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My jaw hardened.
But it could never happen again.
I needed a proper caretaker. Rasheed couldn’t handle watching an energetic toddler on top of his responsibilities at the shop. It had been a risk to shoulder him with Reid’s care.
“Ehem,” the woman cleared her throat, bringing our attention back to her. “Well, I’m glad this was settled. I’ll just be heading out then.”
“Stop.” The word escaped with more vehemence than I’d planned.
The woman froze, a shocked look on her face as if she, too, had had no plans to listen to me and was stunned that her body had done so on its own.
My eyes took in the little details of her expression, careening against the bee-stung lips that were slightly parted as shaky breaths hit the air. She stared at me, nostrils flaring, eyebrows arched.
Beyond her irritation, I sensed… curiosity.
She was scared of me, yet she was curious?
We stood, each taking in the other. Flashes of tension flared to life between us. It was potent, stronger than anything I’d felt before.
Rasheed’s voice intruded. “By the time I realized Reid was gone, he was already out in traffic.”
I gritted my teeth, unable to bear the image of my son in such danger.
“But she,” Rasheed tipped his chin at the woman, “threw herself right in front of the golf cart and protected him.”
My heart thudded and I regarded her with new eyes. “Is this true?”
“I did what anyone else would have. I’m just glad little Reid is okay.” Brown eyes flitted to my son and the hardness of her expression melted away like the sun dissipating dew.
She was all soft smiles, gentleness and pure delight.
My breath hitched.
Something inside my chest shifted.
Then her gaze returned to me. I felt it. A wall shuttling between us, her guard rushing up. The light drained from her eyes, replaced with distrust. Any affection she felt for the son did not transfer to the father.
Her rejection stumped me.
On my own, I could charm a woman, pluck her heart right out of her chest and use it on a whim. When I was out with Reid, ladies found me irresistible and offered their hearts on a platter without any effort on my part.
But not her.
That didn’t sit well with me.
A sudden, frightening realization clamored for notice.
Whoever she was, I wanted this woman.
I wanted her now.
4
Angel
You know those moments in the movies? The one where the girl and the boy meet by accident, wide-eyes locked and hearts thumping?
Time would slow as the camera panned from one face to the other. More than likely, something would fall from the sky—snow, petals, or rain—signaling that this was a romantic moment.
