Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) (8 page)

By the time I finished putting Koda to bed and came out into the kitchen, Mena was gone. There was a note on the bench that said my dinner was in the fridge, and she'd be back at eight thirty in the morning.

Opening the fridge, my eyes landed on the plate holding a steak I knew would be juicy and potatoes just the way I liked them cooked.

"Fuck," I grumbled to the room.

I knew I'd been a dick to her, but she should have called me.

Jesus, I remembered she'd caught the bus, and it was pitch-fuckin'-black outside. She knew I wanted to drive her to the bus stop, but instead of putting up with my arsehollery ways, she'd left to walk alone at night.

Slamming the door closed on the fridge, I went to go to the front door to see if I could still spot her down the drive, but instead, the phone rang.

"Yo."

"How was your first day of work, son?"

"Next time you want to give the go-ahead to some bird I don't know to feed my son something he could choke on, don't. Or better yet, ring me, and then I'll tell you no fuckin' way."

"You finished?" Mum asked acidly.

Fuck me.

"For now."

"Right, my turn and listen good, child of mine. Your son needs his solid food now. He's at the age jar food won't do shit for him. You keep coddling him like you have been, it'll all turn to crap. He is a strong, good little boy, and Mena giving him food today should fucking show you that he
can
handle it, but it's your mind that's holding him back. It's your worry that will deter his growth," she snapped, but she hadn't finished. "I just bet you took all this shit out on a woman who doesn't need it. Mena is a good woman. She has experience with children and
you
picked her. The time I spent with her, I saw how much she would be great for Koda, how she would care for him like her life depended on it. Do not fuck this up, Kalen. You keep treating her like shit, she won't keep staying around for it. You're probably too full in your own head to notice the sadness lurking in her eyes. She's been through a lot, Kalen, and the last thing she needs is you being a prick about shit that
should
be happening anyway."

"I ain't here to
coddle
her, Mum. I don't give a crap about her sadness or anything—"

"Do you care about your son?"

"You know I fucking do," I shot back.

"Then loosen the goddamn ropes and let your son grow. Let him shine under her watch. You’re a fantastic father, Kalen. The best. But I fear the worry you have will be harmful to him."

Shit. She was right, and I bloody hated she was.

"Still, didn't give either of you the right to try something on my son without my knowledge."

She snorted. "Like you said, you wouldn't have given us the go-ahead anyway. At least now, your worry should have eased knowing your son knows how to handle his food. Shit, you're his father, and you were like a goddamn vacuum at that age."

"Fuck me. I should never have had you come over today."

Mum laughed. "Maybe you shouldn't have because now Mena has my back on all decisions with Koda. Other than trying to help your son, did she do anything else wrong today?"

No. The fuckin' house was cleaner than when Mum did it. The meal she made looked edible, nothing like Mum would have made, and my son… hell, there was a new light shining in his eyes, and it made me wonder if it was because of that woman today.

"Kalen?"

"No."

"Exactly. She will be an asset in the house. Not a problem." She gasped. "You didn't fire her, did you?"

"No," I grumbled.

"At least a part of your brain isn't so stupid. Listen, I'm leaving at the end of the week now I know things are settled with you, and I want to come back to see Mena still in the house. Don't fuck this up for me, for you, and especially for your son."

"As long as she never thinks she can take the place of Koda's mum."

Mum sighed. "My baby boy, no one would take Simone's place. We will all make sure of it. Simone will always be remembered, and Koda will always know she was
his
mum. But a child is allowed to care for more than one female. Besides, I doubt Mena would ever try to be someone she's not."

"She said it, but—"

"You accused her of this already? Boy, where was your head at? Fuck me. She has a lot to deal with and now putting up with your arse. I'll be goddamn surprised she'll be there when I get back. Stop being a dick, Kalen."

"Love you, too, Mum."

"You know I love you, even if you drive me insane." A smile was in her voice. "Now go have a shower. I can smell you from here and then eat your dinner. Mena told me what she was going to make, and I just bet you're dying to dive in… get it, Dive." She laughed. "Talk to you tomorrow night when you've finished work."

