Page 11 of Honor ’N’ Duty

“Mommy, are you still mad at Uncle Kade?”

Yes. “No, of course, not.” In a calm move that belied the frustration ready to burst from her head with more force than a shaken soda can, she brushed a silky-soft strand of hair from her daughter’s cheek.

“I hope not.” Kade had returned, crossing his arms as he leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Because until we figure out what’s really going on here, you’re staying with me. At my house. For your safety and Rosa’s.”

“What?” Laia jumped to her feet. What he was suggesting was ludicrous. Impossible. “No. No way. There’s not a chance in hell—”

“Heck,” he said, his lips quirking as he raised his brows, tipping his head to Rosa and reminding her that she shouldn’t be cursing.

She stepped closer, getting in his face and waggling a stiff finger at him. “Heck, Hades, purgatory, underworld… The only reason I called you was for my daughter’s sake, to keep her safe from whatever’s happening here. I appreciate you coming, but there’s no way we’re staying in the same house with you.”

Kade pushed from the door to tower over her. A challenging gleam lit his eyes, making the amber halos in them burn like a ring of fire. “Wanna bet?”

He was so close, his heat washing over her, his nearness and clean, fresh scent so overwhelming she was forced to take a step back.

Renewed anger and fear stoked hotly up her spine. The anger she understood. The fear…she couldn’t put into words as to why that was. One thing was for certain, though, and that was the neon sign blinking in her head, warning: No, no, and just…no!

Where Kade was concerned, her emotions were all mixed up, and she had to maintain a rational distance from him and keep reminding herself that for years, he couldn’t be bothered with her. Now he wanted them to move in with him?

But he’d played on the one thing that could make her say and do things completely against her better judgment. Rosa.

Years ago, she’d married Josh, who’d turned her world upside down. Now, she was about to repeat history and live under the same roof with a man who would, she didn’t doubt for one second, completely and utterly turn her world upside down, then inside out.

Chapter Three

Kade took the exit off Route 22 for North Plainfield. For what must have been the hundredth time since leaving Asbury Park, he glanced in the rearview mirror, relieved to see Laia’s gray Ford Escape directly behind him.

He would have preferred they’d all driven in the same vehicle, but with the mobile computer, radios, and other gear obstructing most of the passenger seat, his Colt M4 rifle sticking up between the front seats, and Smoke’s specially outfitted K-9 kennel taking up the entire bench seat behind him, there wasn’t much room for anyone else.

Kade stopped for a traffic light and began tapping his fingers on the wheel, wondering if Laia had thrown any of that pretty lingerie into one of the bags she’d packed. Not that he had any designs on seeing her wear it, but how could he not wonder what she’d look like in it?

Amazing. No doubt about it.

The crotch of his tux pants tightened just thinking about running his fingers over that satin and lace while the warmth of Laia’s soft skin seeped into his fingers and…

Reality. Gut. Check.

Laia had practically rammed it down his throat that she wasn’t about to give him the time of day, personally, so how could he even think about a relationship, sexual or otherwise, with her? Because he couldn’t help it. Just as he couldn’t have helped it any time over the last six years. And lest he forget, there’d also be an adorably precocious little girl living under his roof. Laia and Rosa were staying with him for protection. Not so he could jump his sister-in-law’s bones.

At seven p.m., it was still light out as they turned into his driveway. He clicked the garage door opener, then parked his SUV off to the side near the back of the house. As an added precaution, they’d prearranged for Laia to put her Escape inside the garage next to his POV—personally owned vehicle—a navy-blue Chevy Suburban. Considering he hadn’t been in her or Rosa’s life for…well, basically never, no one would ever suspect they’d stay here, but still.

As he watched Laia pull in, worry stuck to his brain like a giant burr. The police might think this was a typical burglary. Kade’s gut said it was connected to Josh. When Laia talked about the man outside the daycare and being followed, he was sure of it. Laia knew it, too. He could see it in her eyes.

Kade unlocked the M4, then slung the strap over his shoulder. He grabbed his tuxedo jacket and overnight bag from the rear compartment and let Smoke out of the kennel. His dog trotted into the garage, circling Laia’s Escape as he waited impatiently for them to get out.

While Laia unstrapped Rosa from the booster seat, he lifted the Escape’s tailgate and retrieved their bags. Rosa scrambled off the seat, then crouched to throw her arms around Smoke’s neck. His dog sat, happily enduring Rosa’s attention and flicking his tail back and forth on the concrete. Where Rosa was concerned, Smoke’s love of children went into major overdrive.

Holding Rosa’s hand, Laia met him in the driveway, then looked up at his house. It wasn’t much, a two-story white clapboard with brick facing and a pathetic flower bed planted with evergreen bushes and grasses, plants that didn’t need much attention. Laia’s lips twisted.

“There’s really no need for us to stay here.” With her free hand, she gestured to his house, frowning and looking as if the idea of staying with him was as repugnant to her as renting a room at a roach motel.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, staring at her lips because yeah…that was definitely a brighter shade of lipstick, and it looked good on her. Christ, he didn’t want to still be so attracted to her. “My house may not be fancy, but it’s clean.”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

“At what? Did you think I lived in a tent?”

“No. I expected you to live in a condo or a townhouse, someplace that would have freed you up more to enjoy your bachelorhood.”