Page 63 of Third and Ten

Because I like him. I like JD Bourgeois a lot…more than I should.

One more glimpse in his direction, and I’m absolutely sure that’s the case. I’m also very certain I want him to kiss me again, without any interruptions.

“I’d like to meet in my chambers for a minute,” I vaguely hear the judge announcing through my suit-wearing-JD-induced brain fog before I’m ushered into a side room.

I watch JD shamelessly as he follows Ethan and Blake, and he stops to hold the door open for me. I hold my breath as I pass, hoping to avoid having to answer to my ovaries, who are demanding to know whether he smells as good as he looks.

He still manages to ruin my concentration when the tip of his finger deliberately skims the inside of my wrist, eliciting a gasp from me and leaving a trail of warmth up my arm. Just the slightest brush of his calloused skin over mine has me losing my balance and stumbling through the doorway. I hear him snort quietly in amusement as I scurry away quickly, frantically trying to put some distance between us after discovering that he does, in fact, smell even better than he looks right now.

Gah, what is happening to me?

Unexpected physical touch has always irritated me in the past. Yet here I am, melting into a pathetic puddle over a fingertip graze, and all he’s even said to me so far is, “Hey.”

The judge’s voice brings me back again, and I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to refocus. It was only a light touch on the wrist, after all—barely any contact. He probably didn’t even mean for it to be that sexy. This is perhaps one of the most important moments of my life, of Ethan’s life, and I can’t let my hormones—or a sudden lack of self-control—jeopardize our future.

Blake explains our situation while the judge listens impassively. “No father was listed on Ethan’s birth certificate, your honor, nor has one been identified for certain. His biological aunt, Ms. Tenley Robin, is the only adult relative who is both financially and physically capable of providing for Ethan since her father’s unfortunate illness, and she’s more than willing to assume legal guardianship in order to allow Ethan’s grandmother, Mrs. Therese Robin, to care for her husband.”

I smile hopefully as the judge turns his attention to me. “I see,” he says, pausing for a second before he continues and addresses the extra accessory in the room. “Well, if this isn’t the boy’s father, then—”

“I’m here to vouch for Ms. Robin in the place of her parents, your honor,” JD finishes for him, his voice giving me the chills again.

The judge eyes him suspiciously for a second before he recognizes him. “Hmm. You’re JD Bourgeois. Aren’t you two brothers?”

“Yes, sir, but I’m also Ethan’s football coach and science teacher,” he adds quickly. “I’ve gotten to see Ms. Tenley take on the role of Ethan’s guardian since she’s come back to Camellia to care for him. And she’s done an amazing job, in my humble opinion.”

“And in what capacity have you witnessed this?” the judge asks, his tone still skeptical.

“I can tell you that she’s been getting him to school every morning, teaching him how to drive on the way back from practice in the afternoons, and even making him home-cooked meals and helping him with his school projects at night. She’s made sure Ethan has everything he needs, including discipline and stability, and she’s been in the stands for every one of his football games. She even came down to the field to tend to him when he was injured. I wish I could say that all of my students have as much support at home, but the truth is that Ethan is a lucky kid.”

I gape at JD in disbelief. He’s talking me up entirely too much.

Although, technically, I have been doing all of those things. I glance over at Ethan to find him grinning proudly.

“Most of all, your honor, I think Tenley—uh, Ms. Robin—wears her heart on her sleeve.”

I drop my eyes, my face flushing. Then I hear JD clear his throat, and I look up to find him staring back at me. My stomach swirls, and a wave of heat travels up my entire body until even the tips of my ears are probably red.

“Anyone can see how much she loves her nephew and that she’d do anything for him, just from the way she looks at him. I can’t imagine Ethan could ever find a better guardian or a more selfless and devoted parent,” he finishes, his eyes still locked onto mine, the intensity in his gaze overwhelming me.

Selfless? Devoted? Is he still talking about me?

The look on JD’s face says that he wholeheartedly believes in my parenting abilities, even if I don’t, and that he’s been observing and evaluating my maternal qualities very, very closely all this time. I gulp, desperately hoping that the judge has heard enough, because I can’t bear any more of JD’s compliments without wanting to pull him down by that tie and—

Whoa. Down, girl.

“Well,” the judge begins, abruptly ending my inner monologue. “It’s hard to argue with a resume like that,” he says with a smirk. “But, ah, what about your living arrangements?”

Blake clears his throat awkwardly, obviously picking up on something I haven’t. “Oh, your honor, JD is just a family friend. Tenley and Ethan are planning to remain in the same home as Mrs. Therese and Mr. Jude for now. They all felt it would help with the transition.”

My face heats up again in embarrassment, but at least Blake has the sense to reroute that conversation before we all have time to dwell on its implications. I don’t dare look at JD’s reaction.

“And you plan to stay here permanently?” the judge turns and asks me directly.

“Yes, your honor, at least until Ethan graduates from high school. I’m under contract at Dr. Simms’s practice here in Camellia and was recently granted hospital privileges as an attending midwife. I couldn’t leave very easily now, even if I wanted to—but I don’t,” I say, tripping over my defense.

The judge nods thoughtfully, pausing for a moment before he continues. “Seeing as though you are one of Ethan’s closest relatives and the only one present today, I see no reason not to grant your petition for temporary custody, Ms. Robin. I’d like to talk to Ethan alone for a minute to ascertain his wishes, then we’ll take a short recess and meet back in the courtroom to make all this official.”

It seems odd that the judge emphasizes the word “temporary,” and although Blake explained that cases like ours usually happen in stages, it feels a little less official than I expected. But he reassures us that everything is fine, and I excuse myself for a quick trip to the ladies’ room and a reprieve from JD’s presence.

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