Unexpected Bond: Unexpected Arrivals #4

by Kaylee Ryan

I laugh.

  * * *

  Me: Yeah, so do you. That’s Mark. You met him Memorial Day.

  * * *

  Mara: Mark? Dawn’s Mark?

  * * *

  Me: That’s the one.

  * * *

  Mara: Wow. Small world.

  * * *

  Mara: Gotta go. Finley and I are headed out to grab some boxes, and start packing.

  * * *

  Me: Be safe. Let me know when you’re ready to start moving.

  * * *

  Mara: I start next week. So, this weekend?

  * * *

  That’s faster than I thought. Then again, she’s told me before how she and Amelia are close and that she misses her. I have no doubt that’s why she’s willing to pack up and move her life a couple of hours away on such short notice.

  * * *

  Me: Send me the address. I’ll be there.

  * * *

  Mara: Thank you, Seth. I appreciate it more than you know.

  * * *

  Me: Don’t mention it.

  * * *

  Grabbing my clothes, I rush to get dressed and remember I don’t have a shirt. Cursing, I quietly open the door to go to the restroom. Kent is no longer on the couch, and there’s no sign of Amelia. In the bathroom, I grab some toilet paper and spy my shirt folded on the counter. Reaching for it, I grab my shirt and pull it over my head and go dispose of the condom. I still can’t believe we slept together. She’s right when she said it feels like incest. It also feels wrong. Wrong because I’m falling for a woman I’ve only ever laid my eyes on one time. Other than the few pictures she sends me.

  That woman and her daughter are moving here. To my town. Maybe some wishes do come true. Condom taken care of, I straighten up the room, pick up a few beer bottles, finish getting dressed, and then make my way upstairs. My friends look about like I feel, but it’s obvious that Amelia and I are the worst of the bunch.

  “Breakfast is ready,” Kendall says, all chipper.

  “Is she always this happy in the mornings?” I ask Ridge.

  “She is. But today it’s more than just her demeanor. We had a kid-free night.” He grins, smacks me on the shoulder, and makes his way into the kitchen where all the wives are making breakfast.

  “Thank you,” I tell them, following Ridge.

  “Oh, you’re welcome, and don’t thank us yet.” Reagan grins wolfishly. “Y’all get to clean up.”

  “This smells so damn good, you’re not going to get any complaints out of me.” The guys chorus their agreements.

  “Yes!” Amelia says, and we all stop to look at her. “Oh, sorry.” She smiles. “Mara just texted me and she got the job.”

  “Wow, took them long enough,” Reagan says.

  “I know, but I’m so excited to have her close.”

  “It will be nice for Ev to have another little girl to play with.” This from Kendall.

  “Guys, do you mind helping her move? Mark, I guess she’s renting your place,” Amelia says, looking at her phone.

  “Possibly. We have a new tenant. The leasing company sent over the details, but I haven’t had a chance to look at them. That’s what I pay them for. We’ve been kind of busy with Daisy and the wedding.”

  “Where’s she working?” Dawn inquires.

  I could kiss the wives right now. They’re giving me intel without me having to ask for it.

  “For me,” Ridge says, shocking us all.

  “What?” I ask.

  “I hired her. Mom is helping more with the kids, and I want to be home more. It was time.”

  “What took you so long to decide?” I ask him. I know it’s wrong to be pissed off that he could have hired her sooner, that she could have been here sooner, but I am all the same.

  “I didn’t know it was her. She was at our place over Memorial Day. That following Tuesday, I had an interview with her. I was on the fence opening the day-to-day operations of the business to someone outside of the family, but Kendall and I talked it over and it’s time.”

  “Do we need a human resources person?” Kent asks.

  “Yes and no. There are a lot of legal things as a business that Mom takes care of. I’d like to take that off her plate. She’ll be taking care of payroll and paying the bills too. All I’m going to have to do is sign the checks. It will give me more time at home and more time on the job site that makes us money.”

