Page 89 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Jason watched as Natalie led Marcus to his room.Mortification filled her, and her pulse beat a wild rhythm in her throat.Thankfully, her son was too groggy to ask more questions.She tucked him in again and showed him the lined trash can by his bed.
“If you have to throw up again, use this.”
“OK, Mommy.”
“Good night, baby.I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She stroked his hair until his breaths came deep and even.Then she stood, studying him for a long moment.The interruption, though inopportune, had forced her to remember what was at stake.She had to start thinking with her brain, not her body.Straightening her shoulders, she returned to the living room.
Jason hadn’t left.He was still sitting on the couch, perhaps hoping they’d pick up where they left off.
“Sorry,” she said.“This is motherhood, in a nutshell.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“He could be up and down all night, so it’s not the best time for us to…”
“I understand.”
“Thank you for taking care of him.”
Jason shrugged as if it was nothing.He didn’t seem annoyed about being left unsatisfied again.The blatant fury he’d shown earlier this evening toward Billy had calmed into something like quiet contemplation.
Natalie went to the kitchen to wash her hands.Then she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.After taking a long drink, she offered it to him.He accepted the peace offering.She watched his smooth brown throat work as he swallowed, and desire tugged between her legs.She could still feel his mouth on her belly, hot and open.
“We should talk before this goes any further,” she said.
“OK.”
She sat down on the couch next to him.It wasn’t easy to collect her thoughts.“I have concerns about dating you.”
He gave her a wary look.“Why?”
“Well, the fact that you’re working here makes it complicated.You’re also a stranger.”
“I’m not a stranger.”
“What are you?My boyfriend?”
“I’d like to be.I already said that.”
She moistened her lips.“This is why I wanted to talk.We’re basically living together.This isn’t casual for me.I’ve invited you into my life and my son’s life.I don’t make these decisions lightly.”
“I realize that,” he said, studying her face.
“If we’re going to sleep together, there are some things I need to know about you.”
He rubbed his palms on his jeans.“All right.”
“Why haven’t you accepted the job in San Diego?”
“I wasn’t sure I wanted it, even before we met.”
“Why not?”
“The position involves training EOD techs.It would be triggering, no pun intended, to talk about explosives every day.I’ve had a difficult recovery, and I’d rather not work in that field.”
