Absentminded Angel(Divine Creek Ranch 20)(29)

Presley Ann bit her lip and lifted up on tiptoe to kiss and nibble at Jared’s scruffy jaw before turning to Kendry. “You both know a thing or two about making a woman feel pretty.”

Kendry chuckled as he looked her up and down with blatant heat in his eyes as he cuddled Whit and said, “Way more than pretty, kitten. You ready?”

She slipped into her heavy wool coat and said, “I’ll bundle him up and we’ll be ready.”

After the baby was set, Kendry carried him downstairs, keeping up a stream of one-sided chatter that centered mainly on how sexy he thought Whit’s mama was in her boots and jeans. She was surprised when she didn’t have to show Jared how to remove the infant car seat from her car and reinstall it in the backseat of his truck.

He set it up facing the correct direction and said, “As firefighters, we’ve both volunteered our time at car seat inspection stations in Abilene, demonstrating how to install them safely and how to buckle babies in the right way. We’ve been called to accident scenes where babies and kids weren’t restrained properly—or in some cases not at all—and seen the heartbreak that could’ve been avoided firsthand.”

She nodded and said, “Nurse Tracey made sure I knew how to do it the right way the day I left the hospital.”

He put his knee in the seat and yanked once more on the seatbelt. “We lost our mom in a car accident when we were little, so car seat and seatbelt safety are important to us.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Jared.”

“It was a long time ago. Officers told my dad that she wasn’t buckled in. Dad said she did that sometimes if she was only making a short trip.”

She put her hand on Jared’s shoulder as he helped her in, while Kendry buckled Whit into the seat and then climbed in next to him. Not knowing if it would help much, she looked back at Kendry and said, “Patterson wasn’t wearing his helmet…it was sad.”

She felt Kendry’s hand on her shoulder and then Jared was beside her as he climbed in the driver’s side door. “Leah told us about that.”

She wasn’t sure why so many different emotions were crowding in on her, and her voice caught as she said, “He—He was a nice guy. It devastated the community…but you know what?”

“What?”

“Despite the tragedy, it brought you both to us...” To me. When she looked back at Kendry, he was smiling at her, his dimples showing, and there was so much warmth in his eyes it made her heart quiver. Jared closed a gentle hand over hers on the console between the seats.

They were quiet on the short drive to O’Reilley’s and since it was a weeknight, they didn’t wait very long for a table. They were barely seated, with Whit’s infant seat securely positioned in a high chair, when Presley Ann’s Aunt Dorothy suddenly appeared at their table.

“Mmm-hmm. Just as I thought. The damsel in distress needs not one but two men to swoop in and save her from the big bad world. And certainly a questionable situation to expose a vulnerable child to,” she said snippily before she continued on to the ladies’ room.

“Hey, sugar,” her dad said as he came up as well and kissed her cheek as she rose.

“Dad! What a nice surprise!”

“I was having supper with your aunt and Willie.” She could hear his wry tone as he gestured with a thumb at a table on the other side of the dining room where Willie was staring at them with her mouth twisted into a frown.

“I imagine you’ve also been getting an earful about me and my choices, huh?”

“Actually, she’s learned to keep her opinions to herself when I’m around. I’m sorry she runs off at the mouth to you. Dorothy involves herself too much, but she’s family. I reminded them both to mind their own business, but you know how well they listen.”

“Dad, I’d like you to meet Kendry and Jared McCulloch.”

Her dad turned an assessing gaze on both men and shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before squatting down and kissing his grandson on the forehead. “I’ve heard good things about you both. How is work going at the fire department?” he asked as he eyed both men while stroking Whit’s cheek.

“Very well, sir.”

“Heard you bought the Frasier’s place out by the river.”

“Yes, sir,” Jared said. “We wanted a little acreage.”

Her dad nodded and smiled. “Room to run and explore?”

“Something like that.”

Her dad turned to her and said, “I’ve kept you long enough. Sweetie, you look gorgeous, and this little guy is bigger every time I see him. I love you.”