Page 94 of Protecting You

Shame and embarrassment burned Alyssa’s cheeks. She’d told him the most horrible thing she’d ever done, while he hadn’t shared the best part of himself with her.

She was a fool.

His mother reached up and brushed her fingertip over the bruise on his cheek. She must’ve asked him a question because he said, “I’ll explain in a minute.” He met Alyssa’s eyes but the contact didn’t hold. “Mom, I want you to meet someone.” He gestured Alyssa forward.

“I can just…” She backed up a step. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding, darling.”

Darling?

What?

“Come join us.” To his mother, he said, “Mom, this is Alyssa Wright, my fi?—”

“Friend.” Alyssa hurried toward them, interrupting before he could force the word out. What was he doing?

His mother’s head tilted to one side as if she’d suddenly been presented with a puzzle, her shoulder-length wavy yellow-blond hair dipping to beneath her collarbone. Her eyes were the same blue as his, and just as sharp. She was comfortably plump and wore a short-sleeved blouse over a pair of flared jeans and flats. “You went to college together, right? Your name came up more than once.”

Callan had talked about her? To his parents?

His laugh was nervous. “And here they say nobody remembers the person who took second place.” He added a wink, going for casual.

“You wish.” Alyssa tried for the same tone, but it came out forced. She stretched out her hand. “Mrs. Templeton. It’s nice to meet you. I’m so sorry about the circumstances.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” The woman cupped Alyssa’s hand in both of hers. They were chilled and rough, but the welcome was warm. “I look forward to getting to know you.”

As if that were a foregone conclusion. As if she were reading into… Well, notreading intoanything. He’d called her darling.

“This is my sister.” Callan nodded to the woman he’d been talking to. “Hannah, Alyssa.”

Unlike her mother and brother, Hannah had dark brown curly hair, which she’d pushed back in a headband. She was petite, almost pixie-like. She flashed her brother an angry look, then seemed to try to temper that before nodding at Alyssa. “A friend, huh?”

“A little more than a friend,” Callan said.

Alyssa shook his sister’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. How’s your dad?”

Her lips slipped into a smirk, and as she stepped back, she gave her brother another long look.

But he was focused on the little girl in his arms. Or maybe just trying to avoid everyone’s eye contact.

“We’re waiting to find out,” Hannah said. “They’ve taken him for tests.”

The child squirmed, and Callan set her on her feet. “Peri, this is my friend, Ms. Wright.”

“Just Alyssa.” She said quickly. “None of thatmzzzstuff.”

Peri rubbed her red-rimmed eyes with her fists. Though she was elementary-school age, the action mimicked that of a much younger child.

“Sorry about your papi,” Alyssa said. “I’m sure the doctors are taking great care of him.”

Peri’s gaze flicked not to her father but to her grandmother, who said nothing.

Silence stretched a little too long.

“Anyway, I just wanted to check…” Alyssa didn't know how to finish that. She met Callan’s gaze. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll just?—”

“You’re not intruding. Thank you for?—”

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