Her heart thundered in her chest and her belly clenched, the scar tissue seeming to tighten around a wound that would never heal. No, really, I can wait in the kitchen with Mrs. Quaid.
It will only take a minute and it will be worth it. I promise.
The big warm hand holding hers, tugged her toward the staircase.
Once out of earshot of Mrs. Quaid, Kate asked, Was it necessary to introduce me as your fiancée?
He didnt let go of her hand as he climbed the stairs. I thought it might make it easier for you stay here and be seen with me and not generate more questions.
Kate trudged up the steps, her breathing abnormally fast for the little amount of exertion. She had already worked back up to her usual three-mile jog every day. A few stairs shouldnt have had a debilitating effect on her lungs. As much as shed like to blame it on the stairs, she knew it was the thought of tucking a little boy into bed that had her breaking into a cold sweat and struggling against the desire to run right out the front door and all the way back to Texas.
She thought she was ready to face the world. But she really wasnt. Sure she could fire expert, shoot a perp and perform physical training all day long, but being around a child was beyond her endurance.
At the top of the staircase, Chase made a left turn and hurried down the hallway to the second door on the right. He pushed the door open and peered into the shadowy interior. Jake? he whispered softly. Are you asleep?
Chase let go of her hand and opened the door wider, allowing a beam of light to cross the bedroom floor to the full-size bed in the middle.
No, Im awake, a small voice called out. I was waiting for you and Grandma.
You gotta stop doing that. Young bodies need sleep to help them grow. Chase entered the room and settled on the side of the bed. He brushed his hand across the boys forehead, pushing back a swath of dark brown hair, almost the same color as Kates.
Kate fingered the long ponytail over her shoulder, her heart gripped in her chest. She didnt want to move into the room, afraid the walls might close in around her.
Barkley the Saint Bernard pushed past her and sprawled on the floor at the end of the bed.
Wheres Grandma? Jake leaned up on his elbow and stared straight at Kate. Who are you?
Ignoring his first question, Chase answered the second. He held out his hand to Kate, an invitation to step into the room. Somehow, she managed to move one foot in front of the other until she stood beside the bed and glanced down at a little boy with green eyes, who looked entirely too small to sleep in such a big bed by himself. Hi, she said.
Chase clasped her hand and drew her closer. This is Kate Rivers. Shes coming to stay with us for a little while.
Jake smiled and settled back against the pillow, a huge yawn splitting his little face. Are you staying for Christmas? he asked, his eyelids drifting closed.
Kate shook her head, but the boy didnt see her through his closed eyes. She shifted her gaze to Chase, trying not to stare at Jake, his little body buried beneath the sheets and a thick goose down quilt.
Despite being a tomboy from the moment she could strut around in her own cowboy boots, Kate had pictured herself with a big family of her own, shed wanted half a dozen boys for her dad whod gotten stuck with three froufrou girls and a tomboy.
The day the meth lab sting went down, shed lost not only her partner, but shed been shot in the gut, the bullet damaging both her uterus and ovaries. Having been a Texas Ranger from the time shed graduated college with a degree in criminology, shed hardly slowed down long enough to consider what she wanted next in life. In the back of her mind, shed always known she eventually wanted kids.
After her last botched mission with the Texas Rangers, Kates injuries had cut off any chances of her ever having children. Those kids shed pictured having would never be.
Miss Kate will be here through Christmas, Chase assured the boy. He let go of Kates hand, pulling her back to the present, and brushed the hair out of Jakes face once more, then stood.
Jakes eyes opened. Grandma always kisses me good-night. Where is she?
She had to stay in town for a few nights. Chase leaned over the child and pressed his lips to the boys forehead. There, that will have to do for now.
He blinked his eyes open again, his gaze shifting from Chase to Kate. Cant Miss Kate kiss me, too?
Chase turned to Kate, his brows raised. Its totally up to Miss Kate.
Kate took a step backward, ready to make a run for the door.
Jake captured Kates gaze with his own green-eyed one. Please.
Frozen to the spot, she couldnt leave. Not with that trusting gaze gluing her to the floor. She wanted to run, but couldnt. Her feet carried her forward to the bed, where she leaned over the little boy.
He closed his eyes, a smile curling his sweet lips.
Her pulse pounding in her ears, Kate had to follow through. She brushed his forehead lightly with her lips.
Youre pretty, Miss Kate, Jake said on a sigh.
Kate straightened, the warmth of the little boys skin seemingly imprinted on her lips. How could one little boy have so much impact on her?
She opened her mouth to tell Jake good-night, but a lump the size of her fist lodged in her throat and her eyes blurred.
Chase shot a glance her way.
Kate turned, hoping he didnt see her moment of weakness.
Good night, little buddy. Chase tousled the childs hair and reached over to switch off the lamp on the nightstand.
Glad for the darkness, Kate gulped to force the lump back down her throat. She nearly stepped on a teddy bear lying on the floor. With a sob rising up in her chest, she bent, retrieved the bear, crushed it to her chest and ran for the door.
What was wrong with her? She hadnt cried when shed bent over her partners inert body, performing CPR while she bled from her own wounds. Nor had she cried when the doctor entered her hospital room after theyd performed surgery on her, only to tell her Mac had died on the operating table in the room next to her, despite all his efforts. She hadnt cried when the doctor told her shed never have children.
In the shadowy room, her eyes swimming in unshed tears, she didnt see Chase until she crashed into the solid wall of muscles.
His arms came up around her and he steadied her. Glancing over her shoulder at the boy, he hooked an arm around her waist and guided her through the door.
Barkley lumbered to his feet and started to follow them out of the boys room.
Stay, Chase said, his voice gentle, but firm.
The dog dropped to his belly on a rug, laying his chin between his two front paws.
Chase closed the door halfway. Without saying a word, he led Kate down the staircase, grabbed their jackets and ushered her out the back door onto a wide, wooden porch.
Outside, she broke free of his grasp and walked to the steps leading down, wondering if she could make it to her truck without being stopped.
Whats wrong? Chase asked, his voice so close, he had to be standing behind her.
She shook her head and brushed a hand across her eyes, realizing she still held the worn teddy bear in her other hand. Swallowing hard, she pushed the lump in her throat back and half turned, shoving the toy toward Chase. Could you take this to Jake? He might be missing it. Her voice sounded gravelly to her own ears. She hated that she was showing emotion when she was sent to be a bodyguard, not a basket case. Kate should have known it was too soon after all that had happened.