Always With You - Part Three
Always With You - Part Three (The Bad Boys #4.3)
Author: M. Leighton
CHAPTER ONE
Olivia
When I get to Dual some two hours later, it's to find Cash and Jason at the bar, discussing something quietly and seriously. I have a feeling I know just what that something is, too.
I'm just walking in as Sophie is coming through the office door into the bar area. Her expressionless eyes narrow on mine for the space of a heartbeat before she looks away and puts on her biggest smile for Cash and Jason. Both are polite and pleasant as she approaches, but Cash's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Sophie doesn't stop until she's at Jason's side. She sort of bumps him with her shoulder, a playful gesture that makes Jason smile. She's wearing tiny shorts and an even tinier cap-sleeved shirt with her bare feet. The fact that it is winter makes her apparel ridiculous, although I'm sure Jason doesn't mind. The chill in the air livens up her shirt (and her bra) considerably. I can see her hard nipples from all the way over here.
Sophie puts her hands in her back pockets, bringing even more attention to her chest. Jason, being a man and all, leans back, resting one elbow on the bar as his eyes roam the curves that she's all but begging for him to look at.
I roll my eyes and start forward.
You're living on borrowed time, bimbo!
Cash catches sight of me and smiles for real. It warms me all the way to my toes and I make a beeline for him.
"Good morning, beautiful," he whispers, pressing his lips to the curve of my neck as he wraps his arms around me. "How's Pop?" he asks, referring to my father.
"He's fine," I tell him when he releases me. I want to shush him, to tell him to stop talking and just hold me. But I don't. As much as I want Sophie to see that Cash is mine and that she doesn't belong by his side like I do, manners are bred too deeply into me to do it. Instead, I answer my husband's question from a respectable distance. "Still determined to go home tomorrow."
"I have an idea," Cash begins, flicking his eyes quickly toward Sophie and then back to me. He winks almost imperceptibly. "How about we see if Sophie would mind us taking Isabella up to Salt Springs. You could help your dad get settled and we could show her the farm and all the sheep. I think she'd like that. What do you think?"
I'm careful to school my expression, despite what's going on in my heart and stomach right now. This seems like an awfully … final and … familiar step, considering that we don't even know yet if Isabella is his. And that we will have a compelling reason to suspect that she is not if it turns out that Sophie was, in fact, responsible for the vandalism at DCSS. Although I'm glad Cash can be so accepting and loving of a child he's only just met, it's still a sensitive point for me. The thought of my father meeting and getting to know a child (and acting the grandfather role, which I'm sure he will) that isn't mine hurts. It's silly and selfish, but it's true. It hurts. A lot.
I push my sudden sadness aside, however, in favor of simply trusting Cash. The wink says he's up to something. And if that means getting Sophie out of our life, I'll go along with whatever.
I smile brightly. "I think that's a great idea!"
"I'll check with Sophie and make sure it's okay," he says, just a touch louder.
"Check with Sophie about what?" Sophie asks.
"Olivia's dad is going home and might need some help getting settled. I thought you and Isabella might like to see the sheep, spend some time with Darrin, that kind of thing. It'll only be for a few days and you won't miss too much work," he adds. Meanwhile, I work to keep my mouth from dropping open. He didn't mention Isabella and Sophie.
Sophie chews her lip, frowning. "Well, if it's just for a few days … "
"A week at the most. Gavin can take care of things here, especially since Jason will be leaving soon instead of monopolizing his time." Cash smiles, as does Jason who says nothing, just goes along with whatever is happening.
"A week? And you're leaving?" Sophie asks as she turns to Jason, a petulant look on her face. "When?"
"Soon," he replies noncommittally.
It's clear that Sophie doesn't want to leave him, so I throw her a bone, pushing her toward the one who can get to the bottom of all this-Jason King. "If you need to stay here … for work or … whatever else … " I add, glancing quickly at Jason, "We can take Isabella. I'm sure she'll be fine for a few days. It'll be a good time for her to bond with her father."
