Page 8 of Game Over
“Why would it?” She put a foot on the running board and clenched her teeth when Deke closed his hands around her waist to boost her up. He was not going to make this easy on her. “I’m not a kid anymore. Neither are you. If people want to think we’re sleeping together, let them.”
He leaned in, reaching across her to fasten her seat belt.
Was he serious? “I can do that!”
“I know you can.” He flashed a grin, stealing her breath. “But I really wanted to.” He lingered a few seconds, his lips too close to hers, when he said, “You know, as long as they’re talkin’ about us anyhow, maybe we should--”
“Just drive!”
He laughed as he withdrew from the truck, shaking his head. “Can’t blame a guy for tryin’, Harper.”
***
It had been a hell of a long time since Deke felt this good. Most people thought he was dark and brooding, and they’d be right. But sitting on the leather sectional in his apartment with Harper, just talking, lit a fire in him that had been dormant for years. She made him feel alive again… instead of like the walking dead. Just going through the motions. Nothing to look forward to or work for. Except his nephew, brother, and friends. And as much as he loved them, he needed more. He needed someone like Harper in his life again.
“I can’t believe you bought this building,” she said. “That’s awesome. How many apartments are there?”
“Six.” One was vacant so he’d have to see about renting that out soon. It was a pain though, with the credit and reference checks, not to mention the ads and showings. That’s why he’d been putting it off. “You need an apartment? One’s empty.”
She seemed to consider that for a minute before she said, “I couldn’t do that to Jude. I think having a roommate helps her pay the bills. Besides, you and I living down the hall from each other probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”
He thought it would be a damn good idea, but he could understand if she needed a little time to warm up to it. They’d only been on speaking terms for a minute. “Jude managed before you moved in with her. I’m sure she’d be just fine if you decided you needed your own place.”
“I don’t know.” She sighed, leaning her head back. “I would like to have my own place, but I can’t blow my savings like that. I need a job before—”
“Hey, you’re a teacher, right?” Jude once told him that Harper was teaching first grade and that gave him an idea. One that could be a win / win for both of them.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Summer vacation just started. If you want to make some extra money you could look after my nephew for me. I can’t have him hanging around the shop every day and I’m sure you’d have a better way of keeping him entertained than cartoons and coloring books.”
She smiled. “That’s your idea of entertaining a five year-old?”
“It worked when I was a kid.” His mother used the TV and coloring books to keep them quiet so they wouldn’t ‘set their father off’.
Her eyes dimmed and he knew she was thinking about his crappy childhood. “So, what do you say, beautiful? You wanna be my nanny for a couple of months? It’ll buy you some time to look for something more permanent.”
She seemed to consider his proposal before she said, “That would mean you and I spending a lot of time together, Deke. I’m not sure.”
He didn’t blame her for having reservations, but it felt like the perfect solution to him. “How ‘bout if I throw in that apartment to sweeten the deal?”
Her jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious!”
“Why the hell not?”
He was making money hand over fist. Aside from his real estate investments, people came from hundreds of miles and paid him thousands of dollars for bigger pieces, not to mention the cut he took from the artists who worked for him, so he could afford to be generous with a woman who’d once been damn good to him.
“Because that’s crazy.” She shook her head. “You could probably rent that place out for what, fifteen hundred a month?” When he nodded, she said, “You can’t just let me stay there rent-free.”
“It wouldn’t be rent-free. It would be part of your compensation. It comes fully furnished too, so you could try it out for a bit and see how you like it before you decide. Think about it, it would be convenient if you’re going to be looking after Drew for me. In fact, you could crash there tonight, if you want? I’ve got extra sheets and towels—”
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself,” she said, holding her hand up. “I haven’t even agreed to take the job yet.”
That’s the way he’d always been with this woman: full-steam ahead. But he had to rein it in now. They weren’t teenagers… or a couple anymore. “Sorry.” He raised his hand. “No pressure, just something to think about.”
“Uncle Deke? Can I get a glass of water?”
Deke smiled when he spotted his nephew lingering in the doorway of his bedroom. “Hey, buddy. Come here. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” He might be biased, but he thought his nephew was pretty damn cute. Maybe meeting him would help convince Harper to take the job, and the apartment.
