another kiss and placed him in his crib. What I actually felt like doing was to hold him while he slept, but I thought better, knowing it would undo the good routine they had.
Leaving his door open a little, I made my way into the kitchen to tidy up, and while Koda slept for an hour and a half, it gave me time to clean the rest of the house. Which I was sure Judy had already been doing because if it had been just Kalen, a typical male, the house would have been a disaster zone. I then started on dinner. I had enough from lunch for Koda's dinner, and I decided I'd cook Kalen a steak with scallop potatoes and carrots.
Chapter Six
Dive
The day was fuckin' hot to be outside working my arse off in. What in the hell had I been thinkin', getting a job as a landscaper? Well, not really a landscaper, but his lackey. I did all the shit jobs while the old dude got to do all the easy ones. Though, I shouldn't fuckin' complain. The old man did seem in his sixties. He probably needed the break, and at least it gave me a workout. I was just being a little bitch complaining because I missed Koda like crazy.
Dead on five, as I walked to my car, my phone rang. All day I thought I'd get a call saying something was wrong, but it never came. Well, besides my mum where she told me she thought Mena was amazing with Koda. Just hearing that put my heart at ease, well somewhat.
Putting the phone to my ear, I answered with, "Yo."
"Um, hi, ah Kalen. It's Mena."
"Got that, woman, when my home number showed up on the phone."
"Right." She sighed. "I have a list for you like you asked."
"Give it to me."
"Do you have a pen and paper?"
"I'll remember."
"Right," she mumbled and then rattled off about a dozen items. Fuckin' lucky I had a good memory. I didn't expect so much; then again, I hadn't noticed we were near outta detergent and toilet paper.
"Got it," I noted and then hung up. I felt like a cunt being short with her. But she wasn't there as a friend. She was an employee, and that was all.
After a visit to the supermarket, it was nearly dark by the time I pulled up out the front of my place. Lights shone out the windows. Fuck, I'd have to make sure she closed them as soon as it got dark. I didn't want any fucker to be able to look in the house.
Grabbing the groceries outta the back, I walked to the front door just as it opened with Mena filling it.
"Do you need a hand?" she asked with a small grin.
"Nope, got it all," I said, moving past her into the living room. A smile lit my face seeing Koda sitting on a beanbag in front of the TV. His attention was all for some fucked-up show. Quickly, I placed the bags in the kitchen and walked back out to my boy.
Getting to the floor on my knees, I pulled the bag around to face me, and once Koda saw his daddy, he smiled, his hands reaching right out to me. He was in my arms in the next second, where I brought him close and drew in his scent.
"Hey, buddy. Missed you." His reply was to grab my beard and tug on it, causing me to chuckle. One of his fists made its way into my mouth, then out again to wipe my saliva over my face. Not the best greeting, but it would do. Anything would do when it came to Koda.
"He been good?" I asked. When I didn't get an answer, I looked over my shoulder where I expected to find Mena standing there, only she wasn't.
I stood with Koda and walked into the kitchen; she'd already put everything I brought away and something smelled fuckin' great. I hadn't noticed earlier; I was too keen to get to my son.
"Was he good today?" I asked again, causing Mena to jump since her head was halfway in the fridge.
She stood and spun with her hand on her chest. "Sorry?"
"I asked if Koda was good today?"
She grinned. "Yes. He was perfect. Not a problem at all. He's already had his dinner." Then she fidgeted, so something was on her mind. I raised a brow at her. "Um," she started.
"What?" I snapped.
"No, it's nothing wrong. But, I um, I did some studying on the weekend
Tanya Anne Crosby
Cat Johnson
Colleen Masters, Hearts Collective
Elizabeth Taylor
P. T. Michelle
Clyde Edgerton
The Scoundrels Bride
Kathryn Springer
Scott Nicholson, J.R. Rain
Alexandra Ivy