Unworthy Heart: The Donnellys, Book 1 (24 page)

“Nah.” Maiya grabbed her smokes from her purse.

“Thanks for cleaning up, babe.”

“No need for thanks. You cooked, sort of. I cleaned.” She made a beeline for the back porch.

He followed her. “I could get used to this arrangement.”

“And now, I need to smoke.” She opened the sliding glass door. Settling on the lounger, she stretched her legs out.

Ryan picked up her feet, sat on the end of the lounge and placed them in his lap.

She lit her coffin nail and inhaled deep, watching him while he slipped off her black Converse, and then her socks. She exhaled the smoke away from him. “Do
not
crack my toes.”

Smiling, he started rubbing her arches. “How about I just tickle them?”

“So, you
want
to get kicked in the face?”

He raised a hand to his chest and gasped. “You’d do that to me?” He pouted. “Meanie.”

“Killing me.” She moaned when he rubbed the ball of her foot.

“Ditto.” He ran his thumbs down the arch to her heel. “Feel good, baby?”

“Mmhmm.” Maiya watched his hands on her foot.

He switched to the other and started the same deep massage at the ball of that foot. He found and rubbed the tight little tendons in her arch. It hurt a little, but it was a good kind of pain. Similar to sex with him. A little bit of pain, meant to bring pleasure, mixed in. A zing of arousal shot through her at the thought, and she shivered.

“Cold, baby?”

She crooked one corner of her lip in a grin. “Not really.”

He raised his eyebrows, studying her for a moment, and then returned his focus back to her foot. Taking one last pull on her smoke, she stubbed it out in the ashtray on the little table next to her.

“Ready to go inside?”

“Yes. I’m so tired.” She smothered a yawn behind her hand.

Ryan stood and grabbed both their beers. Picking up her socks and sneakers, she followed him into the house. He set the two bottles on the coffee table, careful to put them on coasters.

“You’re the only guy I know who does that.”

He looked up as he sat on the sofa. “Does what?” He patted the cushion next to him. “Lie down, baby.”

She stretched out on the couch. “The coaster thing.”

“My mother.” Pulling the afghan off the back of the couch, Ryan crawled behind her and then covered them both with the blanket.

“Let me guess.” She snuggled her ass against his hips. “It was like a requirement in your house as a kid, right?”

“Pretty much.” He nuzzled her neck. “Wasn’t like that at yours?”

Grabbing the remote, she clicked on the TV. “Hell no. Trust me; there was nothing so normal as coasters in my house growing up.” She flipped through the channels.

He smoothed his palm down her side to her hip. “Care to share what it
was
like?”

“Ooh,
Wedding Crashers
.” She set the remote down. “I love this movie.”

“I’ll take that as a no, then.” He kissed her shoulder.

She turned her head to look at him. “I will. Just not tonight, okay?”

“Whenever you want, baby.” He traced the seam of her lips with a fingertip.

Nodding, she kissed his finger before turning back to the TV. A comforting silence settled between them. Ryan wrapped his arm snug around her waist, moving his hand on occasion over her stomach and hip, and then returning to her tummy. A sense of ease flowed through her. Maiya felt secure. Safe. Cared for.

Different. So very different.

She sighed and her body softened against his.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Wake up, Daddy. I’m hungry.”

Ryan heard his son’s request through his sleepy haze. When he opened his eyes he was treated to the sight of flaming red hair and the feeling of his arm around Maiya’s waist. Then Ryan shifted his gaze and met the inquisitive set of young eyes belonging to Jacob—who was standing in front of them.

In the living room.

Them…

They
were sleeping on the couch.

Fuck.

“Uhh… Hey, little man.” He glanced at the clock on the DVD player: Six a.m. At least they hadn’t overslept for work. Ryan squeezed Maiya’s side. “Wake up, babe.”

With a moan, she arched her back and pushed her ass against his—
oh hell.
Yup, into his morning wood. Dammit.

“Are you hungry, Maiya?”

Maiya shot up like a bomb went off beneath her…and slammed into Ryan, cracking him in the face with her forearm.

“Owww!” Ryan clamped his hand over his jaw and chin.

“Shit!” She looked—panic coating her features—between him and Jacob and then back to Ryan. She touched his face. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you sleepin’ on the couch?”

Ryan rubbed his palm over his now sore jaw. “Um.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I guess we fell asleep watching a movie. I better get going.” Peeling the afghan off of them, she rose.

Ryan grabbed the blanket and held it against his groin in order to conceal his morning arousal, and then got himself into a sitting position.

