Whatever It Takes by JM Stewart

Author:JM Stewart [Stewart, JM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Jackson woke the next morning to a warm body against his side. Opening his eyes, he expected to see Allie but found Becca instead. She lay curled against him. Her skin was warm and her arm deliciously heavy on his stomach. She looked beautiful, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber. Her silky golden locks fanned the pillow beside him. He had no memory of drifting off, but clearly they’d both fallen asleep during that last movie.

Little-girl giggles drifted to him and his heartbeat sped up. Allie. Panic flitted through him as he lifted his head. She lay at the bottom of the bed on her stomach, resting her chin in her hands. She had the television on but turned low. Obviously she’d realized Becca had spent the night in his bed instead of her own room. They shouldn’t have allowed it to happen. Would she have questions?

“Mornin’, sweet pea.” He eased himself to a sitting position, the pain slicing through his rib cage. For the sake of his daughter, he swallowed his tired groan.

Allie peered back at him, her little face beaming. “Morning.” Her gaze darted to Becca, and if at all possible, her smile widened. “Mommy stayed, too.”

He followed her gaze, eyeing Becca’s soft form against his side, regret mixed with joy. He liked her beside him, but he needed to address her presence in the bed. It was a difficult conversation, but one he needed to have with Allie.

“I think we all fell asleep watching that movie. You know, this likely won’t happen again, sweetheart. I don’t want you getting the wrong idea. It doesn’t mean anything’s changed between your momma and me.”

She looked down at the bed, twirling her finger over the pattern on the quilt, her expression hard to read.

“I know. ’Cause you’re still ’vorced. She was scared, too, Daddy. I’m glad she stayed. So she can take care of you if you hurt again.” She turned, crawled up the bed to him, and laid down on his other side, carefully hugging his thigh. She lifted her head, peering at him with worried eyes. “Do you hurt, Daddy?”

He stroked the hair back off her face with his good hand. “A little, but I’ll be all right. I’ll heal, I promise. How ’bout we take Mommy’s car and go get some breakfast? Muffins from the bakery around the corner? You hungry?”

More to the point, breakfast would take her focus off the fact that Becca had spent the night in his bed.

Allie shook her head, her big blue eyes wide and worried again. “You shouldn’t drive.”

He smiled. “All right. How about eggs, then? Just like on Saturdays.”

Relief flooded her face, and Allie sat up, bobbing her head. “And I can make the toast.”

She hopped off the bed, and, too much like her mother, held her hands out to him. He allowed her to pull him to his feet, swallowing a pain-filled groan when moving jostled his sore ribs.

“All right. Lead the way.” How he’d make eggs one-armed, he didn’t know, but he allowed her to lead him out of the bedroom.

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