Jayden, page 8
part #5 of Heroes at Heart Series
“I don’t think he wants payback, girl.”
Her brow knit with confusion, and she asked, “Then why?”
Her grandmother’s grasp on her hand relaxed, and she closed her eyes. “That’s for you to find out, Ruby girl. You go on now. I’m gonna have a little nap.”
She stepped back, her thoughts tangled. Sighing heavily, she walked down the short hall, glancing into the mirror in the tiny half bathroom. One look at herself, and she shook her head, wishing she had time to get fixed up. Even running a brush through my hair and changing out of my cleaning clothes would be better. But there was no time—or reason—so she hurried back to the living room, seeing Jayden stand once more as she entered.
In all the time that she had been with Kevin, she could not remember one single instance of him standing when she, or Granny, left or entered a room. While it would not have been necessary, she could not deny that Jayden’s manners were refreshing.
He waved his hand toward the sofa and asked, “Will you sit with me? Will you give me a chance to explain about your car?”
She nodded and walked over, sitting down. Toeing off her sneakers, she twisted her body so that she was facing him and tucked her feet up under her. Sighing, she began, “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, Jayden. I just can’t imagine how much money it took to fix my car.”
She watched as he hesitated, appearing to consider his words carefully. Leaning forward, she placed her hand on his arm and added, “I won’t be angry. I just need to understand what’s happening.”
His warm eyes focused on her, and she felt that warmth move between them, slowly caressing her. His hair was down today, pulled away from his face but hanging about his shoulders. The thick waves appeared soft, and she itched to reach over and touch the tresses. Kevin’s hair used to always be trimmed, but he had let it grow longer in the last few years. But it was never luxurious…instead, it became unkempt and certainly not sexy.
The muscles underneath her fingertips felt strong, and it was not the first time she wondered what it would feel like to have him embrace her.
“Ruby,” he began, drawing her attention back to his face and away from his hair and muscles.
“The simplest answer I can give you is this. We did not have to order many parts for your car, and the ones we did order were not expensive. They were some that we should have had in our shop anyway, so I simply ordered for you and a few extra to have for the next Toyota that comes in. I pay my mechanics a good salary, and they get paid whether we’re having a busy day or a light one. The last couple of days, I had at least one mechanic with some time on his hands, so it was no big deal to have him work on your car.”
She cocked her head to the side and said, “If all that’s true, Jayden, then why me?” His jaw ticked, and she wondered about the tension.
“When I first saw you here that day, I was furious that you were struggling in your yard with a perfectly capable man, half drunk, inside. But I didn’t know you, and I didn’t know him, and you begged me to walk away. I figured he was the kind of man that would’ve made things worse if I had insisted on staying. So, I left, but you have no idea how that gutted me inside.”
She tilted her head to the side and asked, “Gutted? But I was a stranger. “
“Ruby, you don’t gotta know somebody to know that they need help. I didn’t know you, but I could tell you needed help, and I still walked away.”
She bit her lip, pondering his words. Before she had a chance to question further, he continued.
“You stayed on my mind. Not just because you needed help and I walked away, but because there was something about you that made me wish I knew you better. When I saw you on the side of the road, I couldn’t believe that I had a second opportunity to do something for you. And you better believe, that time, I decided I was not going to walk away.”
She quietly considered his words. “That day, when you walked over to me, you already seemed to recognize me,” she said, voicing what she had wondered about.
He grinned and nodded toward the red hoodie that she had dropped near the front door in her rush to get to her grandmother. “You were wearing that the first time I saw you. It’s kind of big on you, and when I saw you in it, standing next to the car, I just knew it was you.”
Her gaze followed his, and she stood, walking over to the door. Bending to pick up the hoodie, she held it tightly to her, her hands fingering the thick but worn material. Settling back on the sofa, she explained, “It was my father’s.”
Jayden hesitated, and she saw a flash of unease move across his face. Anticipating the reason, she asked, “I suppose Granny told you my whole life’s story before I got here, didn’t she?”
“No, not really. I mean, she told me some. She mentioned that your parents were gone.” He appeared flustered, but added, “I’m sorry. I admit I was curious about you, but I should’ve waited and let you tell me yourself in your own time.”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “Believe me, I know how Granny loves to talk.” She lifted her shoulders in a little shrug. “It’s okay, really. There’s not very much exciting about me, so I don’t really have any secrets.” Looking back down at the red hoodie in her lap, she said, “There was a park near where we used to live, and Mama didn’t ever care much for walking. But I loved it. Taking walks with my dad was our special time together. He had this red hoodie jacket that Granny had bought for him years before, and I told him that I liked it because I could always find him in a crowd. One day, he gave it to me and said he wanted me to have it so that he would always be able to see me as well. I think perhaps he knew then that he was dying. Anyway, I kept it and wear it all the time. Kevin hated it and used to ask why on earth I wore this old jacket. He never understood how much it meant to me.”
“That was the man? Kevin?”
She nodded and replied softly, “Yeah.”
“I don’t suppose you need to hear me say I thought that guy was a jerk.”
