Page 62 of Protect My Heart

She fiddled with the hem of her shorts, that sexy bottom lip caught between her Colgate-white teeth. “Hey, it’s cold out there. It was this or the flannel Pooh ones that cover me from neck to toe.”

Stretching out his hand, he snagged her and pulled her onto the bunk with him. His lips found hers and with soft brushes across her mouth and down her jaw, he let her know exactly how much he liked her cartoon character pajamas. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at sad old Eeyore the same.”

And within seconds, good old Eeyore was tossed across the ice house.

Chapter 19

The sun sat high in the sky by the time Liz made her way back into the house the next morning. Her mother sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and her iPad propped up against the napkin holder.

“Morning, Mami. That tea looks good.” Liz pulled off her coat and hung it on the hook by the back door. No sense in being embarrassed. Jim all but told her mother last night they were sleeping together. She moved to the cupboard and pulled out a mug.

Rosa lifted the tea to her mouth. Before taking a sip, her lips raised up a notch. “I love the new mugs you got.”

Liz glanced at the mug in her mother’s hand, it read: stay safe tonight, sleep with a cop. “I see you are taking its advice to heart.”

The knot in Liz’s stomach she tried to ignore pulled tighter. Maybe her mother wasn’t as cool with her and Jim sleeping together as she acted last night. “Mami—”

“Elizabeth, you’re a grown woman. It’s not for me to judge what you do and with whom.” She set the tea down. A long sigh escaped before she rose and crossed to her daughter. “I’m your mother and will always worry about you, but I can see Jim is a good man.”

“He is.” She slipped her arms around her tiny mother and held on. She missed this. The physical touch, the emotional connection with her family. So why was she entertaining the thought of taking the job out east?

“It’s so good to see you, baby girl, but I fear Walt and me being here isn’t what you need right now.” She pulled back. Soulful brown eyes full of wisdom stared back at Liz. “I needed to see that you were alright with my own eyes. Now that I have, Walt and I will get out of your hair.”

“No, Mami. I love having you here. You just arrived.”

“Walt and I are heading up north for a few days then we will stop back before we fly out to Tennessee.” Her hands came up and cupped Liz’s face. “You and your detective need time alone. You’re in good hands. Besides, I think you’d be more comfortable in the house if we weren’t here. I can’t imagine that trailer has many creature comforts.”

A mist clouded Liz’s vision, so she blinked it away. “I love you, Mami.”

“You too, mija. You too.” Rosa returned to the table, picked up the mug, and took a sip. “Informative and keeps the tea warm. Very good choice.”

Liz laughed and went back to making her own tea.

Only the one day to spend with her mother before she leaves, Liz’s brain kicked into gear and started planning the perfect girl’s day.

She looked at her fingernails with their new coat of lacquer then tapped them on the table. “Mami, we need to spend the day together before you head up to the cabin.”

Rosa’s face brightened. “I’d love that. What did you have in mind?”

“Some shopping, then lunch at the café on Seventh. I’m sure Titi could shake some time loose to join us.”

A coral tipped hand smoothed over Liz’s cheek. “My wise child, that’s a perfect way to spend the day.”

A few hours and several shopping bags later, Liz sat in the café downtown with her mother and aunt.

“Rosa, can’t you think of something to keep Lizzy here where she belongs?”

“I’m right here, Titi.” She fought back the eye roll. “And I’m not going anywhere for a while.”

“Joy, Lizzy will make the right decision. The one that is best for her.”

The words her mother spoke didn’t calm the churning in Liz’s stomach. The way her brow rose as she said it made Liz think her mother knew something she didn’t. “I haven’t decided anything yet.”

“Yes, you’re working on little Luis’ case now with the handsome Detective Swenson.”

It didn’t take her PhD to know her mother was hoping for grandbabies someday soon. The thought of the children she and Jim could have didn’t calm the dancing frogs in her stomach. But the thought of a little dark-haired boy with Jim’s intense eyes had the frogs moving north, setting off a wave of flutters in her chest. That wasn’t all bad.

“Carlton speaks very highly of the detective.” Joy’s scrutinizing gaze moved across the table to Liz. “The two of you have become quite close over the last few weeks, haven’t you?”