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I bite my lips together, clamping down on the urge to cry. “We’re fine. We just had a bit of a scare, that’s all. This is very kind of you. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather we get a taxi to go see my sister? I’m sure she’s awake by now.”
He fixes me with a look. “Mel, I want to help. If it helps you to stay here a few hours, a day, a week, then stay. If it helps you to use my money to hire a hotel room, or a hit man, then do that. If we need to bury someone in legal paperwork, I can arrange that, too. I’m yours. I mean it. For anything. Just say the word.”
I’m too flustered to reply. The car finishes its rotation and the kids are squealing and clapping. I open my door and scramble out, buying a few more minutes until I have to react.
I thought he might make this sexual. Flirt and expect things from me.
Now, I feel bad for underestimating him like that.
The thought of letting Jarradek take care of all my problems with James is pretty damn tempting right about now. God, even the way he framed that still made the decision mine, the power mine.
I’m so caught up in my head I almost walk in the opposite direction from the elevator. Damian tugs on my shirt. “Mom. Here.”
I follow Jarradek into his private elevator and up to the most plush penthouse apartment I could have imagined. The ceilings are so high they could easily have fit another level in here. I stare in wonder at the designer furniture in odd, curving shapes that looks like something that belongs in a spaceship rather than a real home.
Damian and Elsa shriek and run to press their noses against the huge windows. “Mom! Mom!” Damian is too excited to form words and just points, stabbing his little finger at the glass until I come over to look at the infinity lap pool and outdoor spa below.
“Wow.”
Jarradek’s large, warm presence behind me makes me aware of the unanswered half-question from earlier.
“Make yourselves at home,” he says. “There are two bedrooms upstairs if you need to get some sleep, a shower. I can order more food. Whatever you need.” He squeezes my shoulder briefly before leaning down to Damian. “Pretty sure there’s ice cream in my freezer too. Cause dairy products are my comfort food.”
Yeah, I have questions, but they’re less important than what I’m doing here.
My kids look at me with puppy dog eyes, so I smile and shake my head. “Yes. You can eat ice cream. Go on.”
“Kitchen’s that way.” Jarradek points them in the right direction and they race off, Elsa leading the charge like she didn’t just have drive-through hotcakes for breakfast.
“We won’t stay long.” It wouldn’t be smart. In a place like this, a girl might start dreaming silly dreams.
“Stay long enough to get some sleep at least. You look like you need it.”
I’d protest, but I know he’s right. I’m still wearing my pajamas and my hair is probably a bird’s nest. I’m willing to bet all my pay for this week that I have big black circles under my eyes. God, why did I agree to come here?
“I’ll watch the kids.”
“No, they can be a handful—”
“Mel, I’m hoping to be mayor of Heartstone. Surely, I can handle a couple of kids.”
I give him a skeptical look, though it’s somewhat spoiled by the huge yawn I can’t hold back.
“Please?”
“Just twenty minutes.”
He grins. Then he steers me up to a mezzanine level where an enormous bedroom looks down over the pool. A press of a button and soft, duck egg-colored blinds roll down from the window frame, dimming the room.
“Come on, my housekeeper even changed my sheets this morning.”
I stare. “Then this is your bed?” The place doesn’t look lived in. I guess because he has staff. It makes me wonder how often he’s actually home, though.
Jarradek nods. At a crash from the kitchen, he chuckles. “I’m going to go check on them. Relax. Please, take your time. I will get you if we need you.”
I chew my lip. “Promise?”
He smiles solemnly. “Promise. Let me take care of you.”