"You coming here tomorrow?"

"I know Mena had everything under control, but I think I will pop in, see what else Mena and I can scare you with." She giggled.

"Mum," I growled, but she'd already hung up the phone.

Shaking my head, I placed my phone on the table and went for a shower. Mum was right about another thing; I was dying to dive into dinner.

The shower helped my tense muscles loosen. I stood there, eyes closed, head lagging low with my palm pressed against the tiles. Letting the hot water run over my back, an image of sweet blue eyes flashed in my mind.

"Fuck," I whispered harshly.

My dick stirred, growing half mast. Another image of long legs, soft blonde hair ran through my mind causing my dick to harden even more.

"Shit no," I growled. I was not fuckin' thinking about another woman. I conjured a picture of Simone in my mind and took my dick in hand. Slowly, I stroked up and down it. I forgot the last time I'd come. Christ, it was so long ago. The craving to rut struck me. I'd left it too long and I wasn't going to last. At least I was still going to enjoy it.

"Fuck," I clipped out roughly as Mena's face, then her body flashed into my mind, wiping away my image of Simone and causing my balls to shrink up. My stomach tensed as the feel of my cum drew down and squirted out the tip while I kept running my hand up and down my cock, faster and faster. Groaning, I pulled the last drops of cum from my dick and placed my other hand on the tiles, breathing heavy.

Now, I was pissed right the fuck off.

My mind shouldn't have gone there. Shouldn't have pictured
her
. In fact, it made me mad as hell.

"Fuck." I sighed into the shower, my jaw clenching, my hands balling into fists as I brought them to my sides and stood tall. "Fucking hell," I snapped before turning off the shower.

What in the Christ did I get myself in to?

Chapter Seven

One week later

Mena

The first week went flying by. I had been scared to go back the day after Kalen yelled at me about Koda and his solid food. However, when I'd turned up, he seemed over it. In fact, as he was leaving, he told me I could give whatever I wanted to Koda, but I had to watch him like a hawk. He'd walked out the door before he saw my beaming smile. I found out later Judy had given her son a good talking to. Though, she added she wasn't sure he wouldn't still be a dick to me. His cold attitude didn't bother me. What kept me coming back was Koda.

I felt guilty for getting paid to be the housekeeper when really there wasn't much to clean up. The only rule I had was to stay out of Kalen's room. Still, there were only the dishes and laundry each day. Other than that, the house stayed pretty clean. Regardless, I also decided to vacuum, sweep, and mop every day while Koda had an afternoon nap. I swore Koda could sleep through a bomb going off. I didn't want Koda, when he started moving around more, to be doing it on a dirty floor.

On Wednesday, I asked if I could do some gardening and clean out the shed I saw in the backyard. Kalen said I could knock myself out with the garden, but there wasn't anything to tidy in the shed.

By Thursday, my luck had run out. I'd managed to dodge Kalen when he got home and got out of the house before he mentioned him driving me to the bus stop. However, Thursday night he'd just taken Koda to his bedroom to get ready for bed, and I'd managed to make it to the front door before he came out and barked, "You move out that door, there will be trouble. It started spitting on the way home. I'll drive you to the bus stop, or better yet, I'll drive you home. Just give me time to get Koda changed and I'll get him in the car."

"No, you really—"

"Not another word, Mena." He glared.

Glowering back, I shot back, "Fine."

Thankfully, after he dropped me off, he didn't stick around waiting for the bus to show because he wanted to get Koda home. The walk took me an extra twenty minutes to get back to my car. He did it again Friday, and it had been pouring rain. By the time I'd made it to my car, I was drenched, shivering, and cold to the bone.

To warm me up, I did something I hadn't done in a very long time. Laying back flat on the back seat, I placed one foot to the floor and the other I lifted up to the top of the seat. My heel rested against the back platform. I felt ridiculous. I'd never had the urge to touch myself in the car before, but I couldn't stop. My hand went to the front of my pyjama pants. Slowly, I slid my hand inside, only to gasp from the cool touch of my hand. Still, I kept gliding it down. I was already wet, and I knew it had something to do with a certain male I worked for. While I arched, gasped and moaned, running my finger up and down, in and out and around my clit, two steel eyes consumed my mind. Eyes that were hard, heated, hot, and wanting
me
. The orgasm I had was like nothing I'd felt before and thankfully, it left me exhausted.