“But it’s breakfast time.” Jacob fiddled with the waist of his pajamas, as if Maiya leaving so soon was nowhere near as important as breakfast. Amazing.

“Uh…oh, um, okay. Let’s get some breakfast, but then I have to leave for work.” Maiya grabbed his little hand and let Jacob lead her into the kitchen.

Ryan shook his head, got up and headed for the bathroom. When he returned, Maiya was at the table with his son eating cereal. His chest tightened at the sight. They looked so normal together. Ryan kissed the top of his son’s head and proceeded to make a pot of coffee.

Maiya took off after she finished the cereal and a cup of coffee. Getting himself and Jacob ready, Ryan got his son off to school on the bus, and then drove into work.

After a long day in the office, and only seeing Maiya a couple of times in the morning, Ryan picked up Jacob and made his way home. Damn, he was starved for the sight of her.

“Daddy?”

He looked up from the stove. “Yes, little man?”

“Can Maiya come back for a movie tonight, since we dint’ getta watch one last night?”

Ryan set the burner to low. “Didn’t and get to, little man.” He smiled. “I can call her and ask. She was pretty busy today at work though, so she may not want to.” Jacob’s brows drew together. Ryan walked over to him at the table. “I’ll let you know what she says. You and I can still watch a movie either way, okay?”

“’Kay.” Jacob went back to coloring his picture. Ryan stepped away and slid the biscuits in the oven when Jacob spoke up again. “If she comes, I think you should sleep in your bed this time. You’re too big for the couch, Daddy.”

Ryan froze, but for his mouth dropping open. When he turned around, Jacob’s focus was trained on his picture, blue crayon in hand coloring a balloon. As if he hadn’t said anything of importance. Only when Ryan managed to close his mouth and organize his thoughts, was he able to speak. “Jacob?”

His son looked up at him.

“What did you think about Maiya sleeping over?”

“Told you. You should sleep in your bed instead.” Jacob tilted his head to the side, studying his picture.

“Right. So, it didn’t upset you at all?”

“I think Maiya is nice. And pretty.”

Ryan walked over and knelt in front of him. “She definitely is both of those things. Hey, you know you can always tell Daddy if something makes you feel sad or upset at all, right?”

“I know.” Jacob eyed his box of crayons. “What color should I make the pony?”

Ryan leaned forward, kissed his son’s cheek and pulled out the yellow crayon. “This one.”

Jacob giggled. “Daddy, ponies aren’t yellow.”

“They can be. It’s your picture. You can make them any color you want. If you don’t like yellow, then pick another.” Ryan smiled and went back to making dinner.

Wonders never ceased. He’d been torturing himself for no reason because it was obvious Jacob had no issue with Maiya being around. At all. Huh. He supposed most kids would be okay until, of course, the person they’d grown attached to wasn’t coming around anymore. Ryan hoped after this week, Maiya would want to stay around.

He checked the biscuits in the oven and then dialed Maiya.

Shock still vibrated through Maiya over what Jacob said about their chosen sleeping location. It was obvious, the child had no issue with her being there that morning. She was also convinced she might’ve lost her damn mind because she’d packed a bag to spend the night—plus a couple of changes of clothes. Just in case. God help her, she wanted to sleep in Ryan’s bed. Wanted to see his personal space and smell his sheets. And, for fuck’s sake, she was horny as hell. Crazy or not, she was staying there.

Maiya pulled into his driveway, let go of the wheel and flexed her hands. They ached, and it dawned on her she’d had a death grip on the steering wheel the whole drive there. Nervous energy raced through her limbs.
Why am I nervous?
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. Not like this was their first time in bed together. Not even their first time sleeping next to each other.

Waking up next to him had made all of this more personal though. Not that sex wasn’t personal, but sleeping next to someone was
really
personal. Way more intimate. When a person slept, they were vulnerable. And then there was cuddling—which was pretty much unavoidable with Ryan. He seemed to love wrapping his arms around her and keeping her close. Maiya didn’t have a shot in the world of not becoming more attached to him.

Ryan had vaulted over all of Maiya’s walls, and it’d left her raw and exposed. What made it worse was she’d let him. If she was going to be honest with herself, she’d
wanted
him to bust through her barriers and bring her out of the detached dark place she’d existed in forever.

The front door opened and Jacob came running out. Damn, she’d been sitting in the car for who knows how long trying to sort through her mess of thoughts and feelings. Ryan followed and scooped his son up into his arms. Time to jump in with both feet. Maiya got out of the car and pulled her small bag from the backseat.

