Page 39 of Refuge for Cherilyn

As he sat there and waited for her, Shaw gave thought to what he was doing. Was he just feeding a whim? Or was he building his future? He'd like to think it was the latter. Cherilyn was the one person he’d met who seemed to check off every box on his wish list. Sure, they'd met under unusual circumstances, but Shaw had always believed that everything happened for a reason. And that belief had led him to that day, to that moment, to that fragment of time that told him she could be the one. He wasn't going to ignore that.

He heard the softclickof the bedroom door and the sound of her socks on the hardwood floor as she reentered the room. “Get her all settled?”

“Yeah, but I think she's listening.”

“So what if she is?”

Cherilyn grinned. “I think she's just a little freaked out. They've never had to share me with anyone. If you and I... If something comes of this, I'm not sure how the girls will handle it.”

“Do you want something to come of this?”

“It would be nice. I'm not sure why you would care anything about me, but I enjoy being close to you. You're one of the kindest people I've ever met.”

Shaw smiled. She thought he was kind. That was one of the nicer things someone had said about him. He'd gotten smart, or handsome, or sexy, or an asshole, but never kind. Matter of fact, he'd never thought of himself that way, but he supposed he was. His parents were kind people, and he smiled to think that they might’ve actually rubbed off on him a little. “That’s a very nice thing to say.”

“It’s true. Doyouwant something to come of it?”

“It would be nice. You’re smart and pretty and?”

Her cheeks went scarlet. “Oh, I’m a lot of things, but I’m not pretty.”

“Who told you that? You’re very pretty. You have a beautiful smile, and you’re so soft and lovely and… You’re just a beautiful woman. You’ve got two beautiful daughters. You’re the complete package, Cherilyn. I like being around you. You make me feel… peaceful.”

She play-frowned. “Is that code for boring?”

“No. It’s not code for boring. Not at all.” The moment was interrupted by his phone pinging. “Need to check this. Might be Aaron.” It was a text.

Maisey’s calling you. She didn’t have your number. So answer. I know damn good and well that you’re awake.

He laughed. “I was right! It was Aaron.” The phone started ringing, so he hit ACCEPT and pressed it to his ear. “Hey!”

“Hi! Thought I’d ask you if Cherilyn and Lara could come to the office tomorrow morning. I’ve got a hearing specialist who was coming for someone else’s child, and she said she could test Lara too.”

“Uh, I don’t see why not. What time?”

“Ten? I can come and pick them up.”

“Sounds good. Thanks, Maisey.”

“You’re very welcome. Night, Shaw.”

“Night.” Cherilyn was staring at him as he hung up. “She’s got a hearing test scheduled for Lara tomorrow at ten.”

“And how will I?”

“She’s coming to pick you up.”

“Oh. Okay. Think that’ll be okay?”

“Honey, if you’re not safe with Maisey, you’re not safe with anybody.” He took her hand and held it, tracing the veins on the back of it with his fingertips. “We’ll get you all sorted out. Then you can decide what you want to do.”

“I know what I’d like to do. I’d like to stay here.”

“I’d like it if you did. But I really think we need to take it slow and get that date in.”

“You’re probably right.” Then those clear blue eyes looked up into his and she whispered, “But I really don’t want to.”

He wasn’t sure how it happened, but in less than two minutes, she was under him on the sofa. Those kisses were poison to his self-control, and he was dying for more. He could feel her hands on his hips as his wound into her hair, and all he could think about was the softness of her skin and the scent of her shampoo. There was a hitch in her breathing when he nibbled on the side of her neck, and it made him smile. “Oh, god, Shaw. Please.”

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