His son would have been received with the same open armed, unconditional love Jake himself had gotten when his parents had dumped him on his grandparents’ doorstep all those years ago.
In spite of having parents who hadn’t wanted him, he’d never felt unwanted. The parallels between his own and Maddox’s life were uncanny and probably why Jake planned to go out of his way to make sure Mad had the same loving environment to grow up in as he had.
“These other four seem like good solid choices.”
He turned back to Lory. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” She bent closer to the screen. “Do you want to go over them together? See if our thoughts align on why they’d be a good fit? Perhaps we can narrow it down to two?”
Placing an open bottle of water on the counter in front of her he asked, “Do you have time? I don’t want to keep you from your work.” It was a slight dig about her abrupt departure last week, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Of course. My hours are my own except when marks are due.” She smiled up at him as she reached for her drink. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He rubbed his hands together. “Okay, since you offered, I’ll take advantage of your generosity. Also, if I set up some video calls, would you sit in on them? I know I need to make this decision but I’d really like to have your opinion.”
“I guess I could do that. But I’d have to be off camera and I won’t speak.”
“Okay. Although telling me yes or no without talking might be a problem.”
The smile she aimed at him had his gut clenching. She was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen and what made her more so was that she didn’t seem to be aware of it or use it to get what she wanted. It was a refreshing change for the woman who’d been in his life for years. Renee had used her looks to reel him in again and again, and while he could blame his stupidity on falling for her wiles on youth in the beginning, he’d long since moved into maturity.
There was no ifs ands or buts, he’d let her lead him around by his dick until that final argument that had her turning her manipulative, destructive charms on Ry.
“How about sign language?”
“Huh?” Fuck. He’d done it again. He had to stop doing that. Falling into thoughts of a woman who was out of his life, would be completely removed from it once he’d had her parental rights stripped. Renee was behind him. Lory was in front of him. “Sorry, sign language?”
“Yes. Like this.” She fisted her hands, thumbs up, and turned them upside down and right side up again. Down again. “No good.” Up. “Good.”
“Right. Yeah, of course. That would work.”
“When are you planning on doing the video calls?”
“This afternoon? Tonight?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know when. I guess I have to contact the agencies and have them set it up.”
“Probably. Did they not give you instructions for when you made your choice?”
“Ah…maybe? I didn’t read the emails the files were attached to. Just skimmed the first line or so then saved and opened the files.” Jake knew his lack of attention was due to his reluctance to have anyone except himself care for Mad.
Her gaze focused back on the screen in front of her. “Hmm…”
He studied her face. She looked so young and fresh without makeup. She’d told him a few things about herself but one thing she hadn’t mentioned was her age. If he took into account her degree and how long she’d been working at the college she taught at, he’d peg her age at around thirty. Except this close, he had to reconsider that assumption.
If he went off looks alone, his guess would be early twenties. Only the knowledge that she’d been out of school for several years pushed that number higher.
“How old are you?” He spoke before his brain engaged but there was no taking the question back.
Her gaze popped up to collide with his. “How old? Why?”
Figuring it best if he made like the answer wasn’t going to bother him, he shrugged and said, “Just wondering.”
“Twenty-seven. Last January. You?” She cocked an eyebrow and he could see a sparkle of humor in her eyes. “You’d be what? Close to fifty?”
“Hey.” He straightened to his full height. Before he could say anything else, she was laughing.
Laughing so hard she almost toppled off the stool.
Crossing his arms, he glared at her.
