Finding Family...and Forever?

“Just wait and see how much he likes my rigatoni and red sauce.”

Justin groaned. “Dear God—”

“Prayer is pointless. Straight upstairs to the bath for him. It’s why messy meals are at night.”

“A good plan.”

“I try.”

She looked over her shoulder to satisfy herself that all was well before sliding her hands into oven mitts. After lifting the boiling pot of pasta, she poured the contents into a colander in the sink and let it drain.

Five minutes later the two of them were eating salad and Kyle was popping pieces of rigatoni into his mouth and smacking his lips.

“I know what you mean, kid. This is really good, Emma.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

For the first time, Justin had a chance to study her. There were shadows in her eyes obscuring the sparkle that he’d come to expect.

“Is everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes.” She looked up quickly, but her gaze didn’t quite meet his. “Why?”

“Just checking.” He cut a meatball and forked half into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he asked, “What did you guys do today?”

“Grocery shopping.” Her mouth pulled tight for a second, then she moved lettuce around her plate without eating any.

He wasn’t imagining the tension. “How did that go?”

“Fine.”

Obviously she and Kyle were home safe and sound. The household supplies were replenished, all of which indicated a successful shopping experience. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had happened. Justin wanted to know what, but since it didn’t appear to have any connection to his son, he had no right to grill her like raw hamburger. For all he knew, it could be about her love life.

The background check hadn’t turned up a significant other, although that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. He didn’t like the idea of Emma being in love, but that had nothing to do with Kyle and everything to do with a feeling he’d had little experience with.

Jealousy. He wasn’t proud of it, but there was no denying the truth.

Maybe he’d ask a few questions, after all. “So what did you think of Blackwater Lake’s premier grocery store?”

The expression on her face turned wry. “It’s the only grocery store. And it seemed fine.”

“Kyle wasn’t a problem?”

“Not at all.” She cut a rigatoni and speared half with her fork but didn’t eat it. “How was your day?”

This question had come up every night since she’d taken over from Sylvia, but this time it smacked of changing the subject. There was no subtle way to push harder, so he decided to back off. But he couldn’t resist giving her a taste of her own medicine.

“My day was fine,” he said.

“I’m glad.”

After that, they made small talk while he finished dinner. She ate very little, mostly pushing her food around the plate. When Kyle got grouchy and restless, she jumped at the chance to take him upstairs for a bath.

“I’ll clean up the kitchen,” he said.

“No, leave it for me.”

Emma scooped Kyle out of the high chair and held him against her, oblivious to the red sauce and smashed peas that got all over her shirt. He couldn’t help comparing her to the baby’s mother, who wouldn’t touch her own child if he was less than immaculate.

“You do enough,” he insisted. “I don’t mind squaring things away here.”

She looked as if she wanted to protest but nodded and carried Kyle out of the kitchen and upstairs.

Justin stowed the leftovers, rinsed plates and utensils then scrubbed the pots. The busywork occupied his hands, but his mind raced. He thought about the employees at the clinic, body language and bad mood indicating when someone was dealing with a personal problem. It never occurred to him to get involved, but none of the clinic staff lived under his roof and cared for the child he loved more than anything in the world.

He heard sounds from upstairs—splashing, laughter and baby chatter. There was clinic paperwork to do, but he suddenly felt as if he were on the outside looking in. After drying his hands, he went upstairs and found the two of them in the bathroom where water was draining out of the tub.

Emma covered her front with a thick terry-cloth towel then lifted the baby out of the tub and wrapped him up. She carried him to the nursery then diapered him as quickly as possible. All the red-and-green smears were gone, although she still sported them on her clothes. But Kyle was now a clean boy with neatly combed hair.

“That was quick,” Justin said.

“He’s tired.” With quick efficiency, she put the baby in a small, soft blue one-piece sleeper and picked him up. Then she headed for the glider chair in the corner beside the crib. “It was a busy day. You can see the signs when he’s had it and is ready to go to sleep.”

“I’ll rock him tonight. You take a break.”

“That’s not necessary—”

“I insist. Kyle had a busy day, which means yours was even more tiring. Just take some time and relax.”

She tilted her head and studied him. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay.” She walked over and started to hand the baby to Justin, but he let out a wail and clung to her, curling against her with his face buried in her neck. “I’m sorry. Do you want to just grab him?”

“No.” He moved close and put his hand on the small back. “It’s okay, buddy. I know you’re tired.”

And his son wasn’t the only one. That was as good an explanation as any for his own intense reaction to the warmth of Emma’s skin, the scent of her that twisted his senses into a knot of need. The only good thing was that it pushed jealousy out of the number-one position.

“Kyle?” Emma crooned softly. “Daddy’s here. Don’t you want some man time with him?”

As if he understood, the baby lifted his head and held out his arms. Justin took him and said, “That’s my guy. We’re just going to sit in the glider and have a little chat. I’ll tell you a story. I get the feeling that reading would be a bad idea tonight.”

“I think you’re right about that.” Emma headed for the door. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I don’t do this enough.”

The baby clinging to her was proof. On the one hand, he was glad Kyle had bonded with her so completely. The flip side of that was that Justin didn’t have the same connection. It was good to have a reminder that he needed to spend more quality time with his son.