Love Inspired May 2015 #2 (12 page)

Why not do it? Though Violet had teased him about Simone, he figured it couldn't hurt to hire her for one week while she was off work.

He texted her back, asking if she could come the next morning. Maybe he'd be at ease leaving Abby with someone more mature.

Then again, maybe not. Because like it or not, whenever he thought of Abby, he immediately put Violet in the picture, as well.

Of course, once she found out her parents had contacted him and he'd agreed to talk to her, she might not forgive him for meddling.

He needed to figure out how to tell her. There was a delicate balance between helping and overstepping.

But her parents wanted to apologize. Weren't apologies always a good thing?

Chapter Eight

A
bby's wails filtered through Violet's open screen door, tugging her attention from her computer, making it impossible to concentrate.

She really shouldn't get involved. She had a morning free of appointments, a perfect morning to work at home putting together the training materials for the parenting class she'd be teaching in the fall. She had three glorious hours to catch up on banking and paying bills for the office.

And had absolutely no business stepping into Jake's life if he wanted Simone as a babysitter. But the pitiful child had been crying nonstop for twenty minutes as Simone walked around the backyard. Had the woman even checked Abby's diaper?

Snapping her laptop shut, she popped up out of the kitchen chair, pushed open the back door and marched across the yard toward Jake's house.

She can't just let my baby cry like that.

Violet halted midstep. My baby?
My
baby?

Icy fear settled in her chest as she headed into new territory. Dangerous territory. She'd get in trouble thinking of Abby that way. Remy could return, yanking Abby away as Violet's son had been taken away. Leaving her bereft and broken.

Violet needed to be more careful.

Yet she couldn't let the poor little thing cry until she was hoarse.

Violet approached Jake's patio, where Simone paced trying to console Abby. “Can I help?”

Though she was tense and her expression bordered on panic, Simone was beautiful, exotic with her expertly made-up black eyes and dark wavy hair that cascaded down her back. “Gladly.”

When Violet took Abby in her arms, it was as if the baby had taken some sort of chill pill. Her cries hiccuped to a stop. The girl's eyes opened and she studied Violet, as if she recognized her and welcomed being held by her. Almost as if she'd been returned to her own mother.

Love for Abby nearly smothered Violet, making it hard to draw in a full breath. Surely one heart couldn't contain so much love. She brushed Abby's tears away and talked gently to the girl. “You're okay, sweet thing.”

“Unbelievable,” Simone said. “I think she hates me.”

“No, she has bouts of crying sometimes.”

Simone wilted into a lounge chair as if exhausted. “How am I ever going to get Jake back if his baby hates me?”

Violet froze. Took a shallow breath.

What had she expected, though? From observing the familiarity between them, she'd suspected Jake and Simone had dated in the past. It made sense that they could get back together, especially now that he needed Simone's help.

But he said he liked having me care for Abby. He acted like he was going to kiss me.

What was wrong with her? First she'd thought of Abby as
my baby
. Now she'd dared think of Jake as her man?

“Here,” Violet said. “Take Abby, and I'll show you how she likes to be held.”

She wrapped the light summer blanket more tightly around the baby, then set her in the crook of Simone's arm.

“She likes to be swaddled when she's crying. And she likes to be able to look into your face, not be pressed to your chest unless she's snugly in her cloth carrier.”

“Oh, okay. I'll see how that works.” She bounced a little and smiled at Abby.

The girl's brow scrunched a bit, but she didn't cry.

“That seems to have worked,” Simone said, her face lighting with relief. “Thanks.”

“I'm glad to help.”

“You know, I ruined my chances with Jake before, talking about marriage even though we'd both declared from the beginning that we didn't want anything serious. Kind of freaked him out. But I think Abigail here has changed that. I think he could be ready to settle down.”

Jake
had
settled into a routine with the baby and had grown attached. But that didn't mean he was ready to settle into a relationship with a woman. For all Violet knew, he still didn't want anything serious.

Violet certainly didn't need to fall for someone who might avoid commitment. She'd already gone that route with a disastrous end.

