Ignite

by Kinley Cole

  Her eyes pierced through me, an icy blue that resonated somewhere deep within me.

  I didn’t know if it was smart, but I kept my eyes locked on her, too, and held out a hand.

  She stared down at it like it was some sort of alien lifeform. “You’re J. Nightingale?”

  I cocked a brow. “The one and the only,” I quipped. “You seem...surprised.”

  “I’m not going to lie. I envisioned J. Nightingale as a woman in her seventies. You know, curlers in her hair and a loud, blaring television I can hear through the walls each night as she watches the six o’clock news and then turns her soap operas on afterwards.”

  I laughed—I couldn’t help it, but she maintained her composure, managing to keep her expression stoic despite the slightest twitch of her lips. “Sorry to disappoint you,” I chuckled, shrugging. “There’s no one elderly in my apartment. Just me.”

  With hesitation, she finally reached out and shook my hand gingerly, nodding. “Good to know.”

  We stood there, silent. It could’ve been minutes that passed, or hours. And if it was uncomfortable for her, it wasn’t for me. I was too busy taking her in, basking in the prettiness and mystery that emanated from her every pore. I wanted to know this woman. I needed to.

  She was the first to pull her hand away, but there was a hesitation in that movement, too. “Well, w-we should go.” She slid a hand down and clutched her son’s little fingers in hers. “I’m, uh, sorry for yesterday. It was a rough day, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

  I tucked my hand back into my pocket. “No need to apologize. How ‘bout you just tell me your name and we’ll call it even?” I suggested, a sly smile spreading across my face.

  Her throat moved visibly, and she checked her son’s jacket, tugging at the zipper to make sure it was all the way up.

  “Hi.” The little boy spoke louder than needed, and he waved at me vehemently, his hand flapping up and down like a cartoon character’s.

  I crouched down in front of him and his mom. “Hey there, little dude.”

  “We should go.” She squeezed the little boy’s hand tightly, her movements jerky enough to make me stand tall again.

  “Of course,” I said, like it was no big deal. “I’ll see you around.” It was a lame attempt to get her to stay, and I knew it as soon as it fell from my mouth. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

  But the woman was already dragging her son toward the stairs, the sounds of their jackets swishing together as they moved.

  I let out a long breath. Shit. Somehow, I’d overstepped, and now I’d ruined any chance of—

  “Jason?”

  I turned at the sound of my name on her lips, a shock of electricity traveling down my spine. “Yeah?”

  She gave me the smallest of grins. “I’m Leah.” She waved a hand toward her son. “And this is Luxe. I’m sure we’ll see you around. We’re neighbors, after all.” She left without another word, leaving me standing there in the hallway with a dumbfounded grin on my face and a sliver of hope to hold on to. And that was more than I’d had in a long time.

  CHAPTER THREE

  LEAH

  “Rise and shine, buddy.” I whispered against Luxe’s little ear and placed a kiss on his temple. I hated waking him, but I’d already let him sleep too late and if I didn’t get him up and ready now, I’d be late for work. Luxe stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

  “Morning, Mommy,” he said, his voice thick with sleep. Throwing his blankets back, he slid out of bed and ran toward the bathroom.

  “Make sure you get it in the toilet, not on it!” I said through a chuckle.

  “I won’t!” He hollered from the bathroom, followed by, “Oopsy-do.”

  I chuckled to myself, knowing full well he must have missed, before peeking into the bathroom. There stood my little guy looking up at me innocently, the evidence of his misjudged aim dripping down from the toilet seat.

  “It’s okay, buddy. You’re getting there.” I reassured him and grabbed some toilet paper to dry the mess, before wiping it down with a disinfectant wipe. “Wash your hands and then go get dressed. I put your outfit on your bed.”

  Shuffling down the hall toward the kitchen, I filled my thermos mug with coffee, then sprinkled two spoonfuls of sugar and a dash of peppermint mocha creamer into it.

  Buzz! Buzz! My phone vibrated in the pocket of my slacks and I pulled it out to find I had a call coming in from Zach.

