single dad has been real. I can’t take on more now.
“I appreciate that, but I should be okay. She thinks she broke her ankle, so I just need to get her to the ER for an X-ray.”
“Okay…well, if you can make it back here some other time, let me know. Harlow has my number.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Then I dash out of the bedroom, holding my shirt together with one hand and grabbing my discarded shoes off the lanai with the other. Back in the living room, I hop into them and turn to find Masey nearby, clearly wearing her bra again and holding the front door open for me.
“I hope your mom is all right.”
It’s two seconds I probably shouldn’t spend, but I can’t resist leaning in for a quick kiss. I want to say something beyond thank you or I’ll call you. I’ve said that, and there’s something more bubbling inside me. Something deeper. Now isn’t the time, so I simply nod and head out, jogging toward my car.
Pressing the fob to unlock my door, I race around to the driver’s side—only to be stopped short. My front left tire is completely flat. Apparently, that was glass I ran over on my way to the bar.
“Fuck!” With a frustrated huff, I shove my keys in my pocket. What the hell do I do now? I don’t have time to change a damn tire.
“What’s wrong?” Masey asks softly, stepping out onto the covered, stone-paved porch.
I sift through all my possible options. Calling Noah and Harlow, even if I managed to interrupt their alone time, would take too long. My sister, Samaria, lives on Oahu. I hate to bother my sister-in-law’s extended family. Her brothers, Maxon, Griff, and Evan, are all great, but they each have newborns with their wives. Bethany, her sister, is with her fiancé, Clint, in LA. They’ll return to Maui midweek before their wedding next Saturday. There’s no one else I trust on the island. And Ranger is my son. My responsibility.
One I haven’t told Masey about.
But at this point, I don’t think I have a choice.
“My tire is flat.”
“If you need to borrow my car…”
It will be stranded at my mom’s house if I do, since Masey doesn’t have a car seat for my son. “That won’t work. I know I’m asking a lot—”
“You’re not. Do you want me to take you? I’m happy to help.”
As I suspected, despite her hidden bad-girl streak, she’s actually very sweet. That’s something I’ve never found particularly appealing…but I’m rethinking it now. And I’m definitely grateful that she’s kind enough to lend me a hand. Most of the women I’ve spent my time with in the past probably wouldn’t have cared enough to spit on me if I was on fire.
“I appreciate that.”
“Let me grab my purse and keys. I’ll be right back.”
Masey disappears inside the house again, then emerges moments later, shoes on, purse slung over her shoulder. As I hover near the passenger door of her white rental, she tosses me the keys. “Do you mind driving? I still have no idea where I’m going since I’ve only been on the island a couple of days.”
I didn’t even think about that. “Sure.”
After opening the passenger door for her, I dash around the back of the sedan and slide into the driver’s seat. I have to adjust everything before I can even sit down. Normally, I’d tease her about being short. Not to make fun of her but because I think she’s really cute. And sexy, too. Right now, I’m too focused on reaching my mother and son.
And deciding how I tell her about Ranger.
I back out of her driveway and screech out of her secluded neighborhood. Am I overthinking this? As much as I’ve been into this woman this evening, that doesn’t mean I’ll feel the same after we’ve “done the deed.” Or that Masey will ever feel that way. Best to simply be factual.
“I need to tell you something.” When I look over, she’s flipped the visor down and turned on the accompanying light so she can freshen her face. Her cheeks are still rosy. Her lips are even more swollen than the last time I looked. Her dark hair is a wild, curled mass.
There’s no way my mother won’t take one look at her and know exactly what we’ve been doing, then ask me a million probing questions about my feelings.
Shit.
Masey looks my way. “What?”
I swallow. Telling her about Ranger means explaining something that