Her Unexpected Family (Sweetwater Springs Novel #2) by Carol Burnside

Author:Carol Burnside
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, family saga, humor, family, contemporary, series, cancer survivor, arkansas, little rock, tearjerker, blended family, romance series, sweetwater springs, series book 2, contemporary adult romance, southern american romance, sensual romance series, couples with kids, secret baby story
Publisher: B&R Bookery

Chapter Ten

Where are you, Claire?

Travis paced close to the kitchen table, where his son ate a hastily prepared meal. Maybe he should call his mother in Florida and ask her recommendation on a sitter. Or Rosie. In either case, he’d have to explain why he needed someone to care for a child. Springing a three-year-old family member on them over the phone might not be his best idea ever.

No. He’d wait and tell his folks in person.

It made perfect sense he’d call Claire first, think of her first. She’d been here for him earlier. She knew the situation. Even so, asking for help with his kid had rankled.

He’d demanded she come. Bad move. Claire deserved a groveling apology.

He couldn’t blame Cody for being upset after all the recent changes in his short life. But Travis’s own panic over the situation? Embarrassing, even if it had been momentary.

Outside the back door, Phoenix whined to be let in, but he’d wait to make that introduction until after Cody finished picking at his meal.

The sound of a car door slamming caressed his ears like a lover. Thank God.

“Finish eating, Cody. I’ll be right back.”

He snatched the door open as Claire approached it. She breezed through, dropping a tote and small duffle beside her. “What happened? How’d you end up with him? I know it’s not Mel. I mean, I called the hospital to check on her.”

“Sorry. I didn’t stop to consider you’d think that.” He’d grown accustomed to her off-beat look, even found it attractive. But how would Cody respond to her purplish hair and a look resembling street waif? She didn’t look reliable, but she’d come despite his rude summons and something inside him settled. Time for an apology. “Claire, I—”

“You’ve made progress. I don’t hear any screaming.” She toed off plain black flats, revealing petite toes with nails painted to match her hair. They looked pretty and . . . normal, a fact that brought him an inordinate amount of relief.

His gaze lifted to meet her expectant one, and he blanked on what he’d meant to say. “Progress. Yes. He’s . . . calmed some. I think hunger drove him to tolerate me.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Your insecurities are showing, Travis.”

Great. That was twice this evening he’d played the idiot card. What happened to his well-known self-confidence and charm?

Dismay must have shown on his face because Claire punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. If a guy is totally in control all the time, it can be intimidating. Besides, it’s kind of . . .” She cut her eyes at him, eyebrows quirked at an enticing angle. “Sexy.”

“Is that right?” he drawled, feeling a resurgence of Travis Baxter, Man About Town.

“Don’t get all cocky on me, now. Save it for later.”

“Can I take that as a promise?” The question popped out before he could stop it, born of pure need and a desire to end the weird cat-and-mouse they continued to play.

She raised her chin in his direction, her expression growing serious.

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