Page 17 of Reindeer and Restraints
Blissy brain loves the command in his voice. But the statement niggles until I realize what he's saying. How to be gentle about this?
"No babies tonight. I have an implant."
A hint of disappointment flashes across his face before he schools it.
As positively as I can, I say, "You did your job. That was incredible."
"But the winners always—"
"I'm sorry." Might as well cut this off with the rest of my story. "It's been less than a week since I was named guardian of my cousin's kid. I haven't had time to process what that means. I won't burden anyone else with that."
He strokes a finger lovingly over my cheek. "Being with you, and whatever else that entails, will never be a burden."
He's saying all the right words. With a little more time, I might be ready to accept them. An idea sparks.
"Could we be friends with benefits for now?"
"Do you say that to all the guys?" His stoic expression makes it hard for me to tell if that's a joke.
"Every single one who's fucked me like that."
Chapter 8
Hudson
I pull into the garage, pop the trunk open, and grab the supplies for our first family movie night. A massive tin of flavored popcorns fits under one arm—Jolene will dive into the cheese, no question, while I claim the caramel.
Mulling spices and a jug of cider are in bags, along with Jolene's favorite store-bought lasagna. I would have made it from scratch but I want my focus to stay on Jolene and Jane—and I'm pretty sure Jolene likes the frozen one as much as mine.
Every kid deserves parents who show up. My goal is to convince Jolene that I'll fill that role with her. This isn't the path I sketched in my head, but it works. I want this family with her.
With one finger, I catch the final bag that contains a toy for Jane. I close the trunk and make my way inside.
A light in the kitchen catches my attention as I deposit the toy bag on the kitchen table. A woman holding a sippy cup—not Jolene—steps into the doorway.
"You must be Mr. Powell."
I freeze, regripping my armfuls. "Who are you?"
"Kendall, the babysitter." She shifts. "Didn't Jolene tell you?"
I ease the load onto the table, one item at a time. The popcorn tin thuds down first, then the cider and lasagna. Proper storage can wait. "Hi, Kendall. No, she didn't mention a sitter. Where'd she go?"
She twists the cup's lid, her gaze sliding away. "I'm not supposed to tell you."
My pulse ticks up. "Why? What if Jane needs something?"
"I know how to get hold of her." Her voice firms, but she won't meet my eyes. "She gave strict orders."
I unclench my jaw. "Do her orders allow me to let you go home? What do I owe you?"
Relief flickers across her face. "Yes, sir, or I can take Jane to my place."
What is Jolene up to? And why doesn't she trust me? Does she think Jane burdens me? It would at least be courteous to let me know a stranger would be in my house.
"How much do I owe you? Jane should stay here."
The toy bag tips to the side and a blanket with different textured tabs along the sides falls out. I catch it, shoving it away from the edge.
