Josh swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.
The mother and child made such a compelling picture that Josh wished he knew how to draw. Hed never been an artist, and he wasnt sure that even a Michelangelo could manage to capture the perfect essence of this mother and child.
His heart ached for all the pictures like this one that he would miss seeing in his lifetime. The pictures of a loving spouse and child that he would never haveand that his brother and sister would miss having in their lives, as well. Those thoughts sobered him, left him melancholy and finally made him angry. Exactly the way hed spent the last fifteen years of his life. Mad as hell with no way to let it loose and
no one to take it out on.
But Josh wasnt the kind to dwell on his troubles for very long. He was much more an action kind of guy. Kick butts, take names and take charge. It was the way hed operated for most of his life. So, burying his personal problems like always, he decided to focus on Clares troubles instead.
We need to talk. He swiveled to a position in his seat where he could watch her face as he questioned her. I want answers about what the hell is going on. And dont give me any of that bull about not knowing those two sleazy dudes or why they were after you. Ive been shot at, sucker punched and chased tonight, and I want to know why.
Clare didnt know what to do or say to answer his questions. She didnt know who to rely on. Was Josh someone to trust? Did she dare?
She kept perfectly still and stared at the man who was for all purposes a complete stranger. But as the flickering light from one of the parking-lot lamps filtered through the windshield and seemed to water down the edges of his face with soft gray tones and shadows, her insides softened toward him, too.
The look in his eyes as he glared at her wasnt stony or cynical or in any way threatening, despite his rough words. No, Joshs facial expression seemed to reach out to her with unspoken compassion. And with somethingwarmer, more focusedunderlying that. Clare didnt want to think too much about the underlying heat. By now her own body was suffering from a wave of warmth just staring at his remarkably deep-set eyes and intense chocolate-colored gaze.
He was easy to look at. And hot! Six-two or-three, shed have to guess. All of that was lean, hard-packed muscle. Not the kind of muscle you saw in the gym, but the real sinew and form of an outdoorsman who didnt hesitate to use his body. He was wearing camo pants and a tight-fitting black T-shirt. Old cowboy boots and a Stetson completed the picture. And what a picture it was, too.
She drew in a shaky breath and her supposedly quick brain finally kicked into gear as she remembered that without his help, Jimmy would have been lost. And she would be hopeless. Even not knowing a thing about her, Josh had given her the sweetest gift in the world.
She swallowed carefully, deciding that she needed someones help and it might as well be his. Its a long story.
Ive got all night. I dont have to be anywhere until the day after tomorrow.
Oh. The way hed said that, with a murmur of sorrow in his voice, made her curious to know where he was headed. But she figured she owed him the first explanations.
She shifted Jimmy in her arms and rolled her window down halfway for some air. Okay, she began, wondering how she could put all her embarrassment and terror into words. But this has to be off the record.
Wait a sec, he interrupted. Stay put and hold that thought. Ill be right back.
Wha Before she could get a word out, hed ripped the keys from the ignition, unbuckled and stepped out of the truck into the humidity and heat of an East Texas night.
Keep the doors locked and an eye out, he told her. Ill be back in a few minutes. You two should be fine.
He slammed the door, locked it behind him and stalked off toward the discount store, leaving her with her mouth open and her head shaking. What was with this guy?
True to his word, and before she had a chance to rethink her tenuous position and climb out of his truck and disappear, Josh was already headed back in her direction. And he was carrying an enormous box with him.
What in blazes
Its a car seat for a two-year-old, he said after he opened the door. Sorry I took so long but I had to get a complete briefing on its installation. Can you put the kid down there on the front seat without waking him up and get out a minute? Ill give you the short course as we tuck it into the backseat.
What backseat?
Josh slanted a grin in her direction. It was the first one shed seen from him and it made her heart stutter with lust and longing. Wow. That was fast work. She didnt even know where she and Jimmy would be in the next hour, yet here she was, thinking about a near stranger in terms of a heated grin. Damn it. She was a mother, for heavens sake.
Lightly slipping out of the front seat and easing Jimmy down, Clare tried to get herself back together. This was serious business. Jimmys whole future was riding on her doing everything right.