Good. The Pattersons were such wonderful servants of God that they were sacrificing time with their supposed daughter. He could use this against them, if needed, and it gave him a chance to get to know hisdaughter.
Grady gave the little hand a light squeeze. “Well, then, if it’s my brother-in-law’s fire truck, then sure, I’d be honored to drive Miss Jessiearound.”
“Yay!” Jessie cheered. “Can you wear your Supermancape?”
Grady didn’t have a Superman costume, but whatever Jessie wanted, she was going to get. “If it’s what people dohere.”
“We all wear costumes for the Fourth of July parade,” Mrs. Patterson explained. “This little one wants to be Wonder Woman because Miss Linx is always WonderWoman.”
“Really?” He squinted at Linx, picturing her with a cape, low-cut tank and shortshorts.
Linx shrugged sheepishly. “It’s a town tradition, and I can see how you’d think we’reweird.”
“Not any weirder than some of our Hart family traditions.” Grady couldn’t help grinning at Jessie’s pleased expression. “You sure you’re not pulling myleg?”
“Honest John,” Mrs. Patterson said. “My husband and I are old-time settlers, but Jessie doesn’t want to wear Little House on the Prairiedresses.”
Grady couldn’t argue with that either. There was a clear choice between a superhero and an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy.
“Then we’re all set.” Grady let go of Jessie’s hand and waved goodbye. “Just don’t bring anykryptonite.”
* * *
“You’re seriously goingto wear a costume?” Linx couldn’t help smirking at Grady after Jessie and her mother left the center. “You hate costumes, and I hate to break it to you, but Superman wearstights.”
“Ugh.” Grady rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m only doing it forJessie.”
“It’s going to be epic. Grady Hart in tights.” Linx pinched his jeans and pretended to snap it back. Even though she kept her voice light, she couldn’t help the heavy feeling lying deep in hergut.
Grady Hart wasn’t a man to banter and joke. He, too, must be feeling the strain of knowing about Jessie, but pretending she was a mereacquaintance.
“Don’t forget, I’m a man in a cape. That has to count for something.” He cupped her cheek and brought his lips close tohers.
“But I also have a cape and superpowers.” Linx narrowed her eyes and puckered her lips. He definitely wasn’t ready to deal head-on with her guilt, and flirting and kissing was his way of relievingtension.
She could go with that. Fornow.
Turning his head, he captured her lips. Sparkles and sizzles traversed her body as she clasped onto him and let herself meld into the urgency of themoment.
All morning, he’d been stuck within his family, broody and angry, and she’d wanted to go up to him and comfort him. He clearly didn’t fit in with the gregarious Harts, being a loner and a guy who cravedsilence.
She understood that, because she understoodhim.
While it was wonderful to be loved and cared for, it was also stifling and suffocating to have so many people worrying and offering theiropinions.
Whatever happened between him and her and Jessie was something only the two of them couldface.
Even good listeners like Sharon could be tiresome, because Linx really didn’t want to rehash everything and gaze at her navel. She couldn’t believe Sharon had been an undercover child psychologist, and she wondered why Dad had brought her back—after she waswidowed.
Could it be he was interested inher?
Hadn’t she been a good friend ofMinx’s?
Linx let those thoughts drop as Grady backed her up against the doorframe and deepened the kiss. His manly scent, the sweat dampening his shoulders, and the salty tang of his tongue made her greedy with want anddesire.
Who needed to talk when an inferno raged deep in her belly? And from the state of his body, she knew he needed to release steam and tension,too.
Except so much more was between them now—and it wasn’t just sex. They had to be responsible parents, the type of people who could offer stability and security to a vulnerablechild.
