Jameson (In the Company of Snipers #22) - Irish Winters Page 0,69
her hands. “Too soon?” he asked.
“No, just…” And now she was rubbing her face and slicking back her hair. The direction of her body had changed. She’d curled her long legs to the side. She was that scared little girl again, going back into her shell.
He backed off. “No worries. How about we date for as long as you want, then? We could actually take time to get to know each other. You could ask me questions. I’ll tell you about Mom and Dad. You tell me whatever you want.”
“It’s just that… I’ve only been divorced seven months, two days, and thirteen hours.”
“Wow, that long.”
“Stop laughing at me.”
“I’m not laughing at you, babe.” Yet he was. Laughing inside. Enjoying the easy comradery he’d found with this woman. Today had to be the best day of his life.
She leaned into him with a sigh. “We just washed that burn gel off. Guess we’ll have to do that again.”
There, see? She did it again. Made him smile. Turned him down, yet still made him the happiest guy on earth.
Chapter Nineteen
Alex stopped short, not believing what he’d just seen. Kelsey was home, on her feet, and waiting on Mel when she should’ve been in bed, resting. What the hell was Mel doing here, at his kitchen table? Had that bastard just slapped Kelsey’s ass?
“I’m home,” Alex declared, shutting the garage door behind him more forcefully than he’d intended. “Why aren’t you still in the hospital?” he asked his wife.
“I hate hospitals, you know that. Besides, Libby will be right back. She’s spending the night, but her girls wanted to help too, so she ran to get them. I’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
“Daddy!” Lexie squealed, her feet pounding a path straight into his open arms. “I got a grandpa, and he’s right here!”
Well, isn’t that just dandy…
Biting his tongue, Alex dropped to one knee and caught his fairy princess up in his arms. The scent of her baby shampoo was like crack. He took a deep breath of the luscious life and love and laughter that always surrounded his baby girl. There truly was nothing better for a tired old man to come home to than his family.
It was mid-morning. He’d stopped by the hospital to visit Kelsey, which was why he’d hurried home when he’d discovered she’d checked herself out. Kelsey shouldn’t be on her feet so soon after a C-section, and she sure as hell shouldn’t be waiting on Mel. Damn it. Alex had also missed another milestone in Lexie’s life, the moment she’d met her new baby brother. No doubt Mel had the privilege of seeing what only Alex should’ve been privy to. He was dying to know how Lexie had reacted, and what she’d said, but he wasn’t about to ask Kelsey. Not now. Not in front of—him.
But he’d also stopped to speak with Agent Morozov prior to his emergency surgery, about his dealings with Shade, damn it. Because of that urgent side trip, he now knew Shade had orchestrated Pops Delany’s death.
Kelsey looked over her shoulder from the coffee maker, her exhaustion written loud and clear all over her pretty face. “Your father was waiting at the security gate when Libby drove up. Isn’t that nice? He’s tired, Alex.”
Like I give a shit… There wasn’t much Alex could say out loud that wouldn’t frighten his daughter or discourage his wife, so he reined in the thunder rankling in his gut that seeing Mel sitting with his wife and child caused.
Crossing into the kitchen, he put one arm around his weary wife’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Where’s Bradley?” he asked. Then winced at how curt he sounded despite his best intentions.
Kelsey’s brown eyes were wide with concern. “He’s in our room. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve got the baby monitor right there on the table. I’ll hear him if he makes a peep.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. You know that.”
“Um, your father and I were just sitting down for a cup of coffee. Would you like to join us?”
She already knew the answer, yet there was pleading in her tone, as if he’d interrupted something. Or maybe she just wanted him to sit down and be civil to the bastard who’d walked out on Abigail so long ago and who would do it again, this time to Kelsey and the little girl who thought he was her grandpa. Like hell. Alex wasn’t about to let Mel hurt this family, too.