When I woke the next day, I was surprised I didn't wake up with a cold. To prevent one, I made sure I stayed inside the car all weekend, and ate all the fruit and vegetables I had left. I had no intention of going out into the terrible weather.

In my solitude, those steel eyes kept making appearances in my foolish mind.

On Monday, I chose to drive to Kalen's; I didn't want a repeat of Friday since it was still raining, and I also had some washing to do. My clothes from Friday were still damp and smelled out the car. After parking out the back, away from Kalen's vehicle so he wouldn't think to look in mine, I made my way in through the back door.

Kalen was in the kitchen finishing up Koda's breakfast of Weetabix crushed in milk. Kalen seemed to be handling the change in Koda's food well. I just had to make sure it stayed that way.

"Morning," I offered at the doorway, heat lighting my cheeks at the memory of touching myself while my boss's eyes had flashed in my mind.

Kalen grunted and then looked over. "You look like shit. Did you get any sleep last night?"

Sighing, my head dipped forward, eyes to the floor in shock at how rude he was. Did he seriously say that? How he ever starred in my twiddling fantasies was a surprise. I had to get my head checked.

Actually, I hadn't got much sleep. The wind had been fierce the night before, and every noise made me jump out of my skin.

"Charming as ever I see," I mumbled, ignoring his comment. "Did Judy get away okay?"

"Yeah, fine." He went to spoon another bite to Koda, but he turned his head away and started grumbling. "He's been doing that since yesterday."

Walking straight to Koda, I felt his forehead. "He seems a little hot. He could be coming down with something."

"Shit."

Without thought, my hand went to Kalen's shoulder when I said, "He'll be okay. We'll take good care of him." When Kalen glared down at my hand, I quickly removed it and stepped back.

Over the last week, I'd noticed how consumed Kalen was with Koda. He worried over every little thing. It made me wonder if it was because something had happened to Kalen's wife. Still, I realised I overstepped my bounds touching him.

He was a good-looking man. A woman would be crazy not to see it. But his coldness when his wall erupted around him was enough for me to know to steer clear of him, or I'd have my head bitten off. I wasn't there to help him; my responsibility was Koda.

Going to the fridge, I grabbed out Koda's water bottle before saying, "If anything changes in Koda, I'll call you." Knowing I wouldn't get a response, I busied myself in the kitchen while he said goodbye to his son. Once he'd left, I went to Koda to pick him up out of his high chair.

Quieter than usual, Koda leaned his head against my chest. He was definitely coming down with something.

By the end of the day, Koda ended up with a blocked nose, watery, red eyes, and he'd become more irritable. He hated it every time I wiped his nose and even more when he couldn't breathe from it when it came to bottle and naptime. He didn't get much sleep at all. His appetite was small; all he wanted were soft things, which I realised when he pushed away his favourite cracker. No doubt he had a sore throat.

Poor boy.

Come five, I rang Kalen because after using his computer, I worked out what Koda would need for his cold.

"Yo."

"Kalen, it's me, Mena." His annoyed sigh was loud, so I went on before he could say anything. "Koda has come down with a cold. Can you pick some things up for him?"

"Fuck. Yeah, what?"

"Vapour rub for babies, a humidifier, the chemist should have them, and we'll also need a nasal aspirator."

"Got it. Be back soon," he said before he hung up.

Placing the phone down, I went back to Koda, picked him up from the floor, and sat him on my knee. He cuddled right in. "Daddy will be home soon, sweet boy, and he'll bring things that will help." It sucked an eight-month-old couldn’t have medicine to help with all the other pains, but if things didn't improve in the next day or so, I would ask Kalen to take him to the doctors.

I heard the car pull in before moments later, the front door opened. "You didn't lock it again," he said with a growl before walking to us and leaning in to kiss Koda on his cheek. "Hey, buddy," he whispered in a soft tone that made my heart warm.