She had been, but she swallowed the remark and instead asked, “So what’s your plan then?”
“It’s a nice afternoon. Care to go for a walk?”
Chapter 14
As they started down the sidewalk, back toward the apartments where Chase Hamilton had parked, Cal took Jules’s hand, lacing their fingers as if they were lovers. She, of course, tried to snatch her hand back and frowned at him, but he only smiled. “Our pretext as we do a little espionage.”
She pulled a dubious face before relenting and falling into step beside him.
He cut a side glance to her scowling countenance and chuckled. “We’d be more believable as a happy couple if you didn’t look so pissed off.”
Her steps faltered, and she gave him an even darker look before conjuring a cheesy grin. “Better?”
“Geez Louise, Jules. Someone needs to teach you how to relax and have a good time.”
“I suppose you’re volunteering?”
“Would that be such a terrible thing?” He cast a quick glance at her, noting how the sunlight found gold strands in her brown hair and highlighted the sharp lines of her too-thin face. Even with the obvious signs of stress and poor sleep that shadowed her eyes, his heart thudded erratically as he drank in her beauty. As much as he found their barbed repartee amusing, he’d much rather see her smile. Jules Bailey had clearly suffered more than her share of grief and worry in her life. From his core, Cal wanted to be the one to give her the kind of joy that shone in her expression, the inner peace that eased the crinkles framing her eyes.
“I don’t have room in my life for anything besides work and Abby. My time is completely full earning enough to pay my way and taking care of my sister.”
He blinked, mentally backtracking to the last question he’d asked her to make sense of her comment.Oh, right. His offer to show her a good time.
“The gift shop closes at night. Surely you can take some time to sit back with some friends and enjoy some food and music?” When she turned a withering glance his way, he elaborated. “My family is having a cookout at my dad’s place on Saturday. Come as my guest. No need to bring anything. The Colton siblings will have more than enough food and drink there.”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“And cornhole and volleyball and a bonfire in the evening for roasting marshmallows.” He tugged her hand, guiding her around a pothole in the sidewalk. The apartment building was in sight now, and he narrowed his gaze on the front seat of the white truck. Empty. Where had Hamilton gone?
“No, Cal. I’m not crashing your family party.”
He lifted her hand so that he could kiss her knuckles, then grinned at her stunned expression. “You’re not crashing. You’re my guest. My brothers have bought fireworks, and my sister is making a batch of strawberry cupcakes that will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“Yes,” he said, answering her unspoken question, “they really are that good.”
She sighed. “Fine. I’ll come. But only if I can bring something. Is anyone bringing a watermelon?”
“I hear you are,” he quipped as they reached the redheaded teenager’s house.
Jules craned her head and scanned the yard, peering back at the white truck and angling a glance at the upstairs windows.
He squeezed her hand. “Cool it, Sherlock. You’re being too obvious.”
“I—” Color filled her cheeks, and she met his eyes, obviously abashed.
To cover her goof and lend credence to their pretense, he bent to drop a quick kiss on her cheek. When he raised his head, her wide-eyed surprise tugged a chuckle from him.
She arched an eyebrow and appeared ready to scold him when she tensed and her gaze darted to the lawn they were passing. Her steps slowed. “He’s in the side yard, behind that family’s trash can.”
“Keep walking,” he said, tugging her forward.
“Can’t you arrest him for trespassing or something?” she whispered.
“I could, but I think the smarter move is to wait and get him on something that carries more heft, bigger consequences. I’m sure you don’t want to spook him and waste the chance to get him off the streets for good. A petty charge will likely only cost him a fine and tip his hand to us.”
Her shoulders slumped, and he released her hand in order to put his arm around her shoulders. “I know you’re frustrated, but to do this right will require some patience.”