  “Hello?” I wasn’t sure why he’d be calling me, when he very well could have texted. His voice was not one I particularly cared to hear unless I absolutely had to, whether it be due to drop-offs or pick-ups. But phone calls were generally unnecessary at this point.

  “Hey, Leah. I won’t be able to get Luxe today, something came up with work and I have to go in.”

  Of course, I thought. Of fucking course. I should have known.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I whispered angrily, low enough that Luxe couldn’t hear me. “Luxe, Mommy is going out in the hall for a minute!” I hollered loud enough so he could hear me, then stepped out into the hallway, leaning heavily against the wall.

  “Le—” Zach tried to speak, but I cut him off.

  “No, I don’t want to hear it. I asked you two weeks ago if you could take this week off to watch Luxe so I had time to find a sitter, since we both know you won’t do it. This is my first week at my new position, and now I’m going to have to call and say I can’t make it into work today because of your selfish ass.” Rage coursed through my veins and my cheeks filled with heat. I felt the burn of the tears that begged to be released, but I refused to let him hear me cry.

  “Leah, I’m sorry. I can get him later tonight after work.”

  “You mean after you’re done fucking her and can squeeze in a little time for your son? Hell, you probably won’t even get him in time to feed him at a decent hour.”

  “That’s not fair, Leah.”

  “No, what’s not fair is you bailing on me right before I need to be to work. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to find a sitter on short notice. Knowing I got this promotion and can’t fuck it up. Won’t fuck it up. I have nothing more to say to you, and I need to call my boss. Hopefully you’ll actually follow through and pick Luxe up after you’re off work.”

  “Okay, b—”

  I hit the End button before he had a chance to finish saying goodbye.

  Fucking asshole. I can’t believe this.

  Sighing, I leaned my head against the wall and slid down, sitting on the hallway floor as I wiped away the tears as quickly as they fell. The sound of a door creaking open startled me, and I hastily stood up.

  “Hey, Leah. You okay?” Jason’s head peeked out from around the corner of his doorway, his glossy hair slightly tousled. His eyes were just as intense as they’d been the day before, though, and now they watched me with a hint of concern.

  I waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, hey. Yeah. Sorry. Absolutely fine.” I couldn’t rein in the edge in my voice.

  He pushed away from the doorframe and came out into the hallway. The sight of him in a simple white t-shirt and perfectly fitting stonewash jeans made me swallow down the lump that formed in my throat.

  “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear that you’ve got a dilemma. If you want, I can watch Luxe for you?” Jason sounded unsure of the words himself, but I didn’t know if it was because of what he was suggesting, or just because he was suggesting it to me.

  Either way, I hadn’t expected the offer, and my eyes narrowed. “Oh, um, thanks but...you don’t have to do that. I do appreciate—”

  “I don’t have any work right now, so I’m available every day.” Jason’s voice was deep and soothing. But, he must have realized what his offer sounded like, thought about it, and added, “I just mean, I’m self-employed. A landscaper. And, as you can tell from the snow outside, now’s not the time of year for me to be high in demand. I do work, just not during the winter.” The resultant u
pward curl of his lips was adorable, and I idly wondered if he was trying to impress me.

  “Thanks, Jason,” I said. “But, I could never ask that of you.”

  “You’re not asking. I’m offering. It’s different.” The thin smile turned into a smug grin.

  “I don’t even know you.” The words were out of my mouth before I realized how defensive they sounded. “And you don’t know me,” I added, hoping to level the playing field a bit.

  “Nope, I guess you’re right.” He ran his hand through his hair. “But the offer still stands, Leah. If it makes you feel any better, you can call me every fifteen minutes to make sure everything’s good, and you can ask the superintendent for the background check they ran on me when I moved in to prove I’m not a criminal.”

  I didn’t mean to, but I chuckled. Normally, I wouldn’t trust a stranger with my child, but there was something about Jason that was different, and I knew deep in my bones that I could trust him with Luxe. That alone made me even more hesitant because I didn’t understand what it was about him, or why or how I could feel so sure about someone I didn’t even know.

