Page 45 of Unlikely Guardian

Maybe a little too logical, considering that he was still aroused. And that got Lilly thinking.

What had just happened?

She thought about keeping the question to herself. Maybe mulling it over for a while. But Jason was here, right in front of her, and before the kissing and touching, they’d had this whole honesty discussion going on between them.

“I have to know. All this kissing and touching—does it have anything to do with Megan?” Lilly asked.

That seemed to freeze him for several seconds. “Excuse me?”

After seeing his reaction, she instantly regretted her question. But there was no turning back now. Even if it hurt like the devil, she had to know the truth. “Is this your way of working out a custody arrangement?”

No freezing that time. Her question earned her a scalpel-sharp glare, and he had to unclench his teeth before he could speak. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

She caught his arm to stop him when he started to get up. “No, you’re not. You’re going to search your heart and tell me if that’s what you’re really feeling.”

And judging from the arctic look on Jason’s face, she wouldn’t like his answer.

JASON WANTED NOTHING more than to dismiss Lilly’s question, but he couldn’t.

Hell.

One minute, they were all wrapped up in each other’s arms, sharing hot kisses and on the verge of having equally hot sex. Now, he felt as if he were facing a firing squad.

And facing a moment of truth.

Lilly had simply asked what had been on his mind for days, and it was time to deal with it.

“If a relationship of convenience is what it takes for us both to be with Megan, will you consider it?” he asked, hoping she didn’t slap him.

But if she had intentions of slapping him, Lilly didn’t follow through on them. That’s because they heard the sound at the end of the hall. Little footsteps. A moment later, the owner of those little footsteps appeared, and Megan toddled toward them.

Lilly did a double check to make sure they were both decent. They were. And she smiled at Megan. The little girl returned the smile. A sleepy one. She had woken up a little too early from her nap.

Megan stopped when she was just a few inches away and gave each of them a considering look. Obviously she felt she had some sort of decision to make. It didn’t take her long, though. She went to Jason, sank down next to him and rested her head against his arm.

It was one of those magic moments that he’d been lucky enough to share often with Megan. He treasured times like this. However, he knew these were no longer just Megan’s and his moments. He picked up Megan, kissed her cheek and deposited her onto Lilly’s lap.

Jason didn’t know which of them was most surprised by that.

Megan look confused. Lilly, stunned. And he was sure he was both. Still, Megan didn’t protest the new arrangement. She settled against Lilly and closed her eyes to finish her nap.

Lilly lifted her eyes to meet his. Thank you, she mouthed.

He braced himself for some feelings of jealousy, but those feelings thankfully didn’t come. Progress, indeed.

“Well?” he prompted. “Would you consider a relationship of convenience?”

Lilly moistened her lips and looked down at Megan. “I’d consider almost anything for her sake. But we’re already facing an obstacle or two in the convenience department. Sometimes the fire and heat burn out and leave a lot of bitterness. When that happens, it doesn’t make anything convenient.”

Jason didn’t have to ask her to clarify. He knew. And unfortunately, he also knew she was probably right. But was there enough common ground between them to overcome anything? He didn’t get a chance to pose that question to her because the phone in the living room rang. Since it could have something to do with security or the investigation, Jason quickly got up to answer it.

“Detective Lawrence, it’s me, Corinne Davies,” the caller said. “We met the other night at Lilly’s office.”

“I know who you are,” he informed her. After the incident with the stolen car, both her name and voice were imprinted on his brain. What he couldn’t figure out was what the heck she was doing calling him. “How can I help you?”

She didn’t answer right away. “I hope I haven’t made a mistake by contacting you, but I think I might have found some information you need.”

That got his full attention. “I’m listening.” And so that Lilly could do the same, he turned on the speaker function of the phone.

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