Cal would not say what it looked like.He was more mature than that.
Davis would just have to go find someone else for his fun tonight.He wasn’t about to get Auggie.
“Lean against me, if you need to,” Cal whispered near her ear.“No one will be able to see.”
He could see Claudia coming through the crowd, one of the younger girls in her arms.She had all three of them.The girls were okay.He felt the tension leave the woman next to him.
“I don’t need rescued…but thanks.I was…starting to panic there.There are a lot of little sisters to keep track of in here tonight.”He heard the grudging admission and took it for what it was.Miss Stubborn wouldn’t admit a weakness.Especially to him.Not in this little game of theirs.“It’s these stupid shoes.I shouldn’t have worn them, especially without my leg brace, but…I didn’t want to wear granny shoes and that brace with this dress.”
Vanity.The things women did to themselves for vanity, he would never understand.He’d have thought she was beautiful in the brace and galoshes, if that was what it took for her to be comfortable, no hesitation.Of course, he thought she was beautiful no matter what.There was that.“Would it help to slip them off for a bit?”
She shook her head.“I’d never get them back on.I’m afraid I’m at my limit for tonight.Some of the girls, too.I just hate to cut Em’s time short.I think she needed tonight.Her last break-up did a number on her.Having two guys interested in her was good for her.”
Auggie was practically curled up in his arms.Her words were almost a whisper.It was the first time he’d been this close to her without the baby being between them.He just did what he had to do to support her, without looking like he was copping a feel or anything.There were Tyler guys rumbling closer.He didn’t want a problem with them tonight.He just didn’t have time to crack skulls.
Her sisters appeared as if by magic.Em on one side, with the preschooler toddling along next to her.Junie on the other, with the baby-Auggie in her arms.
Just as a crowd came around the edge of the tables, headed straight for the little girl who couldn’t see them coming.Two were in front of her before anyone couldmove.Stumbling.Cutting her off from her sisters.
That tiny little girl had nowhere to go.Just that fast.
Calloway just reacted, elbowing a guy out of the way, and scooping the child close before she could get trampled.He snapped at the drunken group, not a one of them older than Em and Clancy, to watch where they were going.Someone could get hurt with those idiots as drunk as they were.
His heart was pounding, just from that single instance.He held Markie close.“It’s okay, sweetheart.You’re okay.I promise.You’re safe.You’re safe; I have you.I promise.”
“Cow-way hold Markie!”Tiny arms snaked around his neck and she sniffled against him.That was all it took.Cal was a goner.The kid stole his heart again forever in that instant.Just like Clancy used to do when she was just as small.
“I’ve got you, baby girl.I’ve got you.I’ll keep you safe.I promise.”He just held her and rocked.
Maybe the keepinghimfor breeding stock thing would be okay.He looked far too beautiful holding Markie like that.Protectively.
Auggie’s heart was still racing.
Her baby girl…
Em was telling off those people she’d known in school for being so careless.They were just ignoring her, drunk off their rear-ends.Her sister had always seemed so much older than her classmates, at times.Apparently, that hadn’t changed in four years.
Auggie’s first thoughts were for her baby girl.“Is she okay?”
Em finally got the idiots to apologize, but it wouldn’t make a difference.Markie was still afraid.Em scooped Tobi up.“I think we’ve had enough for tonight?”
“Me, too.”Auggie definitely had.Every muscle in her body ached right now.She just wanted to get the girls home.“I am going to burn these shoes in the wood stove, I swear.”
She reached up and patted Markie’s back.She looked up at the man who held her sister so close.“I can take her now.”
“You’re obviously hurting.I could see it clear across the room.I’ve got her.Markie and I are buddies, aren’t we, little bit?Me, and Markie.”
Markie just sniffled and rested her head on his broad shoulder.Obviously exhausted.She just melted on his shoulder like chocolate on the sidewalk in that particular way young kids had.
“Does anyone have Baby Miss Missy?”he whispered.Auggie’s heart melted.He even knew the doll’s name.Em passed him the doll, and he gave it to the little girl so gently.That was about all it took.Markie’s eyes were drifting shut already, one arm around her precious doll.
All right, so he did have the power to melt a woman’s heart, at times.Devils usually did.But letting Calloway Ellis Grady ride to her rescue…not something she was exactly comfortable with.
Then again, she wasn’t stupid.Markie could get heavy at times, and hurting herself even worse to avoid wounded pride would be an idiotic thing to do.Auggie just nodded instead.“We need to get our things, then I think we’ll take the girls home.”
The expected whining came.But…little girls were good at that.“The dance ends in fifteen minutes anyway.Let’s get out of here before the parking lot gets stupid.”
“Just a minute.I’ll meet you there,” Em said.“I’m going to go tell Suzanne Hollister that her son is stinking drunk, and she needs to make sure he has a ride home.He’s stupid enough to drive this way.”
