Taken: A Kept Novella (8 page)

“I don’t believe in faking emotions. In case you hadn’t noticed.”

“One reason I like you so much.”

He pulled out of her touch and rested his palms on the deck behind him, leaning back while he watched her.

“You’re not going to tell me the other reasons?”

“What other reasons?”

Tease. “Why you like me so much.”

He grinned out at the park. And said nothing.

“Wow, you know how to romance a girl.”

“Don’t I?”

“So?”

“You do like to fish for compliments, don’t you?”

“Well, you did compare me to Grace Kelly.”

He fingered the ends of her hair. “I don’t like blondes, though. I prefer dark hair. And eyes.”

Warmth flooded through her, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. How she wanted to kiss him again, kiss him for more than a couple lingering seconds.

He released her hair and sat up. “Jordan, you and I—I want us to date right. To marry right. I’ve already kissed you two more times tonight than I probably should have. Because I’m having a hard time thinking past kissing you some more. A lot more.”

Did she dare tell him that she was too?

“And I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re thinking the same thing.”

Warmth spread across her cheeks, and she ducked her head, turned away.

“Makes me feel good, of course. A guy likes that.”

She nodded. So did a girl.

“Jordan.”

She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms, be held by him, kissed by him. And right now she halfway felt rejected.

Was it because she knew he’d done more? With someone else?

Was this that hurt he’d mentioned, starting to surface? She closed her eyes, frustrated with the way her mood was suddenly changing.

“Jordan?” He turned her to him. “What’d I say?”

What had he said? What was this frustration building in her? “Nothing, Cam. Maybe you’re right, about the hurt coming later.”

His eyebrows knit in question.

Okay. Fine. “I want you to kiss me. A lot. And now you’re saying you won’t. When you’ve…” She flipped a hand out to let it say the rest.

“Ah.”

Yes.
Ah.

“That’s because I don’t want to do to you what I did to her. I care about you, Jordan. I was nothing but selfish with her, but I want to protect you. And right now you might need some protecting from me. Because I know me.”

His words comforted, a little. “You’re right. We should just elope.”

A laugh burst from him.

Jordan couldn’t help smiling.

“And now I’m suspecting again that you’re trying to get your brothers to kill me.”

“Never.”

He chuckled. “I guess we should call it a night, huh?”

“If we have to.”

On his feet, he offered her his hands and pulled her up. The deck lights—when had those come on?—lit the planes of his face. His hazel eyes smiled at her.

Jordan smiled back, feeling it a bit this time. “When will I see you again?” she asked, remembering now what she was worrying about. That they’d share a special evening together and then she wouldn’t hear from him for days—the way Matt had treated her for so long.

“Tomorrow night? My goal is to see if you get sick of me or not.”

“It’s going to take a lot more than one night to figure that out.”

He winked at her. “We’ll do a thorough test.”

How quickly she was falling in love with this man. “Okay then. It’s a date.”

His gaze dipped, then flew back to her eyes. “Yes, a date.”

“Nice work, Thomas.”

It was, actually. Tracking Hannah down had been one of his tougher jobs in recent years. “My pleasure. I’ll send you my final bill in the morning.”

“Not yet. Something’s come up, and I’m not going to be able to get there tomorrow. I’ll need you to stay a little longer, keep an eye on things for me.”

“What things?”

“Just make sure she doesn’t run away, that she’s still in that house, that everything’s normal. That kind of thing.”

“I’m happy to do it, but I’ll need to charge you—”

“That’s fine. Whatever it costs. All right?”

If finding Hannah had been so stinking important, why now was the guy getting cold feet about coming out to talk to her? Hadn’t that been Peterson’s goal the whole time? What could be keeping him from coming?

“Thomas?”

“I’ll do it.”

“And don’t send me a bill. Just—What do I owe you? Right now? I’ll send you some cash right away.”

Something suddenly didn’t feel right about this. “Let me figure it out and get back to you in the morning.”

“Okay. Just call me with the number. Don’t send a bill. Not yet.”

No, things weren’t right at all.

On Tuesday evening, Cam took Jordan to the hospital to meet Sophie, eager to show off the little girl who’d changed his life.

He’d told Jordan how loving and giving Sophie was despite everything she was going through. But in the hospital room, it was clear it had been a rough day.