  “She’s going to be at the office all day fielding calls for new jobs. She’ll be able to answer questions about how far out and schedule days for Ridge to go give estimates. It’s well past the scope of human resources, which is her degree, but she seemed up for the challenge,” Kendall adds.

  “Your damn phone rings all day long,” Tyler says.

  “Yep. I’m hoping that this changes that, and I can actually get some work done. I love owning the family business, but a big piece of that is working with my hands. I hate the office stuff,” Ridge confesses.

  “So, what took you so long to decide?” I ask him again, trying not to let my irritation show that he left her hanging for over six months. Six months we’ve been texting when she could have been here. Although, I feel that that gave us a chance to really get to know each other. Besides, she’s not mine.

  “Mom. She was having a hard time giving up. It took us some time to convince her. All these years she’s taken care of things. When Dad retired, she insisted she keeps doing them. It’s time for them to enjoy life.”

  “And their grandkids,” Reagan chimes in. “It took me and Kendall promising her she could have the kids more to get her to agree.”

  “She starts Monday, so yeah, if you guys are willing to help us get her moved, that would be great,” Kendall says. “She’s a single mom, and from what she’s told us, no close family. She could use our help.”

  “I’ll call Helen and see if she can keep Daisy,” Dawn offers.

  “Pft,” Mark scoffs. “The problem is getting our daughter back from the baby hog.”

  “Mark!” she scolds. “That’s your mother.”

  “Baby hog,” he mutters.

  “Mom and Dad are keeping Knox and Ev,” Kendall says.

  “And my parents are keeping the boys,” Tyler informs us.

  “Perfect,” Amelia chimes in, looking up from her phone. “I really appreciate you all helping her out. You’re going to love her. She’s going to fit into our group perfectly.”

  That’s what I’m afraid of.

  Though my fear is feeling more and more like excitement.

  Chapter Two

  Mara 2

  * * *

  Moving day has my head spinning. I’m comfortable here, in my current life and home. Moving almost three hours away from my comfort is a big deal. A huge deal. Luckily, Ridge and Kendall have been amazing. They helped me find a place to stay, and Kendall’s mom, Sonia, is going to watch Finley for me until I can arrange childcare. Amelia speaks highly of the family as she grew up with them. Since she’s like family to me, her word puts me at ease that Fin is going to be okay with them. Although I’m comfortable, I’m ready to be closer to my best friend. I miss having her so close, and Finley needs more than just me and the ladies at her daycare. I want my daughter to have more people in her life; something I never had.

  Sonia just recently retired and claims she has too much time on her hands, according to Kendall. She’s been alternating days with Ridge’s mom, who watches their kids.

  Glancing at the clock, I see I still have an hour before Seth gets here. Well, Seth and the rest of the cavalry. Apparently, Amelia asked them all to help. I feel bad that they’re all using their weekend to help me move, but she assured me it’s fine. Seth too. I mentioned it to him in one of our text messages this week, and his reply was That’s what we do for family. I didn’t argue. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I was too stunned to think of a good response. I’ve never really had someone outside of those who were paid to look after me take care of me. It’s not something I’m used
to.

  I take a minute to survey my small home. Finley is playing on the living room floor. The house is all boxed up but a few of her toys. I packed the remaining toiletries and kitchen items after we had breakfast early this morning. Now, all that’s left is a box of toys, which are currently strung out all over the floor.

  The knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts. It’s just after nine, and everyone isn’t supposed to be here until ten. Going to the door, I peek through the side window and my heart immediately starts to race.

  Seth.

  He’s standing there, hands in his pockets; I assume to ward off the cold. I can’t see his arms from his jacket, but I know what’s underneath. I ogled him enough the one and only time I saw him to have the ridges of his muscles memorized. Don’t judge. It’s been a while for me, and never with a man who was as… defined as Seth.

  “Hey,” I say, opening the door.

  “Morning.” He gives me a boyish grin that does nothing to settle my already racing heart.

