“Whoa, honey.I know you’ve bowled me over before, but you should give a man a bit more warning.”She looked straight up—into Kameron Neilson’s blue eyes.He helped steady her, one hand on the baby’s back.“Looks like you have your hands full there.”
“No surprise, I always do.Hello, Kameron, how are you?”She hadn’t known him well—he was almost a decade older than she was—except through the diner.He’d been one of those “sports legends” high schools seemed to have everywhere.Kameron Neilson couldrun.He’d had a real future in track, she thought.And he’d used it to pay for college.Everyone “talked” about that when his name was mentioned.Small towns were like that.He had track star in his biography,shehad Bruce Tyler’s daughter.
He was good friends with Claudia’s brothers, too.
Including the one right next to him.
Her stomach dropped.She still had to figure out what she was going to do about this man.
He had kissed her for less than ten seconds—she thought, she hadn’t exactly been timing him—and she hadn’t been able to forget about it in days.
Markie marched right up to him and lifted her arms.“Hello, Mister Cow-way.Baby Mae-Mae is hungee again.”
“Is she?”He just scooped Markie right off her feet and held her on his hip.“And is Miss Markie hungry, too?”
“Yes.Lots.”Markie’s little arms were around his neck.She didn’t seem shy with him at all.“Jules is too.Mommy Aug really hungee.She no eat breakfast.She was on the phone with Cousin Gil.”
“I see.”Cal looked at Auggie.“We were just waiting for a table.It’s a bit packed in here now—movie crew is in town—but, if Kam doesn’t mind, we would be happy to share our table.”
“Yes, of course,” Kameron said, sending her a wicked smile.“We’re also waiting for Quinn.She’s running a bit late; she had to drop her twin off at the hospital for a shift.”
Auggie almost said no—there was no way two men like this pair wanted to voluntarily share a table with three feral children like hers—but there weren’t any tables.And Em looked beyond frazzled right where she was.“Thanks, I think.You two are brave, brave men.”
Cal smirked at her.He leaned closer.“Maybe I’m just determined.And…Mini-Auggie has done it again.”
She looked down.She’d missed it.Her shirt was clinging in all the wrong places.And of course he would be the one to point it out.
Okay, she could handle this.She just took a deep breath.“Okay, as soon as I get these two settled, I have spares—for both of us—in the bag.I am prepared.I can handle this.”
“Why don’t I take Markie and Jules?Get them set up at the table.They’ll be fine with me; I promise.If not…Claudia can arrest me.Deal?”
“Deal.”
She was halfway to the restroom before she realized the truth—she’d left two of her babies with that man and hadn’t hesitated at all.
A part of her subconsciously trusted that man.
With her babies.No question.
With hervirtue,such that it was…that was a different story.
Calloway Ellis Grady was a man on the prowl.And Auggie was the prey.
Well,now he was on his own.Markie was clinging to him like a baby monkey.Jules was eyeing him and Kameron with all the distrust she could muster.Em was the one who showed them to their table—the grown-up version of Jules, right down to the tilt of the head.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Em said.“You up to something, Grady?”
“Trying to…” he looked at the little girl watching him now.
“I suspect I know what you are trying to do…Auggie shares everything with me and Junie, you know.I know what youdid.”
It was just one little kiss.He didn’t regret it at all.
“I am merely trying tohelpyour sister.That’s all.Being a good best friend’s older brother?”
“Sure you are, pal.”
“Cal is always so helpful,” Kameron had to add.He’d somehow ended up with Markie’s ever-present baby doll.“What is this one’s name, may I ask?”
