Page 109 of The Re-Proposal

She holds a hand up to my chest. I try not to register how good her hand feels.

“Have you ever been the kid sitting outside of school waiting for your parent to pick you up?”

I scrunch my nose.

“I’m guessing no. And it shows.” Her eyes trail my body slowly. “We’re going for Joel. Do you have a problem with that?”

Clarissa’s pointed look shifts something inside me. How do I say no to her after what she’s been through?

“I guess we’re going for Joel,” I mutter.

Vargas smirks.

I lift a finger in his direction as my car drives into sight. “Not a word.”

“Yes, sir.”

Clarissa climbs stiffly into the car before I can get her door.

“You’re angry,” I say once I start driving.

“No, I’m not.”

I look at her, noting her tense jawline.

Clarissa is the type that needs to vent. There’s no way she can keep that much annoyance inside.

I give it one…

Two…

Three…

“Are you still treating Joel like an afterthought?” she blurts.

Bingo.

“How long has he been staying with you? You can’t even treat him like he matters? Like he’s an important part of your life?”

“It’s been less than a week.”

“Plenty of time.”

“He’s not my real son.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be a real father.” She hits me with a blistering stare. There are more flames in it than I expected.

I lift a hand, ignoring the blood spatters on my cuff. “Let me get this straight. You had no problem with me busting Hatchen’s face open, but ignoring Joel really gets your gears?”

“Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not.” My lips twitch.

Damn. She’s adorable.

Clarissa sinks deeper into the chair. I notice her trembling again. “Is your air conditioner on?”

“No.” I turn up the seat warmers and hold the wheel with one arm while I shrug out of my jacket. “Take this.”

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