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She lifted a shoulder, looking shy. “I can read a few ancient languages, but, um… I think what I’m getting at here is that I’ve always been slightly bookish and although my father was a firefighter and I grew up with a brother who never shied from trouble, I tend to be quiet and not very athletic or physically strong.”
Morgan shook his head, confused. “Are you worried you might have to fight off someone attacking my daughter? Or is it me you’re afraid will be attacking you?”
The red flush that filled her face made him realize that last sentence came out wrong. And that he was dead on about her attraction to him.
Blake cleared her throat. “When I pick Ciara up from school, should I be worried?”
Hmm. She saidwhennotif. “First of all, the court case is about child custody, and Fawn’s husband has the money for the best lawyers as well as a reputation as a law abiding citizen. I can’t see him or Fawn resorting to kidnapping, although I do have someone looking into their lives right now for my case. That said, Ciara wears a tracker and carries an emergency alert piece, and has done that since way before this stuff began with her mother. That is just me being a paranoid dad and wanting to always be there for her. I would arrange the same thing for you if you are willing to use that when you are with her.”
She tilted her head, eyeing him. “Did you get that from your dad?”
He frowned. “Get what?”
“Being so protective. I remember Harper said your father was a New York City firefighter too. Another hero who fell at the World Trade Towers like ours.”
Morgan debated what to tell her, then decided on honesty. “Judging by your Uncle Phil, who served in FDNY with your dad, I’m guessing the two Sheehan brothers were champion caretakers on all fronts. But not all heroes are nice guys. My father liked to use his fists, including on his wife and kids, and he encouraged my older brother to beat on me to toughen me up.”
Her mouth opened with a quiet gasp.
Morgan smirked. “You’d think it would have made me hate fighting, but what it did was make me hate losing. And hate bullies and want to protect people who were not equipped to fight for themselves. So, in a way, yes, I did get it from him.”
“I’m so sorry. I—”
“Don’t.” He held up a hand, palm out. “I’m not even sure why I told you that. It’s something I’ve never talked about with anyone but my sister.” He looked into her wide doe eyes. “But there’s something about your face, your nature—I don’t know—something that demands honesty.”
Another blush and now she looked down into her coffee. It only made Morgan want to slide onto the seat next to her, pull her into his arms, and plant a kiss on her luscious lips.
Uh-oh. Maybe it would be a good thing if she said no to this arrangement. He had no time or place in his life for getting involved with a woman, certainly not one he hired to take care of his daughter.
Blake lifted her pretty chin. “Then it is only fair that I tell you my own secret, something I’ve never told anyone, including my family. No one knows except my ex-husband—and anyone he might have complained to.”
Morgan was not sure he liked where this was going. “Unless it impacts your care of my daughter, you don’t have to tell me anything.”
“But you’ve told me several private things now, so I want you to know that what Fawn did to you and your daughter hurt me deeply because I cannot have children of my own and would give anything to change that. As to how it would impact my care of Ciara, it would only make me more protective of her because I understand how precious she is to you.”
Now it was his turn to let his mouth hang open. Her hand went up, palm out, just as his had.
“And I don’t want pity or sympathy any more than you do,” she said. “We all have some rough stuff to deal with along the way and that is just part of life.”
“Ain’t it the truth.” He bit into the last of his cookie.
Blake finished off her coffee and looked like she wanted to say something else. “One more question. Would I need to practice martial arts with Ciara?”
He almost laughed. “No. Why? Did Ciara already tell you about her sessions with me?”
“Yes. She said you practice kickboxing, traditional boxing, Krav maga, karate and jiu jitsu. Have you really trained in all those things?”
“Yeah, but Ciara gets the nine-year-old daughter version.”
“Well, she invited me to join you two. Trouble is I hated gym class.” She grimaced.
Morgan couldn’t help laughing. “You have been given a very high compliment. But don’t worry. You can decline and Ciara will be fine about it.”
“Okay,” she said, a smile lighting up her beautiful face. “Then if you are sure you want me, I’m ready to move in whenever it works for you.”
“I want you,” he said, and for a moment their eyes exchanged something neither of them would dare to say aloud.
* * *