The sound of a vehicle pulling up somewhere out front sent her heart racing. It sounded like a large engine, probably Jake's truck. With all the crazy, possessive feelings she'd had that morning, she didn't need to be around him. Time to escape.

“Gotta get back to work.” It appeared Abby wasn't going to cry again, so she darted toward home.

“Thanks again,” Simone called, probably confused as to why Violet took off so quickly.

She forced herself to politely pause and turn to reply. “You're welcome.”

“You know, if Jake gives me another chance at loving him, I'll have you to thank.”

The thought of helping Jake reunite with Simone made her cringe, even as she gave a friendly wave goodbye.

Grateful to get away before Jake discovered her, Violet dropped into her chair at the kitchen table. As she opened her computer, she heard Jake greet Simone. Unable to focus on her work, Violet held her head in her hands.

She wanted Jake...but shouldn't. She loved Abby...but shouldn't. She wanted to build a family together... “But I shouldn't, I really shouldn't.”

She'd gotten herself into a real mess.

“Violet?” Jake stood outside her screen door ready to knock.

Her face heated. Had he heard her talking to herself? “Come on in.”

His smile wreaked havoc on her insides, making them flutter and dance and compress her lungs so she could hardly breathe.

He stood there in jeans and a button-up work shirt, wiping his dusty boots on her doormat. Then he stepped inside. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she replied, the only coherent thing she could manage at the moment. Why did he have to look and smell so good after he'd spent the morning working?

“I really appreciate you helping Simone. She told me you'd stopped Abby's crying.”

“I just showed her how she likes to be held.”

“Funny how we both know Abby's likes and dislikes.” He slipped his hands in his pockets. “I'm feeling more like a parent every day.”

He acted more like one, too. So gentle and protective. “You're really good with her.”

He gestured to the chair beside her at the end of the rectangular oak table.

She nodded. “Have a seat.”

“I have to admit, the more time that passes, the more I have the crazy urge to quit looking for Remy and adopt Abby.”

Torn, Violet didn't know what to say. The wishful dreamer in her would love for him to do just that. But the realist thought he needed to give Remy every chance to step up.

“I can understand that. What do you think you'll do?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Still deciding. I'd really like to talk to Remy before I take any legal action.” He spotted her open computer. “Working at home today?”

Scrunching her brow, she said, “Yeah, my only appointment this morning canceled.” Which didn't bode well for staying in the black this month.

He looked distressed by that fact. “I'm sure business will pick up soon.” He started to say something, then stopped. “I should let you get back to whatever you were doing. Thanks again for coming to Abby's rescue.”

“Glad to help.”

His grateful expression dimmed, turned serious. “Actually, if you have a minute, I need to talk to you. And I hope you'll understand that I'm only trying to help.”

A sense of foreboding made her stomach muscles tighten. “Help with what?”

“Your mother called, and I spoke with her.”

Ice cold ran through her veins. Had her mother told him anything? Did he know she'd had a baby?

“Look, I can tell you're not happy, but—”

“You had no right. My relationship with my parents is none of your business.”

“Well, I kind of think it is sort of my business.” Irritation sparked in his eyes.

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“Because I care about you.”

Cared
about
her. Not cared
for
her. There was a huge difference. “I'm not buying that excuse.”

He plunked back in his chair, looking wounded. “I spoke with her because I knew she'd been trying to contact you. I wanted to find out why, to make sure you wouldn't be hurt.”

How could he assure that? Her parents had hurt her over and over and weren't likely to change. She swiped her suddenly damp palms on her shorts, then stood. “I think you should leave.”

“Your mother said they only want the chance to apologize because they regret their decision.”

A wave of dizziness swept over Violet, forcing her to grip the table edge.
Now
they regretted the decision?

She needed to get Jake out of her house to process what he'd told her. “Please leave.”
Does he know? Surely not from the way he's looking at me with concern. Because he'll loathe me once he finds out the truth.

He moved toward the door. “I hope you'll agree to meet with them, that you'll give them a chance for reconciliation.”

If he knew what happened, he wouldn't expect her to be so forgiving. “I request you to stay out of my personal business in the future.”

