He thinks about it for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, okay.”
Relieved he agreed, I click the call button and place the phone on speaker. After two rings, Savannah answers, her British accent filtering through the speakers. “Hello?”
I clear my throat. “Hey, Savannah. It’s Killian.”
The line is silent for a few seconds before she speaks again. “What can I do for you, Killian?”
Judging by the coldness in her voice, I’d say she has heard from my sister.
I flick a nervous glance at Jaxon, hoping he didn’t pick up on the change in her tone. “I, um…” fuck, I’m suddenly afraid she’s going to chew me out in front of my employee. “I have a favour to ask you. One of my workers, Jaxon, he has a little sister that he takes care of, and he doesn’t have anyone to watch her for the day, and I was wondering if I could bring her by and she could hang out with Reign?”
“Oh.” There’s a long pause. “How old is his sister?” Savannah asks and I look to Jaxon for the answer.
“She’s three,” he says into the phone, and I close my eyes.
Three.
“Oh, okay,” Sav says, surprised. “I’m sure Reign will be happy to have a friend to play with. When do you want to drop her off?”
“We can be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay. See you soon. And Killian?” She says, grabbing my attention.
“Yeah?”
“I’m pissed at you.” The phone beeps, the telltale sign that she just hung up on me and I hear a chuckle from next to me.
“What’d you do?” Jaxon laughs and I wince.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go.”
***
We pull up at Hunter and Savannah’s house exactly fifteen minutes later and to say Jaxon is overwhelmed by the Calloway Ranch would be an understatement. He’s been staring out the window in awe since we passed the main house.
On the drive over here, I learned that his sister’s name is Juliet and he took on the responsibility of raising her from the moment she was born. His dad took off years ago and his mom has been lost in drink and drugs ever since.
It’s so similar to my own childhood that it’s startling.
My heart breaks for the both of them.
I switch the engine off and turn to him. “You ready?”
He finally picks his jaw up off the floor and nods, removing his seatbelt before climbing out. I follow suit and wait at the hood of the truck while he gets Juliet out of the back seat and places her on the ground, quickly taking her small hand in his.
She walks next to him, her brown hair unruly and her clothes in much the same condition as her big brothers were the day he approached me for a job.
The whole scene angers me beyond belief.
My jaw clenches as I trudge up the steps and rap my knuckles against the door. It opens seconds later, and Savannah stands before us, her hand resting on the top of her baby bump. She ignores me. “Hello. You must be Jaxon. I’m Savannah,” she says, offering him a hand to shake.
“Yes, ma’am. Nice to meet you,” Jax replies, a juvenile blush creeping into his cheeks.
“Come on in,” Savannah says, holding the door open for them and shooting me a glare as they pass her.
For fuck’s sake.
With a shake of my head, I follow them inside and close the door behind me, the sound of cartoons filtering out from the living room. “Reign is in the living room watchingPaw Patrol, do you want to join her?” Savannah asks Juliet and the little girl gives her a timid nod, chewing on her drool covered fingers.
