Fortunately, I’d have plenty of opportunities to find out.
Chapter Four
Kendra
On Tuesday, I arrived half an hour early in Ashburn and parked at the back of the sports center directly next to the entrance of the ice rink. I took out my iPad and pulled up my email account. I was on a private mission, so I felt a bit guilty using my professional email and connections, but only just a little.
Tim’s birthday was last week, and he’d shared with me that he’d wanted so badly to go to a water park with his friends and play on the slides, but his parents couldn’t afford it.
I was trying to surprise him by taking him and his hockey friends to an indoor one. There were a lot of free pools in Chicago, but none had water parks that were actually entertaining. I wouldn’t get my next paycheck until after his birthday, so I couldn’t simply buy eleven tickets.
Pinching pennies reminded me of the most stressful time in my family’s life, after Dad passed away. Mom had to take on three jobs to make ends meet. She didn’t even have time to mourn Dad. Emma and I were alone a lot, and the neighbors reported us to social services. It was terrible, and we both believed they should have minded their own business. Mom was doing the best she could. Because of them, we lived for years with constant check-ups and threats to send us to foster care. It was difficult, and it took a toll on Mom, who got sick when Emma was in college.
I shook my head, dispelling those sad thoughts and focusing on the present. I had a solution for my cash-strapped situation. I just didn’t like it. Up until last year, I waitressed for a hole-in-the-wall diner at the end of the world on weekends, so I could earn a few extra bucks. I left after a customer grabbed my ass while I took his order. My boss, Jared, had witnessed it and done absolutely nothing. He still owed me two full months of paychecks, and I’d never asked him for it because I was too proud. But now it was time to set my pride aside and be practical.
I sent him an email before I could talk myself out of it.
Then I bit into my donut while racking my brain on how I could make this happen for Tim. I needed the afternoon pick-me-up badly.
My phone chimed in the meantime.
Tyler: I'll be there in a few minutes.
I replied right away.
Kendra: I'm in a red Ford five feet from the entrance.
Tyler: I'll look for you.
My stomach somersaulted. No, no, no. This won't do. I was determined not to notice his dazzling smile, let alone the rest of him. I wasn’t staying long today, just enough time to ensure he and the kids were on the right track with their first session. I wasn’t planning to stay for the rest.
A few seconds later, there was a knock at my window. I startled and accidentally dropped my donut on the floor in front of the passenger seat. There was powdered sugar everywhere. Thank God I had leather seats.
Tyler immediately opened the door.
"Fuck," he exclaimed. "Do you have napkins?"
"Yeah, yeah, I have some."
I had wet wipes in my purse, and I'd grabbed a few napkins when I bought the donut. I vigorously cleaned up the seat with the wet wipes, and Tyler used the napkins to dry them. His hand accidentally brushed mine during our ministrations, and I was completely unprepared for the jolt of heat coursing through me. I raised my eyes to his—big mistake. I was looking straight at his lips. I moved my gaze farther up, right into those dazzling brown eyes.
My sister's words came to mind. Yeah, “hot” doesn't do him justice, not even a little.
I thought I could ignore that smile, huh? Well, maybe I could, but there was no way I could forget his eyes. They were dark and sinful.
"Way to make an entrance," I teased, glancing at the duffel bag he was carrying, which probably contained his skates.
"I did say I was coming in a few minutes."
"Yeah, I know, but then I got lost in my research for a pool for Tim, and now my donut—”
I stopped, watching in horror as he took the donut off the floor and threw it in the nearby bin. Why did he do that? He just wasted a perfectly good donut. I was just going to blow off the dust, which I knew did nothing for germs, but who cared?
I tried to smile at him when he returned, but it probably looked a bit manic because he raised a brow.
“I’m dangerous in the afternoon without a snack.”
"Clearly," he said with a dazzling smile. Amusement played in his eyes.
Oh, he’s making fun of me, is he? Well, to be honest, I was completely ridiculous without my sugar fix.
"Come on. We still have time. I'll buy you another donut.”
My heart thundered in my chest. I hesitated for a bit.
He sat in the clean passenger seat, tilting closer to me. "Come on. You don't want to be dangerous for the rest of the afternoon, do you? Who knows what else might happen?"
I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. "You got me there. Okay, come on. The donut stand is just around the corner.”
I grabbed my bag and iPad, and we walked side by side. My stomach was grumbling. “This was my lunch.”
"Your lunch?" he asked, stricken.
"It has eggs and milk. So it’s food."
He chuckled as we arrived in front of the food cart. Fortunately there was no line. It was impossible to stand next to Tyler and not be hyperaware of his presence. He seemed to have this field of energy around him. My stomach rumbled again. Way to make an impression.
“One donut enough or two? Just to be on the safe side,” he said.
“One is fine.”
I chuckled again, unable to look away from him. How was it possible that he trapped me with his gaze every time we made eye contact?
We received the order quickly and then walked toward the ice rink. I devoured half the donut before we even arrived at the front door.
“The door is locked. The administrator will open it ten minutes before training starts. We can wait out here or in the car, if you prefer?” I offered.
“Here’s fine.”
I took another bite of donut. "This was a great idea. I can feel my blood sugar leveling out."
He chuckled. "Good to know. What was that about a pool for Tim?”
"Oh," I said, gripping my iPad tighter under my arm. "His birthday was last week, and he’s never been to a water park. You know, the type with slides and all sorts of fun things for kids. I wanted to surprise him, but I can’t afford the whole thing.”
“That’s part of your job?”
“Well, no... so it’s not exactly okay, but I’ve asked some previous clients who know Tim if they would help out. So far, no answers, but I did just email. I usually don’t do this, at all, but it’s for a good cause, and I’d love to see the smile on Tim’s face. So many of these kids have had a tough life, and I’d love to be able to help them all if I could.”
"You're dedicated," he said in surprise. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
I couldn't believe he was interested in this. "Nothing special, just taking him and his hockey friends to a water park and watching over them while they have fun on the slides.”
He ran a hand through his dark brown hair, narrowing his eyes. “A friend of mine owns a spa. It’s got two pools, and I’m sure one of them has slides. He mentioned something about entertaining his guests’ kids. I can convince him to let the kids have fun in there for a couple hours.”