Page 9 of Just Like That

My eyes narrowed at him. “What do you see?”

JP’s hand flicked my way in a vague gesture. “You’re after money, then?” He shook his head as though he had us all figured out.

My temper flared, and I only briefly considered the ramifications of kicking him in the balls in front of Teddy. My finger jabbed in his direction instead. “Watch it.”

JP checked his watch as though finding out he had a kid was a mild inconvenience in the middle of his very important day. Anger, hot as a kettle, simmered through my blood.

“Then where are you staying? My attorney will need a way to contact you.” His eyes flicked down my front and then back up. When his gaze met mine, it was emotionless, as though he’d locked himself behind whatever cool, dismissive facade he had chosen for the day.

“We live in a bus!” Teddy’s enthusiastic shout floated across the parking lot as he walked toward us.

JP only tossed me a terse nod. “Of course you do.”

When he glanced down at Teddy, something shifted. The callous jerk who had just accused me of being a money-grubbing drifter evaporated, and in his place was someone with sad, kind eyes.

For a brief moment, my fury subsided.

“Did Whip show you around, big guy?” he asked, crouching in front of Teddy to look him in the eye.

Teddy nodded. “It was interesting, but dirty. I didn’t love it.”

JP laughed and grinned at my nephew, and the steel around my heart cracked a bit. When he looked at Teddy, there was kindness there.

It was unnerving. I knew what he had done to my sister. Her letter had told me everything I needed to know about JP King, and I wouldn’t let him fool me.

“It’s time for us to go, Teddy.” I shifted my bag and held out one hand for him.

With a pout, he reluctantly slipped his little hand into mine. His soft blue-green eyes lifted to JP’s. “Can you come see the bus?”

I stepped forward, hoping to lessen the blow of yet another rejection. “Maybe another day. I’m sure Mr. King is very busy and doesn’t have time to interrupt his important day for us.” I lifted my eyebrows in challenge.

“You know what?” JP leaned back on his heels. “I’d love to see it.”

After a short walkback to town, JP guided us to the parking lot near his downtown office, where his car was parked. It was a sleek black number whose rich leather interior still looked brand-new. When he opened the door, I was hit with the scent of new leather mingling with his clean, spicy cologne.

Teddy opened the door to the back seat and peered in with a scowl. “You don’t have a booster seat. That’s unsafe.”

JP’s eyes flicked to mine and I shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”

“That would be the state of Michigan,” Teddy said. “They have ‘Buckle Up!’ laws. I looked.”

Teddy’s lips twisted as though he was waging some distraught internal battle over whether to ride in his dad’s car or defy the lawmakers of Michigan.

I patted his shoulder. “It’s not too far.” I gestured toward the lighthouse. “We parked in the marina parking lot. Plus, it’s a beautiful day. We can walk, right, pal?”

Teddy shrugged with a frown. “I guess.”

Figuring he was relieved to finally be rid of us, I turned my back to JP and started walking.

“I can take a walk.” His voice rumbled behind my back.

I slowly turned, shocked that he wanted to walk with us. When I saw Teddy’s face light up and JP returned his smile, I understood that he wasn’t doing it for me.

I nodded and we walked toward the lakeshore. Teddy prattled on about boats and sand dunes and changing weather patterns. I simply attempted to breathe without getting tiny, delicious hits of JP’s masculine scent.

When we reached the parking lot, I grinned. Teddy bounced as he waited for me to unlock the school bus that I had converted into a fully renovated tiny house on wheels.

“What the hell is that?” JP’s dark brows furrowed.

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