Page 34 of Honor ’N’ Duty

Josh had hoped she’d eventually come to love him the same way he’d been in love with her. She’d honestly tried to love him back in the same way, but it just wasn’t there. Eventually, he’d realized that and given up on their marriage.

Sizzling drew her back to the stove where she flipped the quesadilla, pressing down on it once more with a spatula. Now for the big question: How do I feel about Kade?

Honestly, she didn’t know. In fact, she knew next to nothing about him. She placed the salad on the table, wondering what kind of dressing he preferred, then transferred the quesadilla to a large platter, rolling a pizza cutter through it to form wedges.

Voices drew her attention to the living room, and she turned, about to announce that dinner was ready. The sight that greeted her instantly dried up every saliva gland in her mouth.

Kade sat on the sofa, his long, tanned, muscular calves and thighs on full display stretched out on the coffee table. He’d changed into khaki cargo shorts and a snug black T-shirt that hugged his broad chest, but that wasn’t what made every saliva gland in her mouth instantly dry up. Oh, no siree. Well, okay, maybe it did, but it wasn’t the only thing.

Smoke now lay on the sofa, his big furry head resting in the crook of one of Kade’s arms. Rosa sat in his lap as he read to her from a large book. Still remaining in the kitchen, she crept closer until she could read the book’s title. Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.

The tightening in her chest was almost unbearable.

Had she made a terrible mistake all those years ago?

And more importantly, why did the answer scare her almost as much as Colon coming after the ledger?

…

An hour after dinner, Kade carried Rosa up the stairs. Smoke padded silently ahead, still limping slightly.

“Once we put Rosa down, I’ll help you ice his paw,” Laia said from behind him.

“Thanks,” he whispered over his shoulder.

Rosa’s head lolled against his shoulder, and tiny little snores came from her open mouth. Moonlight lit the interior of the bedroom, so there was no need to turn on the lights.

“Give me a second.” As Laia edged past, she brushed against his back, instantly cranking up his body temp all over again and making his abdominal muscles tighten. She pulled back the covers, then stepped aside for him to lower Rosa gently to the bed. Smoke sniffed her little hand, which she’d fisted against her mouth.

Kade backtracked to the open door, watching as Laia tugged the covers over her daughter, then leaned in to brush a lock of hair from her forehead and kiss her softly. At this point in his life, he wondered if he’d ever have a child of his own, let alone one as sweet and beautiful as Rosa.

When he’d first heard the news from his parents that Laia was pregnant, he’d done the honorable thing, smiling and expressing his joy. It had occurred to him then that they sure hadn’t wasted any time starting a family. If Rosa hadn’t been a bit premature, she would have been born about nine months after the wedding.

All the more reason to have kept his distance.

“Mommy,” Rosa mumbled, half asleep. “Can Uncle Kade and Smoke kiss me good night?”

Laia winked at him. “I’m sure they’d love to.”

He pushed from the door and leaned over to kiss Rosa on the forehead. “Smoke, give Rosa a kiss.” His dog stretched his neck over the edge of the mattress. When he gently licked Rosa’s chin, she giggled. “’Night, Cream Puff.”

“’Night, Uncle Kade.”

For a moment, he couldn’t move, could only stare down at the adorable little face. His niece—the best thing Josh ever did in his entire life.

Moonlight streamed in behind Laia, backlighting her hair. She looked like an ocean goddess. The only thing missing was a scallop shell.

“Help me with Smoke’s paw,” she whispered. “Then we need to talk.”

Oh boy. He nodded, then followed her from the room.

After blurting out his guts, having a deep-dive conversation was inevitable. He’d never regretted saying something so much in his life.

A tactical retreat was in order, and he knew precisely how to execute his withdrawal. Thinking about her as his brother’s widow was all it took to re-erect the barrier he’d so skillfully built between them and so stupidly and carelessly bulldozed to the ground.

Smoke led the way downstairs, then curled up on the living room rug. After Kade had set the alarm code by the front door, Laia came in from the kitchen with a plastic bag filled with ice and a colorful scarf.

“Give me a hand?” she asked, then knelt on the floor to stroke Smoke’s ears. “This is going to be a little cold, and he probably won’t like it.”