Taken Hard (The Hard Boys 2)

“Morning.” She kissed him a second time before pulling away.

He watched the curves of her ass as she walked away. A kiss. He wanted to do a hell of a lot more than just a kiss.

Tugging her beneath him, spreading her open, having his wicked way with her.

He looked toward the crib to see Darla was very much awake. “You’re a little pain, sweetheart.”

She let out a gurgle and he laughed.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you.”

Lilly made him a quick oatmeal breakfast and a coffee. They ate together before he went with her to James and Eliza’s to drop off the baby. His older brother looked refreshed and nodded at him.

He smiled.

After Darla was safely back with her parents, he drove Lilly to the library. She left her bag in his truck, and before he allowed her to leave, he kissed her.

“Have a good day.”

“I’m going to be spending it thinking about you.”

“That’s how I want it.” He stroked her cheek. “Enjoy.”

Lilly climbed out of the truck. Caleb didn’t bother to go home, he went straight to his parents.

His dad was out in the yard, mowing the lawn.

It was now just a little after seven thirty. His parents had always been morning people. Even when he’d gotten to the age of a moody teenager, they hadn’t allowed him to hang out in bed. They’d made him get up, work, take responsibility.

“Your mother’s in the kitchen.”

She was always in the kitchen.

He stepped inside and paused. It was like she’d been overrun by a catering service. Without a thought, he grabbed a spare apron and slid it over his head, tying it around his waist.

“Don’t you have work?” Jane asked.

“Not until after nine. What is all of this?” he asked.

“I know how difficult Darla has been, and well, I know when I had you boys, I wished I had someone who cared enough to make me a little gift like this.” Jane ladled soup into a container.

He moved closer and saw there were labels on everything.

“I know James has got a decent enough freezer, and when you’ve been busy at work and taking care of a little baby, the last thing you want to do is cook dinner.”

“Mom, I think you’ve made enough to feed an army.”

“Good, that was what I was going for. I don’t want them to go without. I need to think of everything. Cake, soup, lasagna. You know how my lasagna always makes people feel good.” She glanced around, checking everything. “Yep, I’ve got it all.” Jane glanced at him. “So what can I do to help you?”

“Nothing.”

“Son, you’re at my house the day after a date. Did it go wrong?”

“Nothing went wrong. We took care of Darla.”

“Why did you do that?”

He explained what happened and Jane tutted. “That’s what your father and I are for.”

“What are we for?” his father asked, coming in. He kissed Jane’s head and grabbed a bottle of chilled water from the fridge.

“Taking care of babies.”

His mother then explained everything to his father, who shrugged. “Our time will come.” He kissed her head. “Besides, you wouldn’t get to do all of this, and even though you look and sound frazzled, this is what you want to do.”

He watched his parents, feeling envious.

His father gave him a nod and then turned to leave, heading back outside.

“So, you’re here, Caleb. If your date didn’t go awful, do you want to tell me how it did go?”

Caleb gave her a rundown of everything that happened while also getting to work. She had him chopping vegetables, sauteing them, checking the cornbread in the oven. An abundant feast was set out before him.

“So, you both want the same things out of life. That’s a good thing,” she said. “Unless you don’t want the same things.”

“I do.” Caleb moved toward the kitchen doorway and then checked to see where his father was. “I think I’m in love with her.”

Jane stared at him. “You only think it?”

“I … I don’t know what real love is, you know? I see you and Dad all the time.”

“Do you think about her all the time? Even when you’ve had an argument?”

“We’ve never had an argument.”

“If you get married, you will argue. It’s not wanting to be apart, that’s what is really important.” Jane had her hand on her hip. “I know you’ve been a man’s man for a long time and you’re used to playing the field. Thinking and knowing are two different things. You’re either in love with Lilly, or you’re not. With how many women you’ve slept with, I figured you’d know a lot sooner who you’re in love with and not.”

“Is it really that easy?”

“Falling in love? For the right person, yeah, it’s easy. Staying in love, that can be trickier. You’ve got to be completely devoted and dedicated to the other person. You’ve got to want to love them even when you want to kill them.”