Maybe, but she’d probably be pissed after investing time and then finding out I have a kid. It isn’t something you kind of drop into a conversation after you’ve had a handful of dates.
Hell, she probably won’t even go, but I’m going to give it one more shot. If she shoots me down, I’ll just forget about her. “Do you mind giving me her number?”
“Why don’t you get it yourself?” Alexia looks over at me and grins.
How the hell am I supposed to do that? Go to Alexia’s house and ask for her or hope Deirdre comes into the shop again? I guess I could stand at the window of my gallery and watch for her to walk by, but that’s all rather pathetic.
“She just pulled in,” Alexia adds.
I glance out the door and sure enough, Deirdre is getting out of her car and walking toward the gallery. My pulse increases. Damn, she has nice legs. She hadn’t been in shorts earlier, but she is now and she looks hot.
“She’s giving me a ride home because my car’s in the shop.”
I could have taken Alexia home. We live like four blocks from each other. Though, this is much better.
The public door to the gallery is locked because we are technically closed so I hurry over to open it for her. Deirdre’s light brown eyes widen in surprise.
I hope it’s a good surprise and not an oh shit, I avoided him once already today surprise.
Five
He raises an eyebrow and studies me from head to toe.
Well, so much for hoping for a little romance on Spring Break. Why didn’t it occur to me that Jesse would be here too? I just assumed it was Alexia, and her alone, putting the displays up. Not that I have any objection to running into Jesse again and so soon, but had I known I would have worn something other than shorts and a sweaty t-shirt. Oh, and a shower probably would have happened too. So much for my brilliant idea to go for my run on the wooded trails around Baxter before picking Alexia up. Not only does my wardrobe suck, but my hair is pulled back into a ponytail and I’m sure it’s probably still wet with sweat too.
Shit! I hope my deodorant is doing its job and I don’t smell as bad as I look.
Well, if he had any interest before, he sure as hell won’t now.
“How was your run?” Alexia asks as she hangs another painting on the wall.
“Great. The paths are awesome and it was so quiet.”
“Were you running here?” Jesse asks as he starts placing pottery on shelves.
“Yeah, though I think I ended up on Baxter land a few times because I saw signs that warned against hunting on private property.”
“I don’t think they care about people running or hiking since the trails run into the park trails.”
“I saw some high school kids hiking and a few couples strolling, but no other runners.”
“Kian likes to take his bike on those trails when it’s not muddy,” Alexia says. “He and Gabe make a competition of it. Last week they came back with skinned elbows and knees.” She shakes her head. “Sometimes they are just like children.”
Jesse chuckles and keeps working and I turn to him. “Do you hike, run or bike the trails?”
“Nope. I never have time.”
With two jobs and a son, he probably doesn’t even get enough sleep, let alone have time to exercise.
I glance around. Most of the paintings are on the wall. Those that aren’t are leaning against it beneath a hook. Jesse still has a lot of pottery to put on shelves. “Need some help?”
“Sure. Just grab some pots and sculptures and put them wherever you want.”
Alexia gives him a disbelieving look.
“Hey, you’re the one who worries about the visual appeal of the paintings. These are pots and all glazed in similar colors. I expect you to rearrange what you don’t like.” He grins at me and I know he doesn’t care if she moves everything around.
A moment later his phone dings and he pulls it from his pocket. “Damn. I need to go.” He puts it away. “I’m supposed to be back by seven so my sitter can go home.”
Alexia waves him away. “I’ll take care of this.”
Then she turns. “I’m going to be awhile, Deirdre.”
“That’s okay. I’ll hang out.”
“I still need to do stuff in my classroom. If you don’t mind, I’ll just keep your car and maybe Jesse can give you a lift.”
Hell, yes! I want yell. Instead, I take the keys from my pocket and toss them to her.
Alexia glances at me after catching Deirdre’s keys “Sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” In fact, nothing could be more perfect.
I hold the door for Deirdre and then lock up so Alexia won’t have to worry about anyone wandering in off of the streets. The doors leading to the campus are unlocked. But we don’t care if any of the staff or students come in. This is their gallery and their work. Of course they want to see it on display.
Deirdre is ahead of me and I can’t help but admire her legs. Long and toned. “Do you run often?”
“Three or four times a week, when I can. This past winter was a pain, but now that the weather is nice I hope to run at least five days a week.”
She stops at the side of my truck, but I grab the handle before she has a chance to. She gives me an odd look and I shrug. “My mamma raised a gentleman.”
Deidre chuckles and gets in. I shut her door, hurry around to the driver’s side, and hop in. “Unless you’re one
