Never Say Never by Tina Leonard

Author:Tina Leonard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2013-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

Jill forced herself to focus on the precise cutting of the gingerbread dough. It seemed no sooner than she got one laid out than Joey had him dressed with colorful sprinkles and Red Hots. She might actually be enjoying the process if her mind would stop mulling over what Dustin was going to say to her after he talked to his mother. If she was smart, she’d start packing her bags during Joey’s naptime. It was going to be humiliating to linger a moment longer than she had to if Dustin told her she had to leave.

Which he had every right to do, in light of the custody problem. Maxine certainly planned to make everything as difficult as possible on him, and Jill’s presence had sparked a fuse. Jill figured she should offer to resign, but then she’d have to admit to eavesdropping. Not only that, but she just wasn’t a quitter. If Dustin wanted her to go, she would. It would be mortifying, but she would thank him for her employment and make a graceful exit.

It would be devastating, though—because of the kiss. She should never have done it.

Now he might feel obligated to keep her when he shouldn’t. Perhaps he would think she expected more because of what had happened. She sighed and pressed out another cookie.

“Look, Jill. I…I make him happy.”

Joey pointed to the crooked curve of sprinkles where the gingerbread man’s mouth was. Jill nodded and managed a smile.

“You…you happy now, too?”

“Oh, Joey.” Jill put down the cutter and gave him a hug. “I’m very happy. I like doing this with you. I thought about it a lot yesterday while you were gone.” She brushed some flour off his face. “I used to love making gingerbread men when I was a little girl. It’s even more fun showing you how to do them.”

“You…not smiling. You making brows.”

She hadn’t been smiling while she’d been thinking about what Dustin might say to her. There probably had been a frown line etched on her face. The concern on Joey’s upturned face, serious and yet hopeful all at once, touched her.

“Well, I won’t make brows anymore. I’ve been thinking too hard, but now I’m not going to think about anything but you and these spicy little guys, okay?”

“Okay.”

Joey went back to carefully placing Red Hots for buttons on a gingerbread man. Jill kept her lips pressed into a smile, glancing the child’s way occasionally.

“Jill?”

“Yes?”

“You…you gonna stay for Christmas and…and watch me open my presents?”

She hesitated, trying to think of an answer that would satisfy Joey yet be truthful as well. Dustin strode into the kitchen, poured himself a cup of coffee, nodded briefly in her direction, and left. The front door slammed.

Her heart sank. She looked back at Joey. “I’d like to,” she said simply.

He went back to his work, but Jill’s concentration was shot. Dustin’s demeanor had resembled a thundercloud and he’d barely looked at her.

Whatever minor easing of tension they’d managed to achieve had reverted to friction again. She couldn’t help thinking that the Reed Ranch might not be her home much longer.

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