When they reached the house, Tori opened the door for them. She was wrapped in a thick white robe. Her hair was wet and the glasses were gone. Thinking back over the past couple of days, he realized she hadn’t been wearing the glasses for days now. Fresh from the shower, Tori was also a visual he didn’t need. If not for the worry in her eyes, he would have been completely distracted by how close to naked she was.

“Why don’t you run upstairs and pack pajamas, a few books and some toys in your book bag while I talk to your mom?” he said to Zach.

When Zach was at the top of the stairs and out of hearing range, Seth turned to Tori. “It’s all taken care of. Addie will watch him until she has to leave for a date, then Caleb will keep an eye on him for about a half an hour until Ian can get there. Don’t worry. Caleb insisted on helping out with this in exchange for your help in his job search.”

“Oh God, Seth, I am
so
sorry. Kara doesn’t visit often, but when she does… She’s not so bad really. She’s just used to a different lifestyle that’s all.”

He liked how his name on Tori’s lips sounded like a husky whisper. With a goofy grin he couldn’t force away, he said, “You are going to owe me big after this one.”

Her worried expression was replaced with a look that made him want to kiss her. It was all he could do to keep his hands off her. Grasping at something to take his mind off the fact that he could hear his heartbeat in his ears, he remembered the reading test.

“By the way, Zach’s teacher set up a reading test for him next Friday morning. From the sounds of it, this is extremely important,” he said. “Nine AM.”

Sighing, Tori said, “Yeah. I can’t thank you enough for the letter sound song and all the help with his reading these past couple of weeks. Without it, he probably wouldn’t have even been given this chance.”

“I think I may have a way to help him actually
pass
the test,” he said, stepping closer to her and lowering his voice so Zach wouldn’t overhear. Her gaze shot to his mouth and again he wanted to kiss her fears away. Instead he said, “I asked the teacher if I could bring Sergeant Buck, since Zach likes to read to the dog whenever we go to the gym. She said that would be fine. Hopefully that will be the last bit of support he needs to get him through this test.”

Tori looked at him oddly. Her expression spoke of gratitude, respect and something softer. Reaching up, she touched his cheek gently with her small fingers. “You can be so sweet sometimes. Thank you for that and for tonight, too. Seriously, Seth, you have no idea how much this means to me. Anything I can do for you in return, just ask. You and Caleb have done so much for us…just know we really do appreciate it and that you’re both welcome here anytime.”

His heart felt like it was taking flight right out of his chest. Unfortunately, hearing Zach slam his closet door shut made her jump back from him. Taking a deep breath to calm the fire in his belly, he turned away from her. She headed upstairs to help Zach finish getting his things together.

Zach managed to be ready only a few minutes later and they were back out the door again before Seth had to deal with Kara. He wished he could rescue Tori from her sister, too. It felt like he was leaving one of the men in his unit behind. Especially now that they had finally jumped the hurdle his senseless comments had put in the path of their friendship.

About halfway back to his apartment, Seth realized he was still firmly lodged in the friend category. He actually laughed out loud, which earned him a strange look from Zach.

All the years Seth had spent avoiding anything more than one night stands with women for fear they might have a child or expect him to be responsible, and here he was dealing with both a child
and
real responsibilities
without
the benefit of sex. All Tori offered him was friendship. As much as he wanted to kiss those soft pink lips of hers, he craved her so bad that he would take whatever she gave him.

He was like a duck at the community pond chasing after scraps of bread. It had been nearly a month since he’d gotten laid, not from lack of opportunity, but because he was scrambling for anything Tori threw him. That needed to change. After this favor for her tonight, he would get back into the game. He didn’t owe her
monogamy
—they weren’t even in a relationship! She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested while he’d blown off women who didn’t care if there were others in his life or not.

At the apartment he fixed himself, Caleb and Zach some dinner and helped the little guy with reading even though it wasn’t required on the weekends. The boy obviously enjoyed the attention he got from both Seth and Caleb. After reading not one, but two books, Zach and Caleb hooked up the gaming system and began playing a racecar game while Seth showered and got ready for work.

When Addie arrived, Seth made Zach promise to be good for her, Caleb and Ian. Then, after throwing his bag in the back seat of his car, he headed for the club. It was only eight and the show didn’t start until nine so he headed to the back to find a place to stash his stuff. Having been dancing again for a few months now, he was starting to get to know some of the other dancers. Those that were in it for the money, like him, were often the most trustworthy.