Author: M. Leighton
CHAPTER ONE
Olivia
When I get to Dual some two hours later, it's to find Cash and Jason at the bar, discussing something quietly and seriously. I have a feeling I know just what that something is, too.
I'm just walking in as Sophie is coming through the office door into the bar area. Her expressionless eyes narrow on mine for the space of a heartbeat before she looks away and puts on her biggest smile for Cash and Jason. Both are polite and pleasant as she approaches, but Cash's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Sophie doesn't stop until she's at Jason's side. She sort of bumps him with her shoulder, a playful gesture that makes Jason smile. She's wearing tiny shorts and an even tinier cap-sleeved shirt with her bare feet. The fact that it is winter makes her apparel ridiculous, although I'm sure Jason doesn't mind. The chill in the air livens up her shirt (and her bra) considerably. I can see her hard nipples from all the way over here.
Sophie puts her hands in her back pockets, bringing even more attention to her chest. Jason, being a man and all, leans back, resting one elbow on the bar as his eyes roam the curves that she's all but begging for him to look at.
I roll my eyes and start forward.
You're living on borrowed time, bimbo!
Cash catches sight of me and smiles for real. It warms me all the way to my toes and I make a beeline for him.
"Good morning, beautiful," he whispers, pressing his lips to the curve of my neck as he wraps his arms around me. "How's Pop?" he asks, referring to my father.
"He's fine," I tell him when he releases me. I want to shush him, to tell him to stop talking and just hold me. But I don't. As much as I want Sophie to see that Cash is mine and that she doesn't belong by his side like I do, manners are bred too deeply into me to do it. Instead, I answer my husband's question from a respectable distance. "Still determined to go home tomorrow."
"I have an idea," Cash begins, flicking his eyes quickly toward Sophie and then back to me. He winks almost imperceptibly. "How about we see if Sophie would mind us taking Isabella up to Salt Springs. You could help your dad get settled and we could show her the farm and all the sheep. I think she'd like that. What do you think?"
I'm careful to school my expression, despite what's going on in my heart and stomach right now. This seems like an awfully … final and … familiar step, considering that we don't even know yet if Isabella is his. And that we will have a compelling reason to suspect that she is not if it turns out that Sophie was, in fact, responsible for the vandalism at DCSS. Although I'm glad Cash can be so accepting and loving of a child he's only just met, it's still a sensitive point for me. The thought of my father meeting and getting to know a child (and acting the grandfather role, which I'm sure he will) that isn't mine hurts. It's silly and selfish, but it's true. It hurts. A lot.
I push my sudden sadness aside, however, in favor of simply trusting Cash. The wink says he's up to something. And if that means getting Sophie out of our life, I'll go along with whatever.
I smile brightly. "I think that's a great idea!"
"I'll check with Sophie and make sure it's okay," he says, just a touch louder.
"Check with Sophie about what?" Sophie asks.
"Olivia's dad is going home and might need some help getting settled. I thought you and Isabella might like to see the sheep, spend some time with Darrin, that kind of thing. It'll only be for a few days and you won't miss too much work," he adds. Meanwhile, I work to keep my mouth from dropping open. He didn't mention Isabella and Sophie.
Sophie chews her lip, frowning. "Well, if it's just for a few days … "
"A week at the most. Gavin can take care of things here, especially since Jason will be leaving soon instead of monopolizing his time." Cash smiles, as does Jason who says nothing, just goes along with whatever is happening.
"A week? And you're leaving?" Sophie asks as she turns to Jason, a petulant look on her face. "When?"
"Soon," he replies noncommittally.
It's clear that Sophie doesn't want to leave him, so I throw her a bone, pushing her toward the one who can get to the bottom of all this-Jason King. "If you need to stay here … for work or … whatever else … " I add, glancing quickly at Jason, "We can take Isabella. I'm sure she'll be fine for a few days. It'll be a good time for her to bond with her father."