“Yeah, stay here and relax.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, giving him what I hope is an appreciative smile.
“Did you bring the keys?”
I chuckle. “Yes. I even have them with me because I thought we’d be going to try to find the car after my shower.”
“I’ll keep you posted,” he says, taking the keys from me. Then he winks and heads out.
I turn back to Jayne and find her smirking. I barely know her but there’s no doubt what she’s thinking.
“We’re just friends,” I say quickly.
She throws her head back and laughs. “Okay.”
“What? We literally met on the side of the road when I spun out and couldn’t get my car started. He was a good Samaritan. By the time we got to the daycare center to pick up Joey and then he drove us home, the streets were just too dangerous. So he stayed. We got to know each other.”
“Of course.” She nods solemnly but I see the humor in her eyes.
“I don’t date hockey players,” I say, trying not to laugh at how absurd that sounds.
“Really?” She cocks her head. “How come?”
I glance down at Joey and give a little shake of my head. “Bad experience,” I say.
“Fair enough. But West is…” She pauses thoughtfully. “Well, all I can say is, West is a very special man. He’s big and burly on the outside, but the inside is…incredible. Kind, gentle, generous—Bodi and I are living here while we build our new house and then after a series of events, we wound up with custody of my little sister. West didn’t even hesitate to offer up his den for her as a bedroom. He’s an incredible human being.”
“He’s a good guy,” I agree, “but neither of us are looking for serious, you know?”
“Why not?”
“I have to put my son first,” I say carefully. “He’s already had one father walk away before he was even born. And now he’sgetting old enough to get attached. Unless and until I find someone who’s all in, to become his dad, then I can’t risk it.”
“And West isn’t interested?”
“I don’t think so. Not from the conversations we’ve had.”
“That’s sad. Because I think he’ll be a great father.”
“You’re probably right.”
“But in the meantime, you don’t think you two could have fun together?”
“Oh, we could definitely have fun together.” It’s easy to talk to Jayne, and this is girl talk. Besides, I’m not saying anything bad about West. I never would, so there’s no reason not to be forthcoming. “We spent hours talking during the storm. He’s not what I expected.”
“And you think he’s hot, right?” Her eyes glitter with amusement.
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Uh, yeah. I’d have to be dead not to find West McGregor hot.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m not sure I understand the question.”
“You think he’s hot. You know he’s a good guy. And you just said you found tons of stuff to talk about. What more do you need?”
Why does it sound so simple when she says it like that?
“Like I said, I have to be careful because of Joey. And he’s already been burned by a single mom so he’s wary too.”