Page 22 of Crossing Lines

“Stella Grace,” Wayne warned, cutting off her rant.

“Some hooker tossed her baby out like he was the morning trash. What’s to talk about?” She sounded pissed.

I got it. She pushed away, but I refused to let her go. I could see the worry in her eyes. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“Knock, knock! I’m so sorry I’m late. I had a last-minute call with some jerk that thought a woman wrecker was the stupidest thing he’d ever seen. I finally called Chip to come deal with his stupid ass.” AJ dropped a bag on the floor. “Wayne, do you mind if Diesel comes inside?” I looked up and smiled at my sister. Diesel, her big ass mastiff, was sitting at her side just inside the doorway.

“Of course not, come on in. You’re just in time for dinner. Carter, come on down, boy!”

“There’s my other handsome man!” Stel left my side and got down on her knees, face to face with Diesel, drool and all. I chuckled.

AJ came to me, and I hugged her tight.

“Before you start fussing, or freaking, it looks worse than it is. I’ll be fine in a few weeks.”

“You’re full of crap, but at least you’re up and moving. Chip looks bad too. Stubborn man. I swear you’re both nuts.” I watched Stel get up and move to the sink to wash her hand, then she went into the pantry. I heard the rummaging and shook my head. She came out with a big dog bone. One of those dog biscuit things. Of course, this got Diesel all excited. He sat up and woofed. Jesus, he was loud.

“You’re spoiling him.” AJ huffed at Stel and at me for ignoring her fussing at me.

She was the baby in the family; it was my place to worry about her, not her worry about me.

“Oh shush, he’s a good boy.” Stel stuck her tongue out at AJ, causing her to laugh. “He deserves a treat, dontcha boy? Here ya go. Take it in there.” Stel pointed, and Diesel went to lay in the doorway between the front entrance and the kitchen. Carter had to step over him to get into the room.

“Who brought the elephant in the room?” He chuckled.

“Don’t be mad cause my dog’s bigger than you, squirt,” AJ shot back.

I choked out a laugh.

“Children,” Wayne said, his grin in full view of us all.

I shook my head again. I did that a lot around this family. He set the bowls and plates of meat on the table, and we all dug in, fixing our plates; me helping Stel.

“Just think, it could be worse. Be glad the older boys aren’t here,” I remarked, adding a potato to my plate.

Wayne chuckled. “This house turns into a circus with all of them here. I swear they’re worse now than they were as tots. Especially that one.” He nodded his chin toward Stel.

She gasped. “How dare you say that. I’m an angel, Daddy.” The room filled with laughter—she looked affronted. “You all suck.”

“You can be an angel, sissy. You just have black wings and horns.” Carter shoved a bite in his mouth before he said any more.

AJ dropped her fork and covered her mouth as she laughed, hard. I turned away and fought my own laughter. After the laughter died down, and we had a good hole in our food, Stel shifted in her seat and looked at me.

I raised a brow.

She started to chew on her lip. That was her thinking face. That sometimes led to trouble.

“What is it, baby?”

“I want to bring that little one here for a few nights. I can’t leave that up to just Dani Lynn and Mama Jay. Especially with Mama Jay staying every night at the center now. Dani Lynn has her own babies…”

I reached over and took her hand in mine. “If you want to help in that way, I don’t mind. I’m sure Gramps over there wouldn’t mind either. Right, Wayne?”

He was studying his daughter when I looked over at him.

“Of course not. Babies are a precious thing. If you want to have him here some, or a lot, I’m more than okay with that. I’m good at rockin’ babies.”

“They’re trying to track down family, but I don’t think she has any. It’s sad. I still want to punch her in the face for doing what she did…but she was feeling helpless, and with no family or friends to turn to, she decided to leave him somewhere where he’d be found.” She shook her head, tears brimming.

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