Page 147 of Beat of Love
But not like this.
This was contrived. Desperate.
Which, let’s face it, he was.
He scraped his hand over his face.
“Rafferty Lawson. Just spit it out.”
Here goes. “I … might’ve suggested that we … uh … we…” He sucked in a breath. “I told her we’re a couple.”
“A couple?”
“Well, I actually said I’m with someone,” he rushed on. “And then she pressed me on what that meant, and I said we’re secretly engaged. Waiting till after Sully’s wedding to go public.”
Silence.
He filled it. “Mrs. Bronson kept going on about how it’s better for them to have two parents, and it just … burst out of me.” He quickly relayed everything. The meeting, the adoption pitch, his intent to take custody of Connor and adopt Sinead. “She kept circling back to my past — rehab, prison — and the fact thatI’m single, so I …” He trailed off, kicking himself for being so impulsive.
“Told her you’re engaged. To me,” she said flatly.
He ran a hand through his short hair. “I was desperate. Am desperate.”
But Idolove you.
“Rafferty.” Just his name, soaked in exasperation.
“Help me. Please.”
She muttered something unintelligible before asking, “And what, exactly, does ‘help me’ entail?”
It wasn’t an outright no.
That was hope.
“I have a plan.”
“Can’t wait to hear it,” she muttered.
“Mrs. Bronson wants to meet you. Online is fine,” he added quickly. “You don’t have to come here. She just wants to make sure I’m not conning her.”
“As noble as this scheme of yours is — it’s also reckless. What if it backfires? Youliedto children’s services, Rafferty. That could cause more harm to kids who’ve already been through enough. Wouldn’t it be better to let CPS place them with that family?”
“Not while Kamila’s alive. I can’t leave them unprotected.”
She sighed. “Things are never simple with you, are they?”
“No. But I’m trying to do right by them.” He swallowed. “Will you help me, Brandy-Lyn? Please?”
42
Roundabouts
It was his third day in Clearbrook, and Rafferty couldn’t remember the last time he was so nervous. If ever. His gaze swept the little playground tucked into a quiet residential area. It was empty except for the couple sitting on a bench close to the play equipment. Stas and Ruby. Good. Kosta and Gunner were circling the park in an SUV, on alert for approaching trouble. Ryker was perched on a roof as overwatch.
He’d wanted a detail on the home where the kids were staying, but the sheriff assured him they were safe. As if conjured, the man appeared at the opposite side of the park to Stas and Ruby, two of his deputies right behind him. The deputies peeled away, moving in opposite directions around the park.
The bubbly laughter of a child drew his attention from Stirling. A chubby little girl dressed in red dungarees and a white long-sleeved shirt toddled across the grass, an older boy in blue jeans and green sweatshirt hot on her heels. His heart flip-flopped. Connor and Sinead. Following them were two women. He recognized Mrs. Bronson. The second woman must be Raegan, the sheriff’s wife.
