Matched For Love(11)
“I —”
He quickly disconnected the call before she could disagree with him. She’d said she’d loved him once. Maybe she’d been a little drunk at the time, but it’d been enough for him. It’d been the only time anyone had ever said the “L” word to him, beside Asher, so he remembered it distinctly.
After tossing his phone on the coffee table, he stood to pace. His gut ached at the thought of losing her. He couldn’t let that happen, for Asher’s sake. But what could he do to win her back that he hadn’t already tried? He needed some big-time help.
Maybe Lori was still up. He scooped his phone from the coffee table and started to hit dial, but stopped. He didn’t want to wake Emily. He texted instead. 9-1-1. Can I hire you? Annie had another man in her bed when I called just now. He stared at the phone, begging Lori to see the text. After a few minutes, she replied.
Yikes. That’s not good. But you don’t have to hire me. I’m happy to give you some tips.
I insist. I’ll even pay double if you help me figure out what I’m going to say when I call her tomorrow. And every day after until I win her back. I don’t know why I said I’d do that, but now I have to come up with a bunch of clever crap to say to her.
I charge four times my usual rate if I have to come up with CLEVER crap. But because we’re friends, I’ll cut you a break.
Relief washed over him. For the help and because she still thought of them as friends. He hadn’t been sure when she’d seemed so uncomfortable earlier.
Thanks. But if I do dumb stuff to annoy you, please just tell me, okay? I need your Princess Lori powers to save my kingdom and keep it intact.
A few moments passed with no reply. Had that been a stupid thing to say? Had he just messed up what he was trying to save with her? He should have just said thanks and signed off for the night instead of being such a geek.
Sorry. Emily woke up. She needed more medicine. Asher does too, by the way. And I’ll be sure to let you know if your nerdy super brain annoys me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. But now I have to go. Talk tomorrow?
Sounds good. Thanks.
Don’t forget Asher’s medicine :0)
On it. He tossed his phone aside and then went to the kitchen to get the children’s pain reliever.
He heaved out a long breath as he headed up the stairs to Asher’s room. Hiring Lori was a good plan. It’d work.
It had to.
4
COME TO THE DARK SIDE—WE HAVE COOKIES. AND CARTOONS.
At three o’clock on the dot the next day, Deek and Asher stood on Lori’s doorstep. Deek wore an open coat that showed off his T-shirt that said: Always give 100%—unless you’re giving blood, and Asher was bundled up appropriately for a sick kid. She opened the door wider in invitation.
“Hi guys. Come in.”
She closed the door after they trooped inside and hung up their coats on the rack by the front door. “How’s the appetite today, Asher? Are you hungry for a snack?”
Deek answered, “He hasn’t been hungry all day. But whatcha got?” When he grinned, she couldn’t help but smile right back.
There was something so hot and yet so innocent and kind about Deek. He looked like a macho, tough guy build-wise, but then all sorts of goodness just radiated through his gorgeous turquoise-colored eyes. Annie was a fool to let him run loose in the wild. Some smart woman was going to snag and bag him soon if Annie didn’t hurry up and come to her senses.
“Emily said she wasn’t hungry either, so I was forced to dig out the secret weapon from my rusty arsenal. I baked chocolate chip cookies.”
Asher’s face brightened. “Yum.”
Deek’s brows drew together. “I try to limit Asher’s sugar intake, so we only have cookies on special occasions.”
Lori led the way to the den where Emily was watching an animated movie. “Then you guys are in luck. That I actually baked makes this a special occasion. How about just one?” She glanced over her shoulder to get Deek’s permission. He stood with his hands on his hips, scowling at what was playing on TV as if it were porn. “What?”
“I’ll be right back, Asher. I need to talk to Lori in the kitchen about something.” Deek slipped his large hand around her waist and gently tugged her against his hard body. He whispered, “They watched cartoons all day yesterday and now one of those silly animal movies?”
His hot breath on her ear was warming other parts of her and made it hard to concentrate. “If it makes you feel any better, they were both so sick that neither of them even cracked a smile yesterday. It was embarrassing when I was the only one laughing.”
As Deek continued to guide her to the kitchen, she added, “That was a joke, by the way. I probably only really laughed out loud once.”