  That said, I only had two options—go to work, or stay home with Luxe myself and risk ticking off my boss.

  “Uh...um...are you sure?” I muttered out nervously.

  “Yes, I am.” Jason stepped forward, reaching his hand out to press it to my shoulder in a comforting manner.

  Relief washed over me. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him in a big hug.

  “Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver. Seriously, thank you. I just got this promotion, and I—” Realizing that I was hugging him, I slowly and awkwardly pulled back. His scent, however, had reached my nostrils, and I inhaled him deeply.

  Sandalwood.

  Thank goodness he didn’t smell like musk. That’s what Zach smelled like, and if he’d smelled like him I probably would have vomited on him and made this situation even more awkward than it already was.

  Jason laughed, exposing his sparkling white smile. Without realizing, my eyes fixed on his plump lips and sharp, steel-cut jaw. Quickly glancing up into his icy blue eyes, butterflies swarmed my belly. I’d had so many words to say moments ago, but now I was at a loss for them.

  “It’s no problem, really. I’m looking forward to spending the day with the little dude. Any specific routine he’s on? Naps? Eating? Hopefully he’s not in diapers. If so, I may take back the offer,” Jason advised playfully.

  Laughter escaped my throat. “Nope, no diapers. He’ll need breakfast at eight, which is in about thirty minutes. Lunch is usually at noon, and then he usually takes a nap around one. I haven’t had time to go to the store yet, so we only have a few things.”

  “I have three sisters, Leah. Two older, and one younger. Trust me, I think we’ll manage.” Jason grinned. “I’ve got to grab a couple things and I’ll be right over.”

  “Okay,” I nodded. “Sounds good.” I turned away from him first, wringing my hands as I ducked back into the apartment. I scrambled to get a fast food receipt out of the trash from last night’s dinner, and I wrote my cell number on it, just in case of any emergencies.

  Knock! Knock!

  I scurried to open the door, hollering for Luxe. “Come here, buddy!”

  The little boy bolted down the hallway from his bedroom and into the living room just as I opened the door for Jason.

  “Who’s here, Mommy? Is it Daddy?” The excitement in his voice crushed me to the core, and I hated that I had to tell him his daddy canceled again. “Oh...” Luxe’s face turned down in disappointment at the sight of Jason, and I knelt before him, placing my hands on his shoulders.

  “Daddy had to work today, but Jason—you remember him from yesterday, right? —He’s going to hang out with you today, okay? You guys can play cars and superheroes!” As soon as I mentioned superheroes, his face lit up.

  “Okay! Come on, Jason!” Luxe reached out for Jason’s hand, intent on heading toward his room.

  “Excuse you, little mister!” Jason said wryly. “Get back here and give Mommy a hug and a kiss goodbye.”

  Little giggles filled the air as Luxe ran back toward me with his arms opened wide. His little lips puckered up dramatically for a big smooch. “I love you, Mommy! Have a good day.”

  I ran my fingers through his bright red curls. “I love you, too, buddy! You be good for Jason, okay?”

  “I will!” He grinned wide, showing off his little gapped teeth. I felt slightly more at ease leaving him with Jason since he was so excited about it, and he seemed surprisingly comfortable with him being there. “Okay, now, come on!” Luxe tugged at the man’s hand again, pulling him toward the hallway that led to his room.

  “I’ll be there in just a second, little dude.” Jason’s face beamed with joy. Focusing his gaze back on me, he smiled.

  I handed him the receipt with my number on it. “Here’s my cell number.”

  Jason arched his brow at me and smirked.

  “In case of emergencies,” I blurted as an afterthought.

  “I’ll make sure I don’t start a fire or anything.”

  My eyes widened and then I narrowed them at him, giving him a playful glare. “Not funny. That little boy is my life, and if you do anything to harm him, I’ll kill you.”

  Jason’s hands shot up as though surrendering. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, I swear.” His tone had changed, as did the look in his eyes, and there was a sparkle of sorts in them. His voice was low, but reassuring.

