Oh, hell no. She wasn’t going to cut him a break because of his mom. This endeavor was about the two of them. He and his mother weren’t a package deal. “Treat me like any other person you’d rent to. If I take the room, use the furniture, have my own bathroom, and use of the kitchen and laundry room, then I think seven hundred would be fair.”
He watched her throat ripple as she swallowed. “You’re crazy, Colin. There’s no way I’m charging you that kind of money. Listen, let’s do this,” she said as she rested her palms on the curve of her waist. “You get everything you listed and you can use the pool whenever you want. How about two or three hundred a month and you mow the lawn.”
“Mow the lawn?” He smirked. “Like on Saturdays after summer baseball when you’d sit on the porch and watch me?” Her face went from peach to flaming red. Teasing her was going to be too much fun. “That’s doable. I’m sure there’s a lot that needs to be done around here. I can help.”
“Yeah,” she said, trying to look everywhere but at his expression. “That seems like a life time ago. You’ve...really grown up. I know your mom is really proud of you.”
“You,” he said, taking the chance that moving a step closer wouldn’t fuck everything up, “haven’t changed since the day I left. I couldn’t wait to come over then. My friends were all jealous because I got to mow your lawn. I believe one of them even asked you to let him mow for less money.”
“I remember. He never came back after that day.”
Colin knew damn well why the guy hadn’t returned. Giving his friend a black eye had taught him a lesson. “I know.” A thin piece of silky hair fell from the loose ponytail draped over her shoulder. The urge to slip the satiny strands between his fingers was too much to deny. “I love your hair. I’m glad you kept it long.”
She didn’t brush his hand away but turned just out of his reach. “We have to keep this friendly. We can be roommates. I have to respect your mom. She’s one of my best friends. I’m sure she’d be appalled to know I started something with her son. Didn’t you get the magazine clippings she sent? You know the expectations she has for you. I’m not part of that plan. Besides, if you’re looking to fulfill the cougar fantasy, I’m not the right one for you. I’m done with games, Colin.”
That wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but something she didn’t say screamed volumes. She didn’t say she didn’t want him. The barrier she built had validity, but he didn’t want the girls in the magazines. He tossed the pictures in the trash, never giving them a second glance.
“I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Hey,” he said trying to lighten her unease, “I’ll make dinner tomorrow night. Do you like steak, pasta? I can cook.”
The way her weary expression lightened made the tension between his shoulders ease. He hadn’t totally fucked up. “I like steak.”
Charlie’s claws clicked on the floor as she walked around the corner. Colin knelt and picked up the dog to cradle her in his arm. “What about you, Charlie? You like steak? It looks like you’ve never missed a meal sweet girl.”
Lea moved closer and petted the panting dog. “She’s voluptuous. We like to have our snacks.”
Colin wanted to solidify one thing, one very important preference he’d always harbored. “I like a woman who can eat. It’s hard to plan a date when you know all the woman’s going to do is have you pay a load of cash so she can push food around on the plate. I like—” When had he ever had a problem telling a woman what he liked? Never. Until now. “I like a woman with curves.” He hated to embarrass her, but he couldn’t lie.
He expected her to shy away, give him a hopeful glance, but her expression didn’t waver. “There are a lot of men who like full-figured women. Sometimes I think my size is the only reason men ask me out, but it’s nice when someone is genuine and has the confidence to respectfully admit what he wants.”
He cleared his throat. He couldn’t relate to the guys drooling over her ample chest and rounded hips, but he could understand her frustration. Women his age never hid the fact they liked his body. Hell, at the gym he couldn’t finish a workout without an invitation for a date or a proposition to sneak into the sauna and fuck.
Two years ago he’d have considered the invitation, now? No Goddamn way. The air sparked with silence. He leaned through the bedroom door one more time, amazed he’d get to sleep across the hall from her. He’d had one too many wet dreams about this scenario. “Everything looks great. How about I unload my truck then you can show me the rest of the house? I can’t wait to get in the pool.”