Page 3 of Tangled in His Embrace

He smiled at his daughter, and then up at Gabby. “Say goodbye to your mom so we can get going.”

Taylor shoved her doll against her father’s chest, wanting him to take it, then turned to wrap her arms around Gabby’s legs. “Bye, Mommy.”

Gabby ran her hand over her daughter’s hair, hugged her against her body, and then lifted her up. “You be good for Daddy, okay?”

“I will, Mommy.”

She gave Taylor a kiss and handed her off to Jax. Saying goodbye was always the worst part even though Gabby knew she’d see her daughter again in a little over twenty-four hours.

“I’ll bring her back tomorrow before dinner.”

Gabby held the door open and watched as they left, not caring how cold the air was outside. She blew a kiss to her daughter as they drove away, trying to ignore the conflicting emotions she felt toward the man who, once upon a time, she thought would be her forever.

***

Jackson Brooks tucked Taylor into bed before making his way down the hall to his parents’ kitchen. His mom was standing at the sink, doing dishes, and his dad was sitting at the table, shoveling down another piece of cake. Jax went to the cabinet next to the sink and removed a glass.

“Taylor asleep?” his mom asked.

“Not yet.” Jax strolled to the refrigerator for some water. Whoever invented the ice and water contraptions on the front of refrigerators was a genius as far as he was concerned. “When I left she was talking to her new doll.”

“She’s getting so big. I can’t believe she’s going to be four in a few months.”

“You still can’t believe this one”—his dad picked up his fork and pointed it in Jax’s direction as he responded to his wife’s comment—“is old enough to have a kid of his own.”

His mom let the water out of the sink and rinsed the suds from her hands. “That’s true. It’s hard to believe he’ll be thirty-eight in March. I still remember the day we brought him home from the hospital.”

Jax leaned back in his chair, sipping on his water. How the conversation started varied, but it always ended up in the same place.

“You know, Taylor could use a little brother or sister. I’d love to have a house full of grandchildren.”

“It’s not that simple, Mom.”

“Sure it is. I know you’re still in love with Gabby.”

“Kathy, leave the boy alone.”

“But he loves the girl. Don’t tell me you don’t see it.” His mother stood with her hands on her hips as she addressed his father.

“Of course I do, but it’s none of our business.” He cut her off before she got a chance to get going again. “He has to do it in his own time. You can’t rush him.”

His mother huffed. “Fine. I just don’t understand why things can’t go back to the way they were before. You two were so in love.”

“Mom, I walked out and left them for three years. That isn’t something Gabby is likely to forget anytime soon.”

“Only because—”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She narrowed her eyes and sent him a look that used to send him running for cover as a kid. “Jackson Theodore Brooks, tell me you’ve told that poor girl why you disappeared for three years.”

Jax arose from the table, downed the rest of his water, and took his glass to the sink. “There hasn’t been a good time.”

A look of horror crossed his mother’s face. “Hasn’t bee—”

His father placed a hand on his mother’s arm. “Let it go, Kathy. He’ll tell her when the time is right.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

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