  “Thank you,” I said quietly, the words barely slipping from my lips. “But I do mean it.” My eyes were transfixed on his, and after a moment of gazing into them, I felt a little weak in the knees. “I...uh...I should go. Call me or text me if you need anything.” I grabbed my keys and purse from the kitchen table, still unable to believe I was agreeing to this.

  “Will do,” he said with a nod, slowly passing me to head toward Luxe’s room.

  I watched him disappear down the hall, and Luxe’s voice carried from the room a few seconds later. “Which superhero are you?”

  The question made me grin as I opened the door, but it resonated within me on a different level, too.

  Yes, Jason Nightingale, which superhero are you? Was this purely some chivalrous plight to save a damsel in distress? Or was there another motive for my new neighbor’s actions?

  Friend or foe, which is it? I took one last glance around the apartment—mentally taking inventory of what little I’d managed to unpack and where things were—and I left my son in the hands of a man I hardly knew.

  I guess I was about to find out.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  JASON

  It took about three minutes flat for Luxe to practically own me; hook, line, and sinker. He’d asked me which superhero I was, and when I didn’t answer fast enough, he stood before me, one hand on his hip and the other tapping his chin like a little grown man, then pointed at me, with more seriousness in his eyes than I’d expect from a three-year-old.

  “You’re Superman,” he stated matter-of-factly. “You look like him.”

  Well, if that didn’t boost my fucking ego, nothing would. “I look like Clark Kent?”

  “No, Superman.”

  “But Clark Kent and Super—”

  “I said you’re Superman,” he insisted, his little voice strained with exasperation at my obvious incomprehension.

  “Superman, it is, then.” I had to purse my lips together to keep from laughing. “And which superhero are you, Luxe?”

  “Spiderman, duh!” He held his arm out toward me, flicking his wrists theatrically as though he could shoot webbing from the base of his palms. “He’s the best!”

  “Agreed, little dude.” I finally pointed back toward the kitchen just as he was searching through a backpack beside his bed—with a Spiderman image on it, of course—and pulled out two action figures, one Spiderman and the other Superman. “Well I’ll be, Luxe! There’s you and me, huh?”

  The little boy handed
me the Superman toy, nodding emphatically.

  “Do you think even superheroes need breakfast? Because I’m pretty sure your mom said that was first on our list of things to do.”

  “Superheroes need good breakfasts!”

  “Like what?”

  “Like...” Luxe’s finger went back to tapping his chin again. “Like chocolate cake!”

  I lost it, bursting out laughing without the ability to contain myself. “I must admit, I like the way you think,” I chuckled. “But I’m pretty sure your mom wouldn’t agree.”

  Nevertheless, we managed to get through breakfast time, and the meal of peanut butter toast and a glass of milk even resembled real breakfast food. Okay, so we’d had to sneak over to my apartment to add just a bit of chocolate syrup to the milk, but, c’mon, the babysitter had to be cool, right?

  After that, things were smooth sailing between him and I. That was the thing about young kids; they called it like they saw it, and once they were comfortable with you, you’re good to go. Anyone watching us from an objective standpoint might have thought that boy and I had known each other his entire life. If he was disappointed in being stuck with me instead of his father, he didn’t show it. In fact, the one and only time I mentioned Luxe’s dad—I had to, my morbid curiosity was killing me—the answer I received was short and sweet.

  “Where’s your daddy?” I’d asked Luxe simply. We’d turned unpacking some of the boxes piled in the living room into a game, and the little boy was currently half-dangling off the side of a huge cardboard box, reaching for whatever he wanted inside it so badly.

  “He’s busy.” Luxe didn’t mention him again. Neither did I.

  The first time I pulled out my cell and glanced at the time, it was close to noon. That surprised me, seeing as the hours had flown by in a flurry of toy car chases, superhero tag-you’re-it (that’s what Luxe called it; not tag, but tag-you’re-it), and unpacking. Luxe’s eyelids were heavy by the time I laid him down in his bed for his afternoon nap, and he didn’t fight me on it at all.