  “Morning.” I step back, letting him in. I hear the pitter-patter of little feet against the hardwood floor. Finley stops when she gets to me and stares up at Seth. I watch as he crouches down to one knee to talk to her.

  “Hey, sweetheart, remember me?” he asks. She stares at him, not moving. “Are you excited to move?” he asks.

  Still nothing from my daughter. “She’s kind of shy around people she doesn’t know. Especially men,” I tell him, even though he already knows.

  “You mentioned that,” he says, looking up at me before turning his attention back to my daughter. “If Mommy says it’s okay, I have something for you.” He raises a bag from the local bakery that I somehow missed. “Mommy?” he prompts.

  “Sure, but we had breakfast so she might not eat it.”

  “She’s a kid and it’s donuts,” he tells me. “Finley.” He sets the bag on the floor, reaches in, and pulls out a small box before opening it to show her. “You want one?” he asks her. She nods. Standing to his full height, he offers her his hand and she takes it. “Can you show me where the kitchen is?” he asks, even though the house is an open concept so he can see it from where he stands.

  With more enthusiasm than I would have thought, Finley pulls him toward the small kitchen table that’s bare, waiting to be loaded into the back of a truck and moved to our new place. I watch as Seth places the box on the table, takes a seat himself, and then holds his arms out for Finley. She goes to him as if she’s known him for years and takes a seat on his lap.

  “These are just your size,” he tells her. Reaching into the box, he pulls out a small round donut hole. I watch as he pulls a stack of napkins from his jacket pocket and sets them on the table. Pulling one off the stack, he unfolds it and places the donut hole on it in front of Finley.

  Stretching her arm, she pokes it with her finger, getting some of the white powder on the tip, then sticks her finger in her mouth. She looks up at him and smiles. “Good, huh?”

  This time she grabs the entire thing and brings it to her mouth for a bite. She has powder all over her, and him, but neither of them seems to care. “Let me try,” he says, and she offers it to him. I’m shocked when he takes a bite—just a small one—but some people, especially those without kids, are freaked out about eating after them. “Yummy.”

  “Yummy,” Finley says, taking another bite.

  I stand, staring at this man winning over my daughter like it’s his job. Picking up the bag of remaining pastries, I carry it to the kitchen and rest it on the table. “Can Mommy have a bite?” I ask Finley. She offers me her soggy donut, but before I can lean in, she pulls it away and takes another bite, giggling. “You stinker.” I tickle her side and she squirms on Seth’s lap. “She likes you.”

  “I mean, I’m an easy guy to like, huh, Fin?” he asks.

  Refocusing our conversation, I ask, “So, what brings you by so early?” I unpack the bag and grab a glazed donut from one of the boxes.

  “I told them I’d stop and get breakfast. I guess I’m a little early.” He offers Finley another and she greedily accepts. “Actually.” He looks up at me, his brown gaze intense. “That’s not true. I wanted to see you. Before everyone got here.”

  I can feel the blush coat my cheeks. “Look at you,” I say to Finley, trying to change the subject. Grabbing a napkin, I wipe her mouth. She fights me on it by twisting her head, but I manage to get her face wiped off.

  “Hey.” His hand lands on my arm. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  “No, I just… you didn’t,” I assure him.

  “Good. I wanted to see you. I thought maybe one night this week we could do dinner. Maybe I could show you girls around town?”

  “It’s a small town.”

  He chuckles. “Can a guy not want to take two beautiful ladies for some dinner?” he asks.

  “I’m a single mom.” I state the obvious. I know he knows this already, but I felt as though it needed to be said.

  “I’m a single guy.” He grins.

  “Bite,” Finley says, holding her soggy donut up to Seth.

  “Oh, no, that’s all yours. I bought these for you. They’re all Finley’s.”

  “Mine.” She reaches for the small box and starts to pull it from the table, but Seth manages to stop her in time.

  “One at a time, munchkin.” He taps her nose, and she grins, mouth full of donut.

