“I want that to be true.” If only, she thought longingly, needing to see him and have him close.
A tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away. “Sorry. Anyway, back to the sleepover. You have it all under control. Thank you for that.”
“Of course. It’s what I do.”
“Any luck on finding the little boy left alone at night?”
Cheryl shook her head. “I have a few leads. It’s surprisingly difficult to be casual about discussing that sort of thing. I haven’t figured out a way to say ‘hey, so, do you work nights and leave your child home alone? Because if you do, you should know he’s scared, but I can help.’” She sighed. “It’s a terrible situation and I don’t want to make it worse. I also don’t want to get social services involved if there’s another solution.” She looked at Jax. “I guess the actual answer to your question is I’m still looking.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“I will.”
Cheryl left to go back to work. Jax followed her into the store. Every few feet a worried customer stopped her to talk about Ramon. While she appreciated the concern, talking about him being gone over and over again made her feel like she was at risk of losing it. She was about to bolt for the storeroom when Marcus walked over.
“Minor crisis on the remodel,” he said easily. “Mind if I borrow Jax for a few minutes?”
“Excuse me,” Jax said as she followed him down the aisle. When they reached the far end of the travel section, he stopped and faced her.
“I’m sorry to be weak and all that,” she began, “but I’m not in the place where I can hear any more bad news. If whatever is wrong is bad, you’re going to have to lie about it for a while.”
He touched her cheek. His eyes were kind, his expression concerned. “There’s no crisis. There’s nothing going on with the remodel. We’re on track to put the diaries back in place on Monday, just like we planned.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“You looked trapped. I was trying to help.”
She resisted the urge to throw herself against him. “Thank you,” she said earnestly. “I mean that. I was trapped. I know they’re all worried about Ramon, but it doesn’t help to have to say the same thing over and over. I hate that he’s gone and I don’t know where he is. I hate how I miss him. It’s like I lost a member of my family.”
“Because you did, Jax. You two have been together since you were a kid. You can’t remember life without him. He’s a part of you.” He paused. “Sorry. I’m making things worse.”
“You’re not. You’re helping. I appreciate all you’ve done.” She knew Marcus had been quietly working in the background to find Ramon. He’d been a rock and she was so grateful she could depend on him.
“I keep hoping he’ll just fly in the door, you know?” She sighed. “I’ll be mad, of course, but a good mad. Or even if we could find him for sale somewhere. It’s the not knowing anything that’s killing me. I’m so scared he’s hurt and needs me and I’m not there.”
Marcus stepped close and held her. “I know. I wish I couldfix this. You have no idea. If someone did take him and we find out who, I want fifteen minutes alone with the guy.”
“Thank you but you’re not the violent type.”
“Not as a rule, but I’m willing to make an exception.” He stepped back and looked into her eyes. “I’m here and I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I can take a shift or go get groceries or pick up the kids from school. Just tell me.”
“Thank you, but please stop being so nice or I’ll start to cry again.”
“I can handle your tears.”
She sniffed. “You’re a very good man, Marcus Collins. Thank you for being my friend.”
Chapter Nineteen
Noah carefully petted Lucy. “I like how she’s soft,” he said. “And she likes to cuddle. All my friends who have dogs say their dogs play with them and stuff, but they don’t cuddle like she does.”
“She likes you,” Ryleigh pointed out, grateful for how her cat had taken to yet another change. She’d spent two days at Alex’s house while Ryleigh had been working or with her sister, yet seemed unfazed by it all. The cat obviously adored Alex and Noah and had spent both nights sleeping at the foot of Noah’s bed—a fact that delighted him.
Now, after sharing dinner, they were all sprawled out on the large sectional in the TV room. Lucy was draped across Noah’s thin, bony lap, purring loudly. Jax had basically thrown Ryleigh out, telling her to get back to her life. Upon hearing that, Alex had suggested a sleepover, and while she was exhausted, she also needed time with him, both as his friend and as his lover.
So much had changed so quickly, she thought, telling herself nothing had to be decided right this second. She had time and she would use it to figure out what she really wanted in a thoughtful and sensible way. She wouldn’t be swayed by emotions or evenher hormones, which were ridiculously happy at the thought of another Alex-induced orgasm or two.
They continued to watch the movie together. Ryleigh found herself getting sleepy a couple of times, which played in with the plan of her “pretending” to be tired so Alex suggested she stay over. Not anything new, but somehow knowing this time they were doing it so they could have sex made the moment feel more illicit.
