Knocking on his door, her arm was still in the air when Wyatt answered the door. "Hey...I think you have visitors."
He peered over her head. "They can wait for me."
"Are you leaving?"
"In a few minutes." He pushed the door open wider. "Come in."
She stepped inside and brushed a kiss against his lips. "Yesterday, Jess mentioned she was going to do laundry today, and I wanted to let her know that the other two machines are empty if she wants to hurry to the rec center."
"Jess!" He took a cigarette out of the pack and slid it on top of his ear. "Hurry up. I need to get going."
His daughter walked into the living room. "Is this really necessary?"
"Yeah, and Joey needs to hear what I expect from you guys since she's nice enough to keep an eye on you this summer." He pointed to the couch. "Sit by Travis."
His son put down the controller for a video game he played and looked up at his dad. Joey moved behind Wyatt and waited. Because she knew he worried about his kids, she'd offered to be the designated safe spot during the summer and watch out for the kids during the day while he worked. Mainly, she expected at their age, if they got bored, they'd come over and keep her company at her apartment.
"First rule." He crossed his arms. "Nobody leaves the apartment complex while I'm gone. If you have friends come over or meet kids around here, you can hang out together in the rec center."
"Seriously? Gag, Dad." Jess sulked on the couch. "There's always a bunch of old people in there. Can't we bring friends in the apartment?"
"Not until I get home." He paused. "Second rule. Every hour, you check in with Joey. Don't call her, but physically go over and see her. If she doesn't see you, and the time for you to check-in has passed, I'm going to hear about it."
"You don't have a phone on the job site," said Travis.
"Yeah, I do, smartass." Wyatt raised his brows. "Roddy's got a satellite phone, and I'm going to give Joey his number."
Travis groaned. "I might as well be back in school...or in prison."
"That can be arranged, son." Wyatt stepped back and put his arm around Joey. "Rule three. No one is to have contact with Dean. If he calls or shows up, you run and get Joey. Joey—you lock everyone inside your apartment and call me."
She kept her mouth from falling open. She had no idea what the kids' former stepdad looked like, only knew his name.
"Gross." Jess curled her lip. "Like we want to see him."
Travis picked at the sticker on the controller. Joey looked to Wyatt, but he seemed to be done with the rules because he grabbed a business card out of his wallet and a pen from off the coffee table and proceeded to write.
"Here's Roddy's number." He gave it to her. "Don't be shy about asking these guys to help around the apartments if something comes up. Work will do them good."
"Thanks a lot, dad." Jess's arms and legs went in different directions, and she let her head fall over the arm of the couch. "You've officially ruined summer."
"You're welcome." He stepped to the couch and kissed his daughter's head. "I'll bring pizza home for dinner. There's also stuff in the cupboards for you guys to eat while I'm gone."
"Did you get pudding cups?" asked Jess, sitting back up.
"Yeah." He ruffled Travis's hair. "I also got the Jolly Rancher's Fire Stix you guys like."
"Yes." Travis pumped his arm.
He turned to Joey. "I need to go. I'll try and be home by seven o'clock."
"I'll make dinner," she said.
"You're sure?"
The kids echoed their choice for her to cook, and she smiled. "We'll figure out what everyone likes and what I have, and do it together."
He kissed her, patting her butt. "Deal. See you later."
Wyatt picked up his tool belt and went outside. She looked at the kids and rolled her eyes at the sigh of relief spreading in the room. Sure that Wyatt had his reasons for the rules, it was also summer, and for kids, that meant life should be fun and without responsibilities.
"If you want to do laundry, there are two washers empty. I can change them out when I put my clothes in the dryer if you want to go start them now." She walked to the door. "Besides that, have a good day, and I guess I'll see you in an hour."
She shut the door, imagining them cheering and jumping on the couch now that they were alone without any grownups.
The rumble of Wyatt's motorcycle started, and quickly, the other bikes joined. She waved on her way to her apartment, but Wyatt's attention was already focused on going to work. The last two weeks had flown by. She'd won and lost at Riverside Bar, which still put her ahead toward her goal thanks to winning at Kingston Bar.
Slow and steady was her constant mantra lately. Not only with raising funds to enter the Blackfoot Tournament but in her relationship with Wyatt. Because of the kids, she found herself going over to his apartment every night when she wasn't playing pool.
She loved spending time with all of them, and she looked forward to tomorrow night when Lucy picked up the kids and kept them for the whole weekend. She wouldn't have to sneak out of the apartment in the early morning hour, and they could have sex whenever they wanted.
Setting an example for teenagers was hard because they noticed everything. Every. Single. Thing.
Like the scent of her perfume in the morning after she'd left Wyatt's apartment but before the kids woke up—which Jess happened to mention during one of their shared dinners when they all ate together.
She walked into her apartment, leaving the door unlocked for the kids. Before she forgot, she took the business card