  “These really are hers,” he tells me, sliding the box out of Finley’s reach. “I thought they would be easier for her to hold onto.”

  My heart flutters in my chest at his thoughtfulness for my daughter. “That was sweet. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Was it sweet enough to get you two ladies to have dinner with me?”

  “Seth—” I start, but a knock on the door interrupts me. “You okay with her?” I ask him. I’m just going about twenty feet, but still, I don’t know him. Then again, I think that maybe I do. Our messages these past few months, although light, I feel like I know him. Pulling open the door, I’m immediately crushed in a hug from Amelia.

  “Where’s my Fin?” she asks, pulling away.

  “Occupied!” Seth calls out from the kitchen.

  Amelia looks around the corner. “What are you doing here so early?” she asks.

  “I stopped to pick up breakfast. I was starving. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would.”

  “Finley, come to Aunt Amelia,” she says, walking into the kitchen and holding her hands out for my daughter. She shakes her head and snuggles into Seth.

  “What’s this?” Amelia says, crouching down to get eye level. “Can I have a hug?”

  Finley ignores her, chomping another bite from her donut hole. “Fin,” Seth says soothingly. “Aunt Amelia might cry if she doesn’t get a hug,” he tells my daughter. She looks up at him, then to Amelia. I watch in fascination as she sits up, holds out her arms, and gives Amelia a hug. It’s short-lived before she’s snuggling back up to Seth.

  “How did you win her over so fast?” Amelia asks Seth, standing and taking a seat at the table. She reaches into the box and helps herself to a donut.

  “Donuts.” Seth shrugs.

  “I don’t know,” I say, taking my seat. “She was pretty taken with you at the Memorial Day cookout too. Remember I was trying to catch her. You stopped her for me and picked her up?” I look over at Amelia. “She wouldn’t come to me. He carried her back up to the deck.”

  “I think someone has a crush,” Amelia says, her eyes quickly glancing at me before she begins tickling Finley’s sock-covered foot. She giggles and pulls her foot away.

  “You guys want something to drink? I have some bottled water in the cooler.” I point to the small cooler on the kitchen floor. “It’s on ice and ready.” Now is not the time for my best friend to play matchmaker. Not with everyone here, all of them watching. Nope. Not today, Amelia.

  “No thanks,” they say at the same time.

  I stand and grab Finley’s sippy
cup, and pour some water into it before handing it to her. She refuses to take it so Seth takes it for her. “You better drink up,” he tells her. “Those donuts taste better with water.” Once again under his spell, my daughter takes the cup she refused from me and has a couple of big pulls.

  “I’m starting to get a complex here,” I say, laughing. Of course, I’m kidding, but I am surprised at how easily she’s taken with him.

  “The ladies love me,” Seth boasts.

  “Oh, brother.” Amelia rolls her eyes. “If your ego gets anymore inflated, it won’t fit out the door.”

  “You hear that, Fin? They’re making fun of me.” Amelia and I laugh, which causes Finley to laugh dramatically, even though she has no idea why.

  Once the group arrived, they had my entire house loaded in the back of their trucks and trailers in about an hour. Of course, it was faster because I had everything packed and ready to go. It’s sad in a way. This is the house that I brought Finley home to. Where her first words were spoken, and her first steps were taken. No one can take those memories from me, but it still makes me a little melancholy.

  “You ready to go to our new house?” I ask Finley.

  “New house,” she says and nods.

  I know she has no idea what I’m talking about, but her easy acceptance is nice all the same. We’re not really leaving anyone behind. Sure, she has her daycare and her friends and teachers there, but she’s still too young to feel the loss. At least I hope so. I have no family to speak of, at least none that I’m aware of.

  “You got everything?” Seth asks.

  “Yeah, I just want to do one more walk through just to be sure.”

  “Come here, sweetheart.” He holds his arms out for Finley, and she practically leaps from my arms to his. “Let’s walk with Mommy while she makes sure she’s not leaving anything behind.”