Shaking her head, a giggle slipped out. “No, you’d be right—he was a jerk.” A moment of silence passed, and she said, “What are we going to do about my car? It doesn’t feel right for me to take all of your generosity. Can I please do something to help?”
He reached his hand over and placed it on top of hers, his calloused thumb smoothing over her soft skin. “Your grandmother admitted that you could use some help.”
She winced, but he continued before a denial could cross her lips.
“I know about your mother’s medical bills. I know you’ve been working hard since you were eighteen years old. Hell, even before that, since your grandmother said you were working in high school to help defray the costs. I don’t know how old you are now, but I know you’re still working hard.”
“Lots of people work hard, Jayden. Lots of people are down on their luck.”
“I know that, too, Ruby. And I help when I can, just like you do.”
She stared at him and understanding dawned. “I’m not the first person you’ve helped with their automobile, am I?”
He shrugged, but she knew the answer. Who is this guy that’s such a good man? Before she could stop herself, she asked the question that had just passed through her mind. “Who are you, Jayden Chapman?”
Her question caught him off guard, and Jayden pondered what to say. Unable to think of a pithy response, honesty was the only thing he could come up with.
“Ruby, I know what it’s like to be in need. I know what it’s like to have absolutely nothing and be dependent on a system to take care of me.” She had flipped her hand over and he linked fingers with her, desiring that small physical connection and hoping she did as well.
“My mother was a drug addict and died when I was very young. My grandmother took me and my brother in, but she was old and died soon thereafter, also. Then we were shuffled over to our aunt, who was a nice woman, but too young to be raising two small boys. She decided she couldn’t take care of us anymore and turned us over to the system.”
Ruby gasped, her eyes wide as she stared at him. “Oh, Jayden, I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head and squeezed her hand again. “It’s okay. My brother and I landed in a safe place. We ended up in a foster home run by a wonderful woman that I consider to be my mother to this day. She took in other boys, so I was raised in a loving family.”
Shaking her head sadly, she said, “I’m so glad you had that, but it breaks my heart for the reason.”
He smiled, shifting his body slightly closer to hers on the sofa. His left hand stayed linked with hers, and his right arm stretched along the back of the sofa, his hand close to her face. “The day I drove through your neighborhood, that big, red hoodie caught my eye. At first, I thought you were a much younger girl struggling with the lawnmower. That’s why I stopped initially.”
He watched a blush cover her face, and she grimaced.
“I’ve always been small,” she sighed. “I look at tall, long-legged models and am so envious. At five feet, two inches, I’m often mistaken for someone much younger than I am. I’m actually twenty-four years old.”
He heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Good, then I don’t feel like I’m robbing the cradle!”
At that, a giggle slipped from her lips, and he wished he could pull the words back. “I don’t mean…I’m not trying to say…Well, all I meant was…Oh, hell!”
She burst out laughing, her fingers flexing against his. “I don’t think I’ve seen you flustered before.”
He pretend-glared but was glad she had not taken offense. “Anyway, when I saw you struggling, I felt a sense of protectiveness that I can’t explain. When that guy came out on the porch, though, I didn’t know how to help and sure as hell didn’t want to make things worse. So, when I saw you again on the side of the road, I knew I wanted to help you in any way that I could.”
They settled into a comfortable silence for a moment, and then she gave a little jerk as though a thought had just popped into her mind. “The loaner car! I need to be able to get my car from you as soon as possible, so I can give you back loaner car. I know there must be someone else who needs it.”
“There’s no rush, honest,” he replied. “I know you’ve been working all day. Do you have to work a shift at the diner tonight?”
Shaking her head, her smile showed her relief. “No, thank goodness.”
“What did you have planned for this evening?” he asked.
She glanced about the room and said, “Nothing very exciting. On nights that I don’t have to work at the diner, I make sure the house is clean and the laundry is done. I also try to cook a good meal for Granny.” She looked back at him and said quickly, “But I’ve got time to go by your shop and pick up my car.”
He decided to press his luck and asked, “How about this? I’ve got nothing else to do today, so I can drive the loaner back to the shop and then bring your car back here. Since you’ve got work you want to do here, how about I pick up some dinner for you and Granny?”
She blinked slowly, before asking, “Dinner?”
He shrugged his wide shoulders slightly and said, “You’ve got to eat, I’ve got to eat, why not eat together? You’ve got work here that you need to do, and my day is finished. I’m not much of a cook, and it would be a treat for me to not have to eat alone. I’d love to share a meal with you and your grandmother.”
He watched the denial perch on her lips but not be uttered aloud as the wheels turned behind her eyes. She was the hardest woman to convince to let him do something for her, but every fiber of his being cried out to get to know her better. Much to his surprise and relief, she finally offered a little smile.
“I’ll agree, Jayden, but only if you let me do the cooking. “
He opened his mouth to protest, not wanting her to work more, but she rushed, “I really do like to cook, and it would make me feel less indebted to you if you allow me to do this one small thing for you.”
It was not what he had intended, but the desire to share a meal with her was so strong, he agreed. Grinning widely, he stood and said, “You’ve got a deal.” Holding his hand out, he waited as she hesitated before placing her hand in his, and he gently pulled her from the sofa. “Give me the keys, and I’ll go switch the cars.”