Sophie slept in her bed, and Anna dozed in a nearby recliner, eyes closed until they entered, while Logan and Avery read by the window.

Anna pushed herself out of the chair and held a finger to her lips. She looked exhausted, the circles under her eyes almost matching the dark circles beneath Sophie’s closed eyes.

Cam gave Anna a quick hug, then held her at arm’s length to study her face. “Rough day?”

She nodded. “Worst one in a while. They gave her the wrong breakfast, then had to give her a new PICC line.”

Sophie’d probably thrown a fit over it all and worn herself out. Worn Anna out too. “Sorry to hear that. How are you holding up?”

Anna flashed them a smile that said it all. That she was beyond frazzled, was close to falling apart. “I’m fine.”

He hugged her tightly. “You are such a liar.”

Beside him, Jordan chuckled.

Anna pushed herself back and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry we’re all such a mess, Jordan.”

“It’s fine, Anna. You’re allowed.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the sleeping girl. “I’d hoped you’d get to see her on a normal day. A good day.”

“Is she asleep for the night?” Cam asked.

“No. She’ll probably wake up soon.”

Cam walked to Avery and Logan and ruffled Avery’s hair, then tried to close Logan’s book on him.

Still reading, Logan grinned and fought to keep the pages spread.

Cam let him win.

While Jordan and Anna whispered together, he crossed to Sophie’s bed and squatted beside her, his arms folded on her blankets, watching her while she slept.

A soft brown knit cap, the same color as her missing hair, sat askew on her bald head. She looked so pale today. Worn out. Weary. His throat closed.
God, please. She needs a donor.

He and Anna would hear soon if they were a match for Sophie. He hadn’t been holding his breath on that one; they weren’t related after all. But now… What if Anna’s swab showed that fifty-percent match Sophie’s mother would have? He still couldn’t shake that scenario from his mind. Had Sophie been with her birth mom all this time? Did Tony have a third child he never knew about?

He searched her face, looking for similarities to his brother-in-law, but those blue eyes of Sophie’s—the ones blinking at him now—sure weren’t from Tony’s side of the family.

Sophie grinned at him.

Cam grinned back. “Hey, Soapy. You’re awake.”

She reached for him but didn’t sit up, and he knew immediately how bad of a day it had been. “Unckie,” she said, her voice small, her smile huge. “Unckie here.”

He held her small, wide palm in his and stroked his fingers across the crease, the way she liked it. “I’m here. Couldn’t go through the day without seeing my favorite girls.”

She tried to sit up, and Cam rose to help her. She reached both arms for him, and he sat down next to her so she could hug him. So he could hug her.

She held him tightly and kissed his stomach.

He kissed the top of her head.

But her usual enthusiasm, her excessive greeting that warmed him every time, just wasn’t there. She was too tired tonight. And weak. Way too weak. “You have a rough day, Soapy?”

She mumbled something and leaned against him, eyes closing.

This just wasn’t her. His poor girl needed sleep. And a donor. Yesterday. He squinted at Anna. “She okay?” he mouthed.

Anna nodded. “Tired,” she mouthed back.

“Where Dom?” Sophie asked.

“Mom’s in her chair. Behind you.”

Sophie looked over her shoulder, then grinned like she hadn’t seen Anna in a great while. “Dom!” She reached out one hand and waved her over with her chunky little fingers.

Anna obeyed and settled on the other side of the bed.

Somehow Sophie managed to get one arm around her mom too.

“Cameron brought a friend to meet you,” Anna said.

Sophie looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowed. “Friend?”

“Her name’s Jordan. Can you say that? Jordan?”

“Jor…en,” she tried.

“Jordan,” Cam repeated.

And then Jordan was beside him on the bed, her smile for Sophie warming him. “Hi, Sophie. I’m Jordan.”

“Jordan,” Sophie said again.

“That’s right. I’m glad I get to meet you. Your Uncle Cam loves you lots. I can tell by everything he’s told me about you.”

Yeah, he loved Sophie a lot. Jordan too. He traced the dark hair around her temples, the long strands she’d made wavy today. The long, dark eyelashes around those brown eyes. It’d been so hard last night to tell her
everything
. But what a relief to know that there were no more secrets between them.

