“Wait.”
His deep voice startled her and she bolted upright.
“Eat. Then you can stay with me until we figure something out.”
Her shoulders slumped in sheer relief, and the tears hovering in her eyes fell onto her cheeks.
His stomach twisted in pain.
“You mean it?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t.”
“Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked.
He glanced at Alex’s empty juice glass. “Some more OJ please.”
The woman nodded and walked away.
“Why?” Alex asked.
“Why what?”
“Why are you helping me?”
He leaned closer, ignoring the delicious smell of his food and focusing on her instead. “Because I have a sister. And I’d like to think, if she needed help, someone would step up for her.”
And because in some weird way, he felt like he owed her. For being selfish and not giving a thought to what would happen to her when her brother went to jail. Something else to add to his sins.
“But there’s a catch,” he said.
“Of course there is,” she spat. “I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re listening. You’ll finish school and graduate. And if you’re working a part-time job, you’ll keep it up.” Which would keep her out of trouble.
She blew out a deep breath. “That’s it?”
“Yeah. That’s it.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief, and he didn’t want to ask what she’d thought his stipulation in exchange for giving her a place to stay would be.
He shook his head. He also knew he had to talk to Kendall and explain his new houseguest, but this was something he needed to do in person. And she was going to visit her parents today, something he knew was a stressful event for her.
With that discussion out of the way, Alex dug into her food. He noted s
he practically wolfed down her pancakes, which told him it’d been awhile since she’d had a decent meal.
“Any news from Billy?” he asked.
“He’s getting out soon,” she said before gulping down her drink.
Although this was good news for Billy, he didn’t think the same held true for Alex. Or Julian, since she’d be staying at his place. He’d just have to take it one step at a time.
Chapter Eight
Kendall spent her day off from the shelter walking dogs and enjoying both the sunshine and the change in her life. Julian had risen early, kissing her into wakefulness, rolling her over and sliding inside her before she’d even processed his intent.
She’d gone from a lonely woman seeking friendship and fulfillment to the beginnings of finding those very things. She wasn’t silly enough to think she had all the answers, but she’d made a start. A man who cared, who believed in her ability to start over with a new career. She could do these things if she put her mind to it. And she didn’t have to do it alone.