It was hard to keep track of tip money and dance at the same time, especially when doing a costume change. So seeing Eddie was a relief. Eddie was a single father who said that his dick was what got him into trouble, so he would use his dick to get himself out of it. Seth and Eddie often looked out for each other. He would keep an eye on Eddie’s tips and vice versa. Occasionally, tips would come up missing so he and Eddie had recently started stuffing some of their money in large wine glasses they set behind the bar. Seth nodded at the man as he entered and Eddie walked over.

“Hey, I already got the heads up on three birthdays, two bachelorettes and a divorcée club so tonight should be a good one,” Eddie said with a smile.

“That is the best news I’ve had all day,” Seth replied.

“How’s your brother?” Eddie asked.

“He is a little bit better every day. He’s actually been trying to find a job that might allow him to work from the apartment. My new boss is helping him out and he might actually have something.”

“So she’s done hating on you then?” Eddie asked.

“I think we’ve at least come to an understanding now. She has stopped beating me about the head and neck for my fat mouth and I try not to provide her the opportunity.” He smiled.

By nine o’clock, Seth was in costume, loosened up and ready to get this night over with. The announcer, a guy named Jimmy, who Seth had worked with before, made his announcement and the show was on. Eddie was right. The crowd was pumped and he was grateful for security when a couple of the ladies at a front table got pretty grabby with one of the other dancers. Seth hit the stage in the overalls he’d had a local seamstress modify, a hard hat and a sledge hammer and did his working man routine, which pumped up the crowd even more.

He and Eddie were obviously the most seasoned dancers in the lineup for the night and the ladies knew it. Once he was done with his opening dance, a woman who was part of a bachelorette party yelled at him and then waved a fifty dollar bill over the head of the woman sitting next to her, who wore a veil. He made his way to the table and pulled the bride up on stage by carrying her seat and then pushing her down into it.

The woman squealed and tried to hide her flaming pink cheeks behind her hands so he removed her hands and placed one on each of his ass cheeks. By the time he was done dancing for the woman, the crowd was on their feet dancing and cheering him on and waving money around. He hit up a few more women at the wedding party table and then began working the crowd.

Unlike most of the other dancers, he wasn’t afraid to wander toward the back of the room where the wallflowers sat. Those ladies were shyer and sometimes would tip just to get him to go away. It took him more than twenty minutes and four or five songs to make it to the back. Tips were rolling in. He was relaxed and going with it, working the crowd—until he heard a woman’s voice say, “Oh, my God, Tori! Isn’t that your housekeeper?”

Chapter Seven

She shouldn’t be looking at him, but she couldn’t make herself stop. This was Seth!
Her Seth!
The thought came and went as her mind tried to comprehend what she was seeing. The image of him shirtless and mowing the grass had stuck with her for days afterwards, but
this
…this display would be etched in her mind for all eternity. She would be ninety and still be able to remember him like this. Good God! She was staring at his junk!

She should have left the minute she recognized him on stage, regardless of what Kara might have wanted. That opportunity had come and gone and now he was a few feet away doing things to another woman that had the entire table of women screaming and hollering. Why, oh why, had she allowed Kara to drag her into a bar—this bar, this
male stripper
bar—where Seth was next to naked?

“Tori,” Kara nearly yelled in an attempt to get her sister’s attention. Yes, that was Tori’s housekeeper dancing and allowing strange women to stuff money in his…She was still looking!

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he turned from the woman whose face was level with his crotch and his eyes met Tori’s. As shocked as she was, his ability to communicate with mere facial expressions screamed out his own shock, embarrassment and guilt over being…
caught
. He abruptly quit dancing with the woman and paused to stare at the floor as if making a decision about how to handle the situation.

Then his eyes met hers again and before she could exhale, he was standing in front of her. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of her chair. In one smooth move, he picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist and backed her against the wall. Unlike the playful grin he had worn for the women at the other table, his face held no humor now.

His eyes met and held hers as he invaded every inch of space around her. There was nowhere for her hands to go so she laid them on his bare shoulders. He cupped her bottom and hips, holding her still as he moved against her. The expression on his face was one of pleading…for understanding, forgiveness or help. Which of those, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps a combination of all three.

“I’m sorry, Tori. I do like working for you, but I need money for Caleb so I work this job, too. Don’t go back to hating me,” he said, leaning in close so that she could hear him over the music, noise and women yelling.