As if a wall had slid in place, the warmth in his eyes cooled. “Fine.”

She'd hurt him. Angered him, even. But he was an honorable man shouldering the responsibility of a child who wasn't his, making sacrifices, trying his best to parent Abby and do the right thing. If he kept digging around in her past, talking to her parents, he'd find out the truth and would realize she'd been weak and selfish.

When her parents had refused to help her raise her son and pushed her to give him up for adoption, she'd let fear—and her dream of becoming a big-shot surgeon—sway her decision. Sure, Jake might admire her for helping with Abby. But what would he think of her when he discovered that she hadn't done the same for her own child?

* * *

As soon as Simone arrived Wednesday morning to babysit, Jake put her in charge of feeding Abby, then he stepped out the back door into the drizzling rain.

They'd have a muddy day at the work site.

He sprinted toward Violet's house, hoping to catch her before she left for work. To apologize. Last night, the more he'd thought about the situation, the more he realized he should have taken Camilla Crenshaw's number, said he would call her back, then checked with Violet.

Knocking on the back door, he huddled under the overhang to try to stay dry. She didn't answer, so he ran around to the front door and rang the bell.

The door opened immediately. “Oh. Jake.” She stood in her work clothes with her purse on her shoulder, keys in hand. “I was just leaving.”

“Do you have a second?”

Her eyes narrowed, and he felt sure she didn't want to give him a moment of her time.

“I came to apologize.”

She stood, arms crossed in front of her. “I'm glad you realize the need.”

“I shouldn't have spoken to your mother without checking with you first.”

“No, you shouldn't have.”

Her certainty sparked a flash of irritation. “I still think it needed to be done, though. I was only protecting you, looking out for your best interests.”

“I don't need your protection.”

The comment hurt. He'd thought they'd shared something...some connection. More than friendship. “So I can need you, but you can't need me, huh?”

Surprise widened her eyes. “You need me?”

All the closeness he'd felt fizzled. Why did she have to look so shocked? Hadn't she felt the same thing?

Apparently not.

He sure wasn't going to open up and spill his guts if she wasn't feeling it, too. “I'll let you get to work.”

“No, tell me what you mean by needing me.”

“I need your...friendship. Your help with Abby.”

The look of disappointment on her face gave him pause.

“You know I'm happy to help anytime,” she said, stern and efficient. “Who's lined up to babysit today?”

He fought a frustrated sigh. They were back to business as usual. “Simone's there now. I'm still working on finding someone to do mornings. Kelli is coming again this afternoon.”

“And you'll manage to stay away for more than five minutes?” she said in all seriousness. Yet maybe...yes, she had a teasing glint in her eyes.

He laughed. “I have to. I've got a meeting late this afternoon.”

She pulled her phone out of her purse and scrolled to look at something. “I can take a little time to drop by, maybe go over some basics with Kelli—first aid, that kind of thing. It'll give me peace of mind, as well.”

He wanted to wrap her in his arms and ask how she could care so much about Abby yet not feel anything for him.

“Thanks, Violet. I'd really appreciate you doing that.”

Locking her phone, she stuffed it back in her bag. “I'll be there around one o'clock.”

“I should let you go,” he said. “Again, I'm sorry for upsetting you by speaking with your mother. I hope you'll forgive me.”

A hint of a smile made her lips twitch. “So you're not sorry for interfering, just sorry that you upset me?”

He grinned. “Pretty much.”

She poked a finger at his chest. “Isn't that like apologizing for getting caught?” Her sparkling eyes locked with his, humor lighting her face as she leaned toward him. Probably without realizing it.

“I guess it is.”

Rain poured outside, pounding the roof, making the entryway of her home feel isolated, intimate. Thunder sounded in the distance, mimicking how his world had just shifted.

He needed to touch Violet when she looked at him like that, almost flirty, as if she truly liked him. He stepped into her space. Though she held her purse like a defensive shield, he reached out and brushed a stray piece of hair back from her forehead. “But I do feel bad that my actions upset you—even if I'd do it all over again trying to protect you, to maybe help you heal.”