So when Brandt called tomorrow, she’d tell him no.
She’d scream no if she had to.
But she would say no.
Chapter Three
When Brandt pulled up to Jessie’s place late the next morning, she didn’t immediately exit the house.
He waited in his truck, listening to Landon’s soft snuffles drifting from the rear cab. The boy had screamed from the time he’d left his aunt’s house until ten minutes ago when he’d conked out.
Thank God.
He hoped the kid would be on his best behavior, all cute smiles and big blue eyes, because Brandt didn’t want to give Jessie a reason to say no.
She couldn’t say no. She was the key to everything.
Brandt unbuckled Landon and lifted him out of the car seat. He adjusted the hood covering Landon’s head and cuddled him against his body to block the wind. At the last second he remembered the diaper bag.
Kids came with a lot of stuff.
Fine flakes of snow pelted him in the face as he climbed the stairs. He stood in front of the door, figuring he’d use his foot to knock on the bottom aluminum panel if need be.
But the door opened and Jessie stared at him through the screen. Her eyes never left his, never strayed to the sleeping child on Brandt’s shoulder. “So much for not forcing me, huh Brandt? You just show up on my doorstep?”
This did not bode well.
After glaring at him, she held the door open and shushed Lexie’s excited barks.
He put Landon onto the couch, wedging him against the middle couch cushion facing out. He unzipped the tiny winter coat and tried to rearrange the hood, but the kid didn’t seem to mind it, so he left it as is rather than risk waking him. Turning around, he expected to see Jessie behind him, but she’d shooed Lexie outside and retreated to the kitchen.
Brandt ditched his coat and followed her.
“Coffee?” she asked softly.
“That’d be great.”
After she poured his cup, she leaned against the counter, keeping her back to the living room. Keeping her back to Landon.
He searched her face. Dark circles hung beneath her eyes, the only color on her too pale skin. Her lips were drawn in a tight line, as were her eyebrows. She looked like one wrong word would shatter her. “Did you sleep at all?”
Jessie shrugged. “I think I dozed off around dawn, but then I had to get up and feed the animals.” She blew across her coffee. “What about you?”
“About the same.” He’d lain in his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make plans for the next few months—a pointless endeavor, when everything was up in the air.
“What time are you meeting your parents?”
“I don’t know.”
She frowned. “You’re just gonna spring this on them too?”
He felt his face heat. “Not an ideal situation, but I’m in limbo until you…”
“This decision shouldn’t be on my shoulders,” she snapped.
“It’s not. But your answer does have an affect on what I do next.”
Her chin dropped to her chest and she gazed into her coffee mug. “I’m sorry.”
Disappointment lodged in his gut like a stone. “Jessie—”
“I’m sorry, Brandt. I can’t do it. I can’t help you—”
The remainder of her sentence was lost in Landon’s cry.
He set aside his mug and crossed to the couch. Landon had already pushed himself upright and was looking around with confusion. Brandt dropped to his haunches, keeping the kid from scrambling down.
“Hey, buddy. Didja have a nice nap?”
Those somber blue eyes studied him as Brandt removed the little guy’s coat.
“I brought some of your toys.”
But Landon held up his arms.
“Okay. I guess you’d rather be picked up.” Brandt settled the boy on his hip and turned around.
Jessie had her back to him as she faced out the front window.
Disappointment warred with panic. If she wouldn’t even look at the kid, there was no way she’d help him. No way.
Lexie scratched at the door and Brandt automatically let her in, like he’d done a hundred times when he used to visit Jessie. The dog jumped and yipped at seeing Landon.
Landon clapped his hands and laughed—a pure, innocent burst of joy that made Brandt grin. “A boy who likes dogs, imagine that.” Brandt sat in the easy chair with Landon on his lap. He patted his leg.
“Come on over and say hello, Lexie.”
The dog slunk over to sniff Landon’s toes. He giggled again and reached for Lexie’s ears.
“Whoa there, partner. Gotta be gentle. Play nice. Touch her like this, see?” Brandt kept one arm wrapped around Landon’s middle as he petted Lexie’s back. He took Landon’s hand and slowly moved it across Lexie’s fur. “She likes that.”
Landon’s whole body wiggled, he was so excited.
So Brandt kept helping the boy pet the dog, keeping Lexie’s head and teeth away from Landon’s poking fingers. He shot a glance toward Jessie, but she hadn’t moved.
Come on, Jess. You can do this. I know you can.
Three things happened while he was silently begging Jessie to look at them. His cell phone rang in his back pocket. As he shifted to reach for it, he stepped on Lexie’s tail. She yipped and scampered away, heading toward Jessie. When he loosened his hold on Landon, the monkey kid jumped down and raced after the dog.
But Lexie had wormed her way between Jessie and the kitchen cabinet. Before Brandt could catch Landon, he smacked into the back of Jessie’s calves, squealing, determined to get a hold of the dog.
Startled, Jessie spun around and knocked Landon to the floor. He landed with a thud on his diapered butt and cried out.
The rest of it happened in slow motion.
Jessie instinctively picked him up, with a reassuring, “You’re okay,” and smoothed her hand over his dark head.
Brandt watched, not breathing, as Jessie realized what she’d done.
A tiny gasp escaped. Her hand froze, as if the kid had suddenly become radioactive, but her gaze tracked every inch of Landon’s face.
“My God. I can’t believe how much he looks like Luke.”
“It’s a little spooky.” He took another step closer. “I’ll take him, if you want.”
She swallowed with difficulty. “No. It’s okay. I’ve got him.”
“You sure you’re all right?”
“No, not really.”
Tell her she doing great.
The words stuck in his throat. An excruciatingly long minute passed before he said, “I didn’t mean—”