Hooked by C.C. Piper

Author:C.C. Piper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.C. Piper

13

Roxanne

It felt appropriate that Thanksgiving was approaching because I felt more gratitude than I would’ve thought possible. Jax had become a fixture in Callie’s life and in my own. Around our work schedules we’d begun to spend time not only at my apartment but at his house, as well, and he encouraged us to make ourselves at home.

Our daughter loved it there. While it was much larger than the apartment, it was also homey. I felt comfortable there, and from the look of glee on her features any time we went, Callie did, too. Of course, part of our daughter’s fascination with the place was due to the black tomcat who Jax kept calling a stray, even though he’d already adopted him.

I mean, the man had installed a special animal door, had named him Midnight and bought him food, toys and a selection of cat beds, for God’s sake.

Our daughter spent hours and hours petting and playing with the kitty as Jax and I watched from nearby. The three of us together provided a wonderful picture in my mind, one I hoped might become permanent.

Jax had already brought in a decorator to turn one of the second-floor bedrooms into Callie’s. “It just makes sense,” he told me when he showed it to me. “Our daughter needs a space of her own, no matter where she is.”

His thoughtfulness and consideration made me so hopeful that we could make this work.

We’d been visiting when Callie fell asleep on his couch. “I guess I should get her back to the apartment. It’s late and she’s wiped out.”

“I have a better idea,” Jax said, and went into his kitchen. From his pantry he pulled out a set of devices; a baby monitor and its receiver. Then he gathered our daughter into his arms and carried her to his version of her room. Once he settled her in the twin-sized bed, he whispered, “I know she’s probably a little old for this, but she’s in a new environment. This way we’ll be able to hear her if she wakes up.”

Smiling in approval, I followed him downstairs and back to his living room. We listened to her breathing as we talked about nothing, simply enjoying each other’s company. Two hours later, my own eyes were drooping. “Okay, I really need to get Callie and go now. It’s been a lovely evening. Thanks for having us over.”

I’d pushed myself to my feet and he’d joined me, but instead of helping me get our daughter ready to leave, he placed one hand on my shoulders while the other played with the fringe hanging off the ends of my scarf. Kissing me in a manner that said far more than goodnight, he looked into my eyes. “Stay.”

“Oh, but-”

He kissed me again, more insistently this time around. “Please, Rox. Stay. Stay with me.”

It had been just over three months since he’d blown back into my life again, into my life and Callie’s. Three months since he found out about my pregnancy.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.