“Will you be there?” Emmie asked Cal.
Cal’s eyes found mine. “I’ll be there,” he confirmed.
My heart thudded in response as relief and apprehension swept over me in equal measure.
I wasn’t sure what he expected or what he was after. Whatever it was, I doubted I could be the one to give it to him.
Chapter 4
“Idon’t feel right about that situation, Jill,” Cal practically growled at me later that night. I’d put Mason down and stepped outside into the motel hall. He’d reserved the room next to ours.
“Well I don’t feel great about it either,” I retorted. I was exhausted and feeling especially defensive about my niece and nephew. Truth be told, I wanted nothing more than to wrap them up in my arms and take them back to Hawthorne with me. “Janelle’s doing better than she has in the past. At least, it looks that way. I don’t have any reason to take some sort of legal action.”
“You’ve thought about it though,” he surmised as he leaned against the railing behind him, the picture of masculine grace.
I’d never thought a man like Cal could be graceful, but his movements were nearly feline at times.
“I’ve thought about it,” I admitted. “Right now I have to hope they’re okay. I’ll stay in touch with them as much as possible. Plus, I have my own shit to work through before I could be any good to them,” I added before I could stop myself.
His brows rose. I rarely gave away much about my past. “Oh yeah?”
My gaze shifted to the side. “Yeah. I need to get to bed,” I said before he could press for more. “Thank you for your help today. You didn’t have to and I certainly didn’t expect you…. But just… thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice deep and sure as he assessed me. “Someday you’ll learn—I’d do just about anything for you.”
Holy hell.
All I could do was gape wordlessly at him.
“You don’t know what to do with that, do you?” he surmised with a gorgeous twinkle in his eye.
I shook my head.
He stepped closer, his scent washing over me, something fresh and clean underlined with what I knew instinctively was all Cal. “Good thing I’m older and wiser, baby,” he murmured, a hint of humor lightening his tone. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night,” I managed, turning on a heel and practically running into my room.
I knew if I stayed even a second more I’d risk losing myself in those beautiful eyes of his. I couldn’t afford that—not now. Not when I was fighting the current of loss for my Gran. Not when I was just barely past the point of drowning.
****
A quiet knock sounded on our door the following morning. After next to no nap the previous day for Mason and a restless night for both of us, we were just waking up at close to eight. I stumbled blearily out of bed, nearly tripping on my way to the door. A quick check of the peephole revealed the gorgeous sight that was Cal Jackson.
I opened the door before I could think about my attire. Dressed only in my t-shirt and underwear, I was far from decent.
I looked down at my bare legs and then up at him, taking in his hungry gaze as it roved my body with clear appreciation.
I let out a little shriek. “Can you watch Mason for a second?” I demanded, not waiting for his nod before rushing into the bathroom to put my jeans on. In my rush to pack Mason and me, I’d forgotten pajamas.
His deep-throated chuckle could be heard behind the closed door and did nothing to help the blush staining my cheeks.
When I emerged a minute later, the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks. My sweet boy, still flushed from sleep, was snuggling in Cal’s arms as though he’d known him all his life. I fought to make sense of the feeling of tenderness that warred with something akin to possession.
I’d never had to share Mason with anyone, not even his father. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
“You’re good with him,” I murmured tentatively. “He likes you.”
His warm smile had my heart fluttering. “Good thing, ’cause I like him too.” His chin tilted to a bag that sat on the nightstand. “I picked up some breakfast and coffee.”
