Page 13 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees
“It is, but I guarantee she’ll be fine with it. It’s insured and spends most of its time parked even when she is home. Chances are you can borrow it until you upgrade employment and can afford one of your own.”
“She seriously wouldn’t mind?” This kind of generosity baffled.
“If Mom were here, she’d have already handed over the keys.”
“I…” Charlotte ducked her head and looked at her fingers flexing on the table. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Most people choose to go with thank you, but I’m also okay with, ‘Ares, you’re so wonderful,’ or ‘Why don’t I cut you a piece of sugar pie to match your sweetness.’”
She blinked at him and, before she knew it, erupted in laughter. “You’re too much. Thank you. For everything.”
“Did I hear pie?” Greta came flying from the living room, leaving the Christmas cartoons she’d been watching.
The pie was beyond delicious. The day was the most fun she’d had in ages. Charlotte had not realized how tense and stressed she was until she relaxed.
After Ares helped tuck Greta into bed—reading her a story about a snowman first—he didn’t make a move on her but said, “I should head out. I’ll be back with the car tomorrow after I finish work, so get your resume ready.”
“Will you stay for dinner again? I was going to make homemade mac and cheese with ham.”
His lips pulled into a wide grin. “One of my favorites. See you tomorrow, Charly.”
He left without trying to kiss her.
Left, but glanced back twice before getting into his truck parked in the driveway out front.
Left, but she kept smiling.
Maybe this time the nice guy wouldn’t turn into a monster.
Chapter 5
Don’t wanna work.
Ares’ wolf pouted. Heading into the garage for seven a.m. proved tough since he’d spent the night thinking about Charly. He’d enjoyed himself yesterday. Spending time with her and Greta had been awesome. Now that Charly didn’t eye him as a threat, she’d opened up. She had a sharp sense of humor, a husky laugh, and a sexy vibe that had him semi-hard the entire time they hung out. Thank fuck for loose jeans and a long Henley.
She’d not spoken much of her past, briefly mentioning they’d been living there about six months after moving from the west coast. When he’d tried to ask why the relocation, a shadow crossed her face and she’d mumbled, “The cost of living got too high.”
Which made sense on the surface until you realized Ontario had the second-highest cost of living in Canada. A glance around her place showed furniture too used to have been worth moving, and so he could only assume she’d left on the fly. Escaping a situation that led to her feeling like she needed to have a knife on her person. At least, she’d worn one their first encounter. Henoticed she’d removed it not long after his arrival the day before. A sign of trust? He could only hope.
What could she have been fleeing? No sign of a ring being recently on her finger, and she’d been emphatic about not wanting to date. Had she been trying to escape Greta’s dad? He’d not asked, nor had she volunteered anything about the sperm donor. Given how far she’d moved, it didn’t seem like dad was in the picture. Or had she intentionally left him behind?
Work let him bum off early, and he headed over to her place, with Selene, who volunteered to bring Mom’s car over. More like she wanted a peek at Charly and Greta.
He parked on the street, while Selene placed Mom’s car in the driveway. Selene didn’t turn up her nose at the shabby neighborhood but rather said, “Your girlfriend’s place is the nicest looking on the block.” No need to ask how she guessed with Rudolph out front.
“Be nice,” he warned.
“I’m always nice,” Selene teased.
“You’d better not have my baby pictures on your phone again.”
“Who me?” She batted her lashes and was laughing as Charly opened the door.
Before Charlotte could wonder at the beautiful stranger he’d brought, he did a quick introduction. “Charly, this is my sister, Selene. Selene, Charly.”
“Nice to meet you.” Selene held out her hand, and with a bemused look, Charly shook it.
“Ares!” The squeal led to Greta shoving past her mother to throw herself at Ares.