But another wail from Ranger has us jumping apart.
I curse. “Coming, buddy.”
My voice quiets my son a little.
On the other side of the bed, Masey rises and stretches. “I’m behind, so I need to start the studio setup and edit a video I filmed my first day here before I start on others.”
“Behind? Already? You’ve only been here a few days.”
“I pre-filmed some of my videos before I arrived, but my video card corrupted one of them, so I have to record one more than I planned. And Harlow signed for a package the day I flew here. It’s a launch from a major brand. Time-sensitive, so I’ll have to make that video tonight, then edit and upload by tomorrow.” She grimaces. “Sorry.”
“Hey, duty calls.”
When Ranger wails again, she nods. “It does.”
“I’ll get him settled and come help you with the studio.”
“Thanks.”
We go our respective ways, and as I’m changing Ranger and loving on my little man, I hear the faint strains of happy pop music. I can’t identify the song…but it’s nice to have other sounds in my condo. It hits me it makes the place feel full. Complete. Like a home.
I like having Masey here. And if I want to keep her, I need to get smart. I’m not much of a plan-ahead sort of guy, but I need to decide how the hell to make the most of the ten days she has left in Hawaii. If I do this right, maybe she’ll agree to stay with me.
Do you really think that’s possible? She had days and days of you before she walked away and never looked back.
I wish that voice in my head would shut the fuck up.
After meandering to the kitchen, I warm a bottle for Ranger. Once he’s eating, curiosity lures me down the hall again. The strains of “Shape of You” fill the room. Ed Sheeran isn’t shy about his feelings for the girl he’s met. He just puts them out there. My bedsheets totally smell like Masey, and I am discovering something new about her every day that I like. I’m definitely in love with the shape of her body, but my heart seems to be falling, too.
I have to show her how we could fit together in each other’s lives…somehow.
That scares the hell out of me. What if I can’t convince her?
I take a deep breath. One day at a time. I’ll figure it out…I hope.
When I peek my head inside my largely empty office, she’s already plopped her laptop on my desk and started setting up her background and props for filming. As Ed Sheeran’s final notes fade away, he’s replaced by something definitely more down home. It’s some country band. They’re popular. The name escapes me.
I’m only half listening when I hear the male vocalist sing something I should keep in mind. Something profound. If it’s meant to be, it will be. Masey just needs to ride with me and see how this thing goes.
Her hips are swaying as she starts tearing into boxes, checking the contents, then sorting them into three piles.
“Need help?”
She gasps in a startled breath and whirls, hand pressed to her chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry.”
She waves me away. “Not your fault I was off in my own world. He good?”
When she glances Ranger’s way, I stroll over closer. This isn’t just about seeing if she can fall for me but for my boy, too. We’re a package deal.
She smiles as we approach, then drops a kiss to his forehead. He coos happily, little legs pumping.
Her affection does something for me. It’s not sexual exactly…but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in another round.
“He’s fine. I’ll bet I could give him some toys on a blanket and he’d be happy if you need me to lend a hand.”
“That would be great. I’m struggling with the lighting. Every room is just a little different, and I’m so used to my studio at home…”
“Sure.” A few minutes later, I’ve got Ranger in a jumpy seat with some teething toys and his stuffed football. He seems content to watch what’s going on around him. And after a few minutes of adjusting the angle and brightness of the lights, Masey sighs.
“I don’t know if this will work. I’m going to run some test footage. Can you start the video when I say go?”
“Sure.”
She settles into my office chair, wheels herself under the desk, which she moved away from the wall, then nods. “Go.”