4. Micah

CHAPTER 4

Micah

I glance over at the mirror. Heidi's sitting in the back seat of my truck with her daughter. She's grinning and patting her daughter's bright pink cast, laughing at something she's saying and she's fucking gorgeous. I've never seen her like this. So relaxed and happy.

"Hey, you girls want to stop and get something to eat at the diner?"

Heidi's head jerks up so fast I think she almost hits the top of the truck.

"No, we couldn't possibly…"

"Can we get a cheeseburger and a milkshake, Mommy?" I almost choke on a laugh when the little minx gives her mom the puppy dog eyes and lays it on so thick that Heidi can't possibly think that she's not acting.

She glares at me in the mirror and then she looks at her daughter, running her fingers through her hair and smiling. "Fine. We'll get a cheeseburger and a milkshake to go. But we've got to get you home. You need to take one of those painkillers and get some rest."

Cassie scrunches up her little face and groans. "I don't want to rest. I've been sitting around all day."

"How about we get it all to go and y'all can come see my place. I've got a dog and a horse," I wheedle. I know I crossed a line when I hear a growl behind me but I just chuckle to myself when Cassie hollers.

"Yes, yes! What kind of dog is it? What kind of horse?" She whips around and the puppy-dog eyes are back again. "Can we go see Micah's place? Please, Mom? You know I love horses….please," she begs.

"Fine," Heidi growls. "But only for a little bit. Mister Reese needs to get his rest too. He's got to work tomorrow."

I hear the tone in her voice and it takes everything in me not to laugh. I know she's pissed. But I've been looking for an opening since she started working with Wildwood Construction and she hasn't given me any. Not that I didn't make a big mistake babying her on the job at first.

But it terrifies me how hard she pushes and I just want to take care of her. After all this time I've seen that she's good at her job. I've even heard the guys talk about her dad being in construction and that she grew up around all this shit.

Hell, she probably knows more than I do. I'm not an ass or anything. I don't care about that. The woman knows what she's doing. It's sexy as hell.

Unfortunately with the way I started out she doesn't see me as anything but an annoyance.

"Here we go. I'll grab our food. You two can wait in here and chat." I put the truck in park in front of the diner and turn to them. Cassie's blue eyes that are the spitting image of her mama's sparkle happily. "What kind of shakes do you guys want?"

"I want vanilla." I can tell she wants to go in but she thinks maybe she's pushed her mom enough. I don't think she's wrong. We're both pushing her outside of her comfort zone.

I glance over at Heidi and she glares at me but then her eyes turn away when Cassie turns to her. "I want strawberry.Thank you," she says grudgingly.

"Got it, ladies! Be right back!" I hop out of the truck, leaving it running so that the air is still on. It's a hot, muggy night and as soon as I step out of the truck, sweat starts trickling down my neck and into the back of my t-shirt. I huff and swat a mosquito buzzing around my face.

"Jesus. What a miserable day." I stomp inside and smile when I see the diner's newest hire.

"Hey, Fee! How's it going?"

She rolls her eyes. "Going great. This miserable weather is crazy and my feet are killing me." She grins at me and pulls out her little notepad. She likes old school just like the owner. "So what can I get you tonight?"

"I need three cheeseburgers. Just regular. And then I need two strawberry shakes and a vanilla shake."

Her brows lift over her dancing eyes as she glances out to my truck. "You feeling extra hungry today, Micah?"

Rolling my eyes, I sit at the counter and knock on it like I always do. "No. I've got company tonight."

"Oh my. What girl have you snookered into your bed?"

I glare at her. "I'm getting dinner for Heidi and her daughter. She had an accident at school today and we're just getting back from the hospital."

She hands the order to the cook and frowns. "Oh no! Is she alright?"

"Yep. She busted her arm up when she slid into the base after a run."

"Oh shit. She broke her arm? That poor thing. I'm glad you're picking up dinner for them. She's probably gonna crash early tonight no matter what she thinks. It's a hard thing to spend so long at the hospital and her body's gonna go through a bit of a shock when she slows down enough to feel it."

I nod my head. "I know it. That's why I suggested it. Heidi's had a rough day."

Now she smirks at me. "Ah. So that's the way of it."

"Don't go blabbing it to everyone in town. I'd like to tell her myself before gabby Mrs. Peterson at the post office tells her."

She snorts. "You're not kidding. I won't tell if you don't."

"Thanks." She hands me the bags and smirks, taking my card and running it.

"You have fun tonight." I roll my eyes and stomp out the door when she throws her head back, laughing at me.

"Right. See ya, Fee!"

She waves and when I get outside to the truck, Heidi's staring at me. "Are we keeping you from something?" she says, nodding to the waitress.

"Don't be ridiculous," I growl and slam the door, tossing the bags lightly onto the seat. I hand her the drinks carrier and our fingers brush. She inhales quickly, her eyes darting away from mine.

I felt it though. The sudden flash of electricity in my fingertips where I felt hers against mine. It sizzles up my arm and straight to my cock and I groan, shifting on the seat until my dick doesn't feel like it's plastered to my zipper.

Cassie grins as she takes her cup and a big sip of her vanilla shake. She groans and then smiles. "They make the best milkshakes."

I nod my head and smile, turning to the front and backing out of the parking spot, heading for my home. "You're not wrong. They are darn good."

"Thank you for this, Micah," Heidi mutters like she's being forced to say it and I glance at her in the rearview mirror, grinning.

"Sure. Just sit back. It won't take us long to get to my place."

She settles back, sipping her own shake and then handing me mine when I'm stopped at the only stop light in town.

I sip it and sigh. The creamy coolness settles my churning stomach. I listen to the happy chatter in the backseat and I know.

This is what I'm meant for. This is my family.

Now I just have to convince Heidi that she can trust me and I want to be it for her. That I'm not a damn kid. I'm the man for her and her daughter.