“I helped out that Sanborn family a little. The father had no one to watch the children, so I babysat for him on my day off," I said, trying to keep my voice from wavering. “It wasnothing.”
“He thinks you’re interested in the husband?” His voice rose in pitch as his eyebrows shot straight up. I felt the color rising to my cheeks.Who said anything about thehusband?
“No, no, not at all!” I said, this time my voice was unwavering. "He doesn't want me to get too close to the children and become too attached." I waved my hand in the air in a no big deal gesture. "I can barely remember what the father looked like."Okay, so I'm a liar. He was probably the hottest man I have ever seen. But who cares? That’s not what Ryan was freaked outabout.
“Are you making this personal? With the kids?” heasked.
“How can I not? There are two innocent children involved. And honestly, I just babysat them for a few hours, that’sit.”
He took a long pull from his flask and cleared his throat with a thoughtful expression. "So what is Ryan anxious about,then?"
“I don’t know. I mean, he’s being an idiot,really.”
“What else is new?” he mumbled under his breath. “Listen, I know you, Callie. You won't stay away from a family that’s in need. You’ll go and check up on them. That’s okay.” He scratched at the back of his neck. “The husband seems like a decent guy, too. Felt bad for him, watching him in thehospital.”
I nodded quietly, not wanting to give him any indication I had any thoughts about thehusband.
His eyes flickered up to mine, and he tilted his head a bit, as if he was trying to figure out a puzzle. “Just be careful, okay? Protect yourheart.”
Protect my heart? Protect it from what? “Oh Boss, you should know I don’t have one of those.”I lost that shit the minute I lost myuterus.
He barked out a laugh. “You have one of the biggest hearts I know on this job, and you always do the right thing. And if the right thing is helping out this family every once in a while—" he said, standing up from his chair and tossing his secret flask into a locked compartment of his desk. "It's a non-issue. You know Cage, he's in everyone's ass because he thinks he's the shit. Ignore him, and do what you dobest."
* * *
Idrove home,thinking about everything Kannon said. He was absolutely right about Cage; I should just ignore him. I watched the kids for a few hours, so what? I was a good cop—a good neighbor, even—that’s it. Ryan needed to deal with his own issues, like learning how to keep his mouth closed. If I weren't stuck in traffic, I would call him and give him a tongue-lashing like he'd never hadbefore.
New York City traffic suckedballs.
Exiting the Parkway, I spotted a fast food restaurant, and my stomach rumbled loudly.I don’t think I’ve eaten anything since breakfast this morning. I pulled the car into the drive-thru lane and ordered way more food than I needed for just myself.I wonder if the Addison ate dinner yet? Would she like chicken fingers and fries?It wouldn’t hurt to get some food and bring it over.Who says no to freefood?
Ten minutes later, I found myself standing on the Sanborn’s doorstep with two huge bags overstuffed with chicken fingers, fries, cheeseburgers, desserts— probably like two or three of everything on the menu. My arms were so full, I had to use my foot to kick at thedoorbell.
It took me three tries to getit.
The door flung open to a wild-haired Dylan holding a screaming red-faced Ben and one screaming red-faced Addison attached to his leg. It was a total snot festinside.
“Everything okay?” I asked, trying not tolaugh.
"Sure. Everything is just…perfect." The tight lips and heavy bags under his eyes gave away his truefeelings.
I held up the bags and waggled my eyebrows. “Thought you might be interested in a surprisedinner.”
“Where do you keep your wings?” Dylan blurted out, pure relief washing across hisexpression.
“Just under my horns,” I laughed, walking inside. “Addison? Why don’t you help me set up the dinner? I’ll let you see the secret desserts Ibought.”
Addison squealed and detached herself from Dylan’s leg. She ran down the small hallway into the kitchen, dragging one of the bags she grabbed from my hands behindher.
A hard tug on my shirt stopped me from following her. “Wait, Callie. I need to know.Why?Why are you helpingme?”
I blinked up at him. Ben sniffled softly on his shoulder; his little chubby fists clenched tight. "I was just going through the drive-thru, and I simply wondered if Addison liked chicken fingers and fries. And here Iam."
He swallowed hard, his eyes darting back and forth betweenmine.
He was thinking something differently, wasn't he? He thought this was pity or something dark. I shrugged it off like it wasnothing.
"I liked playing with the kids, Dylan. I thought about becoming a teacher when I wasyounger."
