Page 72 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

“Only because I knew you didn’t do it.” She pouted, and the total assuredness in her tone warmed a long cold part of my soul, especially considering the fact that she never even suspected it was me, even though she had no idea where I was at the time of the crime. She’d come forward and lied for me anyway, knowing that she would probably go to jail for perjury if more evidence showed that I committed the crime.

I’d never had someone place their utter faith in me like that before, and it was completely dazzling.

It was one of the reasons I loved her.

“Do you want to know what I was doing that night?”

“What?” She looked at me, and curiosity lit her gaze.

“I was following you,” I said. “I stopped by Old Man Clancy’s to look at a necklace that I wanted to buy for you, the one with the pretty daisies. I never got the chance to give it to you. It was confiscated with evidence.” That part annoyed me more than anything, but I brushed off the thought. “Anyway, it was pretty late, and I knew you would be walking home alone, so I wanted to make sure you got there in one piece. I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

Her eyes went all mushy, and I hesitated before I offered her the rest of the truth. “And then I stood there watching you turn on the lights and move around your kitchen for an embarrassing amount of time before I left.”

“Oh, Marcus.” She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. It was the sweetest, most pure kiss I could think of.

When we broke apart, I stared into her beautiful eyes and wondered angrily how anyone could treat such a pure person badly.

“They’re trying to shift the anger to you since they can’t get to me.”

I ran my hand down her cheek and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m not hurt.”

All of a sudden, Caleb’s soft voice rang out.“Dad?”

My heart sang, feeling all fluttery and mushy. And I didn’t care to hide the smile on my face. Allie smiled at me too.

“Yes?” I answered, trying not to choke up.

“Can you come?”

“Of course.”

I gave Allie a look, and she nodded, looking like she was going to cry tears of joy. I went up the stairs to find Caleb standing by his bed, holding a picture book in his hand.

“Can you read this to me?” he asked. “And wait till I fall asleep?”

“Of course,” I told him, pulling up a chair, ready to do just that. He climbed into bed, and I made sure the covers were tucked securely around him before I started to read.

Caleb dropped off to sleep in no time at all, only about five minutes.

I spent a few more minutes just watching and feeling a tightening in my chest, the same possessive feeling I got when I was with Allie. Then I leaned over instinctively and kissed him on his forehead.

The little boy’s eyes fluttered open for a little bit, and I leaned down on impulse, ruffling his head. “Don’t worry about anything,” I reassured him. “I’ll keep you safe.”

He nodded and then smiled as his eyes slid shut once more.

He was mine. I would kill for this kid.

I would kill for my family.

I heard the phone ringing in the distance and decided to make my way downstairs. By the time I came back to the living room, Allie was staring at the phone with a look of shocked horror on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She turned to me.

“Are you a hitman?” she blurted out.

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