Page 46 of Cold As Ice

He wasn’t supposed to find out.

With a little sigh, I checked my cell phone again.

“Mads.” Jeremiah took my hand in his. “What happened?”

“He saw us. Earlier at the store. Austin saw us,” I admitted, unable to meet his eye. “He saw… Immy.”

“You didn’t tell him?” There was no judgment in his voice, just mild surprise.

Jeremiah knew what Imogen meant to me. He knew she had saved me in ways she would never know.

Lips pressed into a thin line, I shook my head gently. “It was just a bit of fun. I didn’t think—”

“You didn’t think it would become more?”

“Come on, Jer.” A soft, bitter laugh spilled out. “He’s a senior in college. A hockey player with a shot at going pro if the rumors are to be believed. He isn’t going to want to take on me and Immy.”

“Then he doesn’t sound like the kind of guy who deserves you.”

My gaze flicked to him as a wave of sadness washed over me. “I wasn’t supposed to catch feelings.”

But I had.

I’d known after that first night there was something about Austin Hart. But instead of ignoring all the alarm bells, I chased that addictive feeling I got every time his icy gaze found me.

“Oh, babe. Come here.” Jeremiah pulled me into his arms, hugging me.

“Hug time.” Immy shrieked, running over to us and climbing onto my lap. She looped her little arms around us both, and my heart swelled.

She deserved so much. She deserved a father who loved her, a father who led by example, who taught her never to expect half-measures.

“I wove you, Mommy. You too, Jerrykins.”

I snickered, knowing how much he hated her latest nickname for him. But Jeremiah would never complain, not to Imogen. He loved his goddaughter almost as much as I did.

“Love you, princess,” he said, ruffling her curls. “And don’t tell your momma. But I think I love you a little bit more than her.”

She giggled. “Hears that, Mommy? Jerry woves me the most.”

“I’m sure he does. Thank you.” I mouthed at him over the top of her head.

“I got you.” He grinned, but I felt the sincerity in his words.

I was lucky. I knew that.

Lucky to have people like Jeremiah and Fawn in my corner. My parents and even Jacqueline and Ken, too. Imogen had a whole circle of people who would go to bat for her. So it shouldn’t have mattered that Austin had looked at her like she was a contagious disease.

But it did.

It mattered.

Because for the first time since she was born, a guy had made me feel something. And deep down, all anyone wanted was to find somebody who cared.

I pulled away from them, unable to resist a glance at my phone again. But I knew I’d find no new messages.

Austin’s silence spoke volumes.

He knew the truth now.

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