Page 79 of Lowering His Guard

He hands me the parrot cage. “Will you be okay?”

“Okay? Who’s okay?” Plank chirps.

“You are. You beautiful bird.”

“I am beautiful.”

I chuckle at his preening as I stroll toward my car. Brock shackles my wrist before I get too far.

“You didn’t answer my question.” When I don’t respond, he pushes, “Will you be okay?”

“Of course. It’s not a big deal.”

I’m always okay. I was okay when I found out I couldn’t have children. And I’ll be okay now. But okay and happy are not the same thing.

I force a smile. “I’ve got this. You go check on Jace.”

He stares at me for a long moment. His blue eyes are filled with clouds. Does he not believe me? I dial up the sunshine on my smile. I’ve been using this smile to cover my pain for years.

It’s effective. Trust me. I know. If it weren’t, my parents would have figured out my problem. But they haven’t.

“Be safe.” He presses his lips to mine in a brief, hard kiss.

I stare up at him. Dazed. We’re in a public parking lot. Anyone could have seen us kissing. Does he not care? Does he not want to get rid of me?

He pushes me toward my car. “Get going. I want to watch you drive away and make sure you’re safe before I go upstairs.”

He does?

I’m not going to deny him. I hurry to my car.

When I drive away, he’s still standing in the parking lot with his arms crossed over his chest watching me.

Maybe this was more than a one-night stand to him. Maybe we could be something more. After all, he already has Jace. Maybe he doesn’t want more kids.

Do I dare hope?

Chapter 25

Rule #11: You can't have it all.

Brock

“You sure you’re okay?” I ask Jace.

He rolls his eyes. “For the gazillionth time, I’m fine. I’m not a baby. I can spend a night alone in a perfectly safe hotel.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as guilt swamps me. I put my needs in front of Jace’s safety. What kind of father am I?

“I should have been here.”

Jace jumps up from the table with such force, his chair falls backward and hits the floor with a loud thunk.

“You’re not listening to me! I told you I’m not a baby. I told you I was fine. I’m glad you spent time with May.”

His blue eyes that are identical to mine twinkle the way they always do when he’s up to no good. And I remember how my evening with May began. With her waiting for my son. And me being sent by my son to May for some lame reason.

“Did you set us up?”