Never Been Loved(25)

Nope, there it is, the wisps of a memory tickling my awareness. All right, that’s not too awful, being pressed up against her back, as she fronted my weight and dragged my sorry ass to my car.

Shame burns hot in my throat. Sera should never have seen me like that. She should have never seen me like that. She saved my life, I should be saying thank you, fucking kissing the ground she walks on, but I can’t. Whether it’s because my body’s exhausted or because I’m being a dick, I’m not too sure.

I look at her, really look at her.

The gorgeous green eyes, the brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail, wisps flying about her face.

And the glasses. Never thought I’d dig a woman with glasses – I can just imagine all sorts of fun things to do that would necessitate me having to take them off her.

Jesus Christ, I’m on a hospital bed.

I bite down hard on my back molars and stare at her, until she looks so uncomfortable she starts to speak. That’s what I do, I make her uncomfortable. Just another sign that I shouldn’t go after a woman like her. She’s not for me.

“How long are you in here for?” Her voice has gone raspy, and instead of attitude she sounds genuinely concerned. I don’t know what to do with that. I open my mouth to say something intelligent or something that doesn’t make me sound like a total dick when she continues, “because if you’re going to be in here for a couple of days, I can have Matty stay with me for the weekend. I could even call in sick Monday, if you need me to.”

No. No fucking way. Who is this chick? Nobody’s that compassionate or sweet. No one. And now I’m glaring like she’s gone and mutated right in front of me or something. Damn it.

“Or, you know, you can try finding a babysitter for him from your hospital bed, if you prefer,” she says, flashing her teeth at me. There it is, not enough blood to my brain, but enough to make me hard at the bit of steel she just showed me.

I want Sera, and I can’t have her. She turns to leave, giving me the perfect view of her perfect ass, and I know I have to use my brain now.

“Wait.” Sera gives me the full-front of her face, and my heartbeat goes out of whack from just that look. Shit. “I don’t know you, understand? I’m not going to leave him with just anybody. Especially a stranger. I’m a diabetic, not a crack-pot.”

Crack-pot? Really? In her eyes, man, you probably just lost ten IQ points.

My vision starts coming in more clearer now as I watch her cross her arms under her breasts, hiding her shirt. I wonder what it said. Guess I should’ve been paying attention. Well, I’m paying attention now. I look quickly down, she’s wearing Converse, non-designer jeans and a custom made shirt. I take in her glasses, hair pulled back, sexy green eyes, again.

Yeah, I want her.

Sera’s mouth twists and she puts her weight on one leg, cocking out a hip. It’s really hard trying not to stare at the curve perfectly outlined from her jeans, or how very much my hands would look fucking great right there, if she’d ever let me hold her close.

“Or you could let him stay with the Duchess of the Flies? Since that’s your only other option.”

Duchess of the Flies? Did she just call Mom that? Is she here? Vaguely, I remember Mom trying to shake me awake – the smell of her perfume somehow has stayed behind in my unconsciousness. Or did I dream that, too?

Holy fuck, I’m seriously into this woman. I better be careful before I ask her to have my biological children.

Matty giggles after he’s settled himself on my bed. The thing’s hardly big enough for me, but the kid manages to squeeze his minuscule ass on a sliver of mattress, pressed up against my hip.

I can’t believe he got the joke. I mean, I’m sure when I was four, there was no way I was that smart.

“Look, your body has taken a beating. I’m trying to offer you some help. I’ll give you my cell number so you can call Matty every fifteen minutes if you’re up to it. I don’t know what it’s worth, but I swear I won’t do anything to hurt him. Looks like he’s the only one that laughs at my jokes.” She grins at me. I’m probably staring like an idiot.

She’s going to kill me with her sweetness.

I settle more deeply onto my pillow, letting out a pent up breath, and letting my gritty eyes slide closed. She’s placed a scrap of paper in my hand; I open my eyes. When I’m done with my pity party, I look at Matty, knowing she’s the only one able to help me right now. And I’m also thinking she deserves a proper thank you once I can get the hell out of here and back on my own two feet. Jesus.

“You’re going to be good for Sera, right?” I ask, putting a palm on the kid’s leg.