*****
Madison
I am frantically trying to change my clothes. It’s not enough that we’re late as it is, no, I just had to be the clumsiest person in the world and add to the mess that I already was. I look at myself in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room and gasp. Oh. My. God! I run my hands over my hair, trying to smooth out my frizzy curls. I didn’t have time to do my hair at all and just allowed it to air dry. I don’t even remember brushing it. I cannot believe I allowed that gorgeous man to see me like this.
Surely he thinks I’m an absolute loon, running around the house like a madwoman and handing her child over to a complete stranger. I start to panic when I realize that I just gave my baby to a stranger and left him alone with both my boys in the other room. Way to go Madison, really great parenting skills you have there. I must be insane. He could be some crazed lunatic pedophile who wants to kidnap my children.
I’m just about to run out of my room half-dressed when I hear Tyler calling me from the living room. Oh thank God. I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly, grateful that Tyler came when he did.
Although the delivery guy did save Aiden from getting badly hurt and seems like a nice enough guy, I know nothing about him. Not even his name. I quickly get dressed and twist my thick hair into a messy bun, so I don’t get anything else stuck in it before I leave.
I stand in the hallway, watching Tyler and my sexy hero of the morning talk in a hushed tone. I can’t hear what they’re saying and I’m thinking that’s exactly the way they want it. I’m really not in the mood for pity on top of everything else that happened today, so I make my way into the foyer and interrupt their discussion. “Hey Ty, what are doing here?”
“I took my lunch early and figured I’d swing on by to drop Aiden off at school and Caleb at daycare so you can have a few minutes to yourself before heading into work.”
“It’s nine thirty in the morning Ty, why would you take your lunch now? You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine really.” I reach for Caleb, taking him from the muscled hottie. “Oh, Tyler this is…”
“Ryder.” Tyler interjects with a chuckle. “We’ve met.”
My cheeks flush the moment my eyes meet his. Through all the chaos this morning and Aiden almost giving me a heart attack, I really didn’t see anything other than the blood flowing from his head to his face, which is even sexier now that I have a chance to drink him all in.
Heat rises to my cheeks and my fingertips itch to touch him. Any part of him. Every part of him. His rippling biceps fit snug in his short sleeve royal blue uniform shirt and I can’t help but follow the long vein that trails all the way to his wrist, down to his big hands. His left arm is covered in tattoos and there are three crosses peeking out of his shirt on the left side of his neck. I wonder how much of his perfect skin is painted with that beautiful body art. I always wanted to get a tattoo, but Mitch forbid me to get one. He said only easy women would do something like that and mar their bodies.
When I manage to roll my tongue back into my mouth and wipe the drool off my face, I finally speak. “Ryder.” I extend my hand to him and clear my throat, trying to rid myself of the nervousness that crept into my chest. “Thank you again.”
He takes my hand and shakes it gently. “You’re very welcome.”
The air around me suddenly becomes too dense to breathe. It’s like we’re the only ones in the room and neither of us can take our eyes off each other. And who wouldn’t want to look into those steely gray eyes of his. They’re captivating, mesmerizing, and have me melting in a puddle at his feet. The chemistry between us is evident, but I don’t have the time to play rumpy-pumpy with the smoking hot delivery guy. No, I definitely don’t have time to do anything other than work and take care of my kids. This sexy ass man will have to be some other lucky girl’s playground.
“Well, I better get going. I’m late for my other deliveries.”
“Oh no, now I really feel awful. You got hurt and now I’ve made you late for work. Well, you’ve been officially jinxed just by being in my presence.”
“It’s not a big deal and I don’t think you’re jinxed. I do think you’re beautiful though.”
Tyler arches a brow as he gives me a playful smirk. “Well, if you don’t snatch this man up I’m going to have to keep him for myself.”
Ryder turns to face Tyler as my very out-spoken, non-filtered friend waggles his eyebrows at the poor guy who is now blushing. I’ve become so accustomed to Tyler’s tell it like it is personality that his comment doesn’t even phase me in the slightest. But, I do feel bad for Ryder though. “Tyler! You’re embarrassing him.” I turn to Ryder. “I’m so sorry, some people don’t know when they should keep their mouths closed.”
“Girl, it’s more fun with your mouth open.” Tyler retorts.
Now I’m sure my face is turning red. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I scold my friend again. “Tyler!”
“What?”
“Can you please stop it?”
Ryder laughs. “It’s okay. I like his honesty. It’s a good quality for a man to have.” He shakes Tyler’s hand and makes his way to the front door. He picks up the box and electronic pad he dropped earlier, bringing the box to the counter and hands me the pad to sign. He gives me the most smoldering gaze I’ve ever seen then walks back to the front door. He turns the knob and glances at me, flashing me a melt your panties right off your body kind of smile. “Bye Peaches. Hope to see you around soon.”
I laugh nervously. “Yeah, well, you know where I live.” What the Hell was that? Hopefully, he didn’t hear that. I must be going mad. Why didn’t I just invite him into my bed while I was at it? I have no idea who this man is and yet I told him in not so many words to just drop on by whenever he wanted. I want to take those words back or come up with something else to say to distract Ryder from that asinine statement that happened to fly out of my big mouth, but before I can say anything, he’s gone.
“Peaches? What was that all about?”
I shake my head. “It’s a long story.” I cover my face with my hands. “Please tell me I didn’t just act like a total jackass in front of the hottest guy I have ever laid my eyes on.”
“I can’t tell you that because girl, you looked like a desperate housewife out there. Reign it in a little. You gotta let ‘em work for it honey.”
I groan. “Oh no, now what do I do?”
“Hope that man doesn’t stalk you.”
“Tyler you’re not helping. I’m so stupid.”
He puts his arm over my shoulder and gives me a light squeeze. “You’re not stupid. Just out of practice. When was the last time you went on a date?”
“When I started going out with Mitch.”
“Well, we all know how that turned out, don’t we? Don’t worry, Ty is here to help you get back on the market.”
“Tyler, I don’t want to be on the market. I don’t have time to go out on dates and I’m not interested in having meaningless sex right now either. I have two kids that require my undivided attention.”
“Oh come on Mad. Lots of single mothers date. You can’t expect to be alone for the rest of your life.”
“No, not the rest of my life, just maybe the next fifteen or sixteen years until the boys are able to take care of themselves for the most part.”
“Absolutely not! I refuse to let you wither away and be miserable. We are gonna get you a man.”
“Ty, I really don’t need a man in my life. My main priority is to make sure these boys have a stable, loving home they feel happy and comfortable in.”
“Well, can I have a man then?”
I laugh and shake my head. “You are truly too much sometimes.”
“Yeah, but you love me. Now give me some sugar.”
I place a quick kiss on Tyler’s lips and grab my purse. “You drop Aiden off at school and I’ll take Caleb to daycare. I’ll meet you at the museum in an hour. I hope Mr. Clark doesn’t realize how long we’ve been gone.”
“The man is going senile. He wouldn’t notice if a herd of wild elephants came stomping through the museum halls. He seriously needs to retire.”
“You’re so mean!”