“Hey, baby.” Ryan zigzagged across the lawn toward her.

She waved. “Hi.”

“Hiiiii, Maiyaaa.” Jacob waved and giggled while Ryan held him over his head, moving him in the air like an airplane.

“Hey, sweetie. Not sick of me yet?”

When he reached her, Ryan snorted and kissed her cheek. Then Jacob kissed her cheek too.

“Oh my gosh! Kisses from both of you?” She smiled, her cheeks tingling. “You boys are gonna make me blush.”

“You’re awfully pretty when you do.” Ryan put his son down. “Jacob thinks you’re pretty. Don’t you, little man?”

“Daddy!” Jacob buried his face in Ryan’s thigh. “You’re emmarrissing me.”

“Aw.” Maiya knelt down. “Don’t be embarrassed.” She kissed Jacob’s forehead and his color deepened to an adorable shade of pink. “Come on. I’ll race you to the house.”

With a wide grin, Jacob gazed up at her and then took off running for the door. Maiya laughed and ran after him. When they got inside, Jacob hightailed it to the backyard.

“I hope you like chili. It’s not regular chili though,” Ryan said.

“What exactly does ‘not regular’ mean?” She grabbed three bowls from the cabinet.

“I like when you do that.”

“Huh?” She glanced at him. “Do what?”

“That.” Crossing his arms, he jerked his chin in her direction.

Maiya set the bowls on kitchen table at each place and then grabbed napkins from the holder. “What are you talking about?” Turning, she rested her ass against the table and let her gaze travel over his body.

He still wore his work clothes. Gray dress pants hugged his solid thighs and pooled in the perfect length at each ankle. A pale-blue dress shirt stretched tight over his equally solid chest. The sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm gave her a nice view of his strong arms. His tie was missing and the top button of his shirt was open—providing the smallest glimpse of the golden tone of his chest. Maiya gripped the sides of the table. The sight of him made her go all wobbly kneed.

“It’s sweet chili.” Opening the oven, Ryan pulled out a cookie sheet full of biscuits and set them on the stovetop.

She shook her head, dragging her thoughts away from his body, and walked over to retrieve spoons from the silverware drawer. “I’m sure I’ll love the chili.” With those in hand, she grabbed three small plates for the biscuits. “So, what is it that you like me doing?”

He snagged her by the waist and pulled her close. Maiya gripped the small plates and spoons to avoid dropping them. Ryan buried his face in her hair and pressed soft kisses behind her ear, then her jaw before traveling to her lips. “That you come in and start getting ready for dinner with me.” He kissed her again. “It feels good. Feels right to me.”

“I didn’t realize setting the table was such a big deal.” She kissed his nose. “You’re a strange man.” She tried to pull away, but he held her still.

“Not strange. Just appreciative is all.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “It means a lot to me, babe. So…thanks.” He kissed her again and then let her go.

She hadn’t expected the praise. And she didn’t know how she felt about it. She hadn’t meant it as a huge gesture or anything—just doing the right thing and helping out where she could. As she arranged the small plates and spoons on the table Ryan’s cell phone rang. She glanced at him.

“Ryan Donnelly.” He turned and faced the stove. “Yes. Are you kidding me? No. Christ, okay fine.”

Figuring he might need some privacy, she made her way to the family room. She could still hear him, however.

“Yes, I’ll stop by tomorrow on my lunch break. Around twelve thirty. Are they out of their damn minds?” There was a long pause and then he continued. “Okay, no problem. See you then.” Ryan let out a loud curse. “Baby, where’d you go?”

She stepped back into the kitchen. “I was giving you some privacy.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He ran his palm over his head, and then rubbed the back of his neck.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes. No.” He shook his head. “I don’t know.” His brow furrowed and his beautiful mouth turned down into a frown.

“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so upset.” She walked over to him and pulled him into an embrace. “You want to tell me about it?” She rubbed his back.

“Fuck.” Sighing, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “It was my attorney. Tammy’s parents have filed for additional visitation.”

“Oh.” She tried to keep the shock from her voice, but failed. Damn. She was never good at keeping her emotions from bleeding into her words. “I hadn’t realized they saw him now.”

“They rarely see him. And it’s always here in town. Goddammit!” He shook his head. “We’ll talk more about it after Jacob goes to bed.”

“All right.” She kissed his cheek and moved away. “Dinner almost ready?”

“About five minutes or so.” He glanced at the stove and then back to her. “Let’s go see what the little man is up to. He’s too quiet.” Ryan grabbed her hand and led her to the back door.