And what a relief that she was still here beside him. Still happy to be his girlfriend. To meet this little girl who’d thrown so much of his life into turmoil.

“Cam?”

Jordan was looking at him now—no, laughing at him, her smile struggling to contain itself.

And so was Anna.

Clearly he’d been caught mooning.

Oh well. As if he cared that the two women in his life knew how he felt. “Stop it. What’d I miss?”

Jordan spoke. “She asked if I’m going to take care of you like Anna takes care of her.”

“Yes.” Cam’s nod for Sophie was emphatic. “She’ll get to feed me—”

“
Get
to?”

“—and wash my laundry and pick up all my toys.” He grinned at Jordan at that one. “All my Matchbox cars.”

Jordan laughed and rolled her eyes.

Anna watched them. “I missed something there.”

Yes, she had. “Jordan’s got this weird… thing for toy cars.” He shook his head sadly at Sophie. “Isn’t that funny, Soapy? That someone like Jordan would play with teeny, tiny little cars?”

Sophie nodded. “I like my baby. And my bear.” She suddenly searched her bed, almost frantic in the motion. “Where my bear? Where bear?”

From the bench in front of the window, Logan held up the bear, his eyes still glued to his book. His rear still glued to the window bench.

Anna took the bear—a newer version of the one Jordan had seen on the stairs—and gave it to Sophie, who was on the verge of tears.

“Bear!” She grabbed the stuffed animal and squashed it against her chest. “My bear.”

A tear glistened on her eyelashes, and again Cam realized how worn out she was. She might have woken up from an early evening nap, but it sure looked like this little girl could use even more sleep. “Sophie, I think your bear needs a nap. Think you can get him to go to sleep?”

She nodded. “Bear sleep now.”

“You too?”

Sophie pursed her lips. “Soapy sleep too.”

Maybe she’d sleep all through the night and wake up to a much better morning. He hugged her, carefully this time, and pressed his lips to her head again. “Jordan and I will come see you later, okay? You go to sleep and get better.”

“Bear get better,” Sophie said. “Bear and Soapy sleep.”

He straightened her cap. “Night night, Soapy.”

She snuggled down beneath her blankets and held the bear’s head beneath her chin. She closed her eyes and…

Was she asleep already? He studied her as he stood.

Eyes still closed, Sophie held a finger to her lips. “Be still. Bear sleeping.”

There was a hint of his silly girl. He grinned at Jordan, then Anna. “Need anything before we go?”

Anna glanced at Avery and Logan, then at Jordan. “Cameron, I’m sorry—” she started.

She wanted to stay with Sophie. Of course she did. Before Jordan, it had been easy, staying home with his niece and nephew. Now… “How about we take the kids back to my place?” he asked Jordan. “You okay with a pizza for dinner?”

She threaded her fingers through his. “Sure.”

“Is it safe?” Anna asked.

Right. He’d forgotten too easily. “We’ll take the pizzas back to the hotel, and I’ll spend the night there.” He turned to Jordan. “Can I drop you and the kids off, then run home and get my stuff for tomorrow?”

“That works.”

Anna whispered a thank you to her.

“Avery, Logan, ready to leave?” he called. “Get some dinner?”

The kids were off the bench immediately.

Jordan laughed at their reaction.

And Cam lost himself in her again. In the sweet, giving nature of this gorgeous woman he was falling deeply in love with.

Logan and Avery clearly couldn’t be happier to be out of that hospital.

Jordan had barely unlocked the door of the hotel room before Logan was inside and running for the TV by the beds. Even Avery kicked off her shoes by the door and dashed after her brother.

Cam returned quickly with his things, ordered a pizza, and joined Jordan on the couch in the sitting area of the room. The closet and bathroom served as a bit of a divider between the living area and the sleeping quarters, giving them some privacy from his niece and nephew. Cam left some space between them, but faced her, his arm draped across the top of the couch.

When he said nothing, just sat there and smiled at her, Jordan quirked an eyebrow. “What?’

“I’m enjoying this. Being with you. Even if we’re not completely alone.”

Something slid and rattled back by the beds. “What are they doing?”

“I think they’re setting up Life, their latest favorite game. If they ask you to play, say no.”