Standing at the front door a few minutes later, he said, “I don’t want you to go to any trouble tonight. When would you like me back here?”
“Can you give me two hours?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he would give her anything, but he wisely chose to simply say, “Absolutely. I’ll be here in two hours.”
Taking her hand, he squeezed her fingers once more, fighting the urge to pull her in for a hug. Taking a quick look at the time, he made a detour to the store, deciding that if she was going to cook, he could bring dessert.
10
Ruby sat on the sofa for a few seconds before hopping up and pacing the room, glancing out the window. In the two hours since Jayden had left her house, she had washed a load of clothes, taken a quick shower, fixed her hair, applied a coat of mascara and lip gloss, vacuumed and dusted the living room, and fretted the entire time as she fixed a simple dinner. Now, it was almost time for him to come back, and she could not sit still.
“Ruby, please sit down,” Granny ordered, her voice firm but smile wide. “You are going to wear a hole in the rug.” Granny sat in the chair she had occupied earlier, her walker nearby, and patted her hair, which had also been recently brushed to fluff up the side that had flattened when she took a nap.
She whirled around, plopped onto the sofa, and dropped her head into her hands. “This is such a disaster.”
Granny’s eyes settled on Ruby, and her smile slipped into an expression of concern. “What? What is such a disaster?”
She did not lift her head but spoke to her knees and said, “All of this. I don’t know why I agreed to let him give me a loaner car in the first place.”
Her voice gentle, Granny said, “Honey, look at me.” She waited until Ruby lifted her head obediently and continued, “Talk to me.”
Swallowing deeply, she said, “He’s so good looking. He looks like some kind of model that stepped right off the pages of a magazine. He’s the kind of man that women would turn their heads and stare at, but he’s not stuck up. It’s like he doesn’t know he’s all that. He’s going out of his way to help me for no other reason than he knows I need it. He owns his own business, and I know he makes a lot of money if he’s able to help other people. On top of that, he’s really nice just to be around.”
Granny leaned back in her seat and placed her hands on her lap. “Okay,” she began slowly, as though speaking to a skittish animal. “So far, what you’ve described is a wonderful example of manhood. I guess I’m not seeing the reason for concern.”
Sighing softly, she said, “Granny, I just don’t get it…his interest in me. At first, I thought he was just being nice. But this…inviting himself to dinner. Well…it seems like more.” She looked up and watched as Granny nodded in agreement, and continued, “I’m just not sure about any of this.” Her hands, also in her lap, clasped together tightly. “The only man I’ve been around was Kevin, and I obviously didn’t read him correctly. I think he really just wanted me so he wouldn’t be lonely but not for really wanting me.”
Granny sucked in a deep breath through her nose before letting it out slowly. “My dear, I call bullshit.”
Ruby startled at her grandmother’s use of the word ‘bullshit’, and a snort of laughter erupted. “Granny!”
“No, really. That’s the only word I can think of that is appropriate at the moment. Kevin may have been your friend and then boyfriend for a time, but he was certainly not the only man you could learn from. Your father was a good and loving man, and you would do well to think back on him.”
“Of course, I think back on him,” Ruby protested. “But I was talking about a—”
“I know exactly what you were talking about. And I’m telling you that when you finally broke up with Kevin, you did it because you realized he was not good for you, nor to you. And one of the reasons you know that is because of your father. Your father treated your mother with kindness. He loved her and was not afraid to compliment her, do things for her, want to make her life easier. You grew up seeing that example. And right now, you’ve got a good man in front of you, wanting to be with you. And darling, you are worthy of him.”
The sound of a car door slamming outside ended their conversation, and Ruby jumped up from the sofa again. “He’s here!”
Granny grinned and nodded. “Normally I would tell you to wait until he arrived at the door, but I know you’re anxious to see your car.”
With a flash of a smile toward her grandmother, she darted to the door. Taking a big breath, she opened it and stepped onto the porch, seeing Jayden unfolding his tall frame out of her small car. A wide smile split her face, unable to hide her delight in seeing him again.
Jayden glanced up to the porch, and his heart leapt at the sight of Ruby standing there beaming down at him. Her dark brown hair was not pulled up, but instead was falling in gleaming waves around her shoulders. Her eyes appeared even wider, and her lips had a shine of pink. She was wearing dark jeans and a light blue, short-sleeved sweater, the color making her eyes even more blue. The outfit was simple, but it showcased her delicate curves.
Not wanting to waste a moment to get to her, he stalked forward as she rushed down the steps.
“You washed it?” she asked, her eyes darting behind him toward her car, clapping her hands in glee.
“There’s a carwash down the street from my shop, and I just ran it through on my way over here,” he explained. Pleased she noticed, he shrugged and said, “It was no big deal.”
She moved closer and reached out to grab his hand. “It might not be a big deal to you, but Jayden, it’s huge to me.” She gave his hand a little squeeze, and he felt his heart beat harder in response. He did not know what it was about this young woman that made him feel this way, but he was determined to break down her barriers and get to know her.
