“Otay, Sheff.”
Jonathan’s voice brought her mind back from its wanderings.Get a grip. Getting lost in memories of Jack won’t do anything but make you frustrated.
“Why don’t we show thesheriffsome of the games you can play here,” she suggested.
Jonathan was more than willing to drag Jack along to each game, Callie moving around with them. People would wonder if she allowed some stranger to hang out with her son. None of them knew the real story of Jonathan’s father. She’d merely said he wasn’t around anymore. They could think what they wanted. She honestly didn’t care. They didn’t have anything to do with Victor.
Jack made sure to keep in the shadows if he could. It was apparent he was proud of Jonathan and wanted everyone to know this was his son, but he’d never say anything. It broke her heart. Why couldn’t they be a normal, loving family? She asked this question far too often.
They stopped to take snack breaks, but Jonathan wanted to try each game and activity at least a few times. He was thrilled with the little prizes he kept winning and his goody bag filled up quickly. When his energy finally ran out, she signaled for Jack and he scooped the child into his arms. Grabbing the diaper bag, which also held her purse, she said good-bye to a few of the other parents who had volunteered.
Curious glances followed them as they left. Yeah, there’d be questions come Monday but she’d figure out something to tell them. She never mentioned any relatives, so a long-lost cousin or something equally cliché would probably work.
She opened the car door and Jack slid the drowsy child into his car seat. Jonathan roused enough to take hold of Jack’s hand.
“You tum home, Dahdee?”
Jack glanced back at her, a question in his eyes. Her heart broke into little pieces. Did she have a choice? It had been almost a month since Jack and Jonathan had spent any time in the other’s presence. And she wanted to see for herself that Jack’s gunshot wound had healed. He would never tell her if he’d had problems with it.
“Can you come back to the house for a little while? Jonathan would love it.”
He flashed her a tight smile. Did he not want to come back? If he didn’t, she wouldn’t force him. Maybe he had a date later. She started to shake her head but he simply closed the back door of the car and patted her shoulder.
“I’ll meet you at the house. I’ve got a company truck. I’ll park out back as usual.”
By the time she drove home and parked in her driveway, Jack was already there ready to get Jonathan out of the car seat. He was sound asleep. Would Jack still want to stay? What didshewant?
“I’ll bring him in the house, Calico. You get the diaper bag and the door.”
“Thanks, he is getting a little heavy while toting other things around.”
She followed him upstairs as he put their son in his bed. Standing back, she allowed Jack to remove Jonathan’s cowboy hat, and his shoes, his own hat and duster having been removed on the way back.I can’t get enough of seeing these two together.Jack was gentle and loving, so opposite the macho, tough FBI agent she had fallen in love with. When she watched him with their son, she hated to admit this tender side of him had her falling even more deeply than before.
* * * *
Jack gazed down at the peaceful face of his son in slumber as Callie slipped out of the room. Anger stirred that this wasn’t an everyday occurrence. It tore his heart out knowing it could be months before he could touch his son again. Maybe Callie would let him hang around until Jonathan awoke. The hour at the party was hardly sufficient.
He kissed the boy on the forehead and walked through the hallway toward the stairs. Callie sat on her bed, tugging on her boots.
“Need some help?’
Her eyes flew toward him at the question and her lips turned up at the corners. Pink tinged her cheeks. Was she remembering what they’d done in this room the last time he’d been here? He’d never forget it. It ran through his mind every night as he lay awake cursing his life and haunted his dreams when he managed to fall asleep.
Walking closer, he bent to lift her booted foot. She allowed it and leaned back on the bed. The snug bustier accentuated her curves and Jack shuddered as he tugged the boot off.
“Heather’s sister, Charlotte, loaned me these boots. I can’t believe she wears them for real.”
“They’re nice.” Seeing her in nothingbutthe boots crossed his mind. More thoughts he shouldn’t be having but what the heck. He removed Callie’s other boot then peeled the knee highs down and off.
“I only had them on for two hours but my feet are killing me.”
Holding onto both feet, he rubbed her instep and toes. The sound erupting from her mouth had parts of him waking up. Parts he should keep asleep while hanging around Callie.
He slid his hands from her feet to her ankles then climbed farther up her calves. Keeping his eyes glued to her face, he was aware the moment she decided they shouldn’t be doing this. Why did she have to be so much stronger than him?
She sat up straighter though didn’t pull her legs away. “How’s the gunshot wound? Has it healed all the way?” Was she trying to get his attention away from her legs? It wouldn’t work. Her legs had always been his favorite part.
He stayed kneeling between her feet and chuckled. “It was barely a scratch and it was a month ago. It’s fine.”
