“Set him down. This might be a distraction because everything is unfamiliar to him.”
The boy watched her with interest then made a grunting sound and reached out for the new stuff. After he was settled on the plush carpet, the first thing he picked up was a spoon. The first thing he did was whack one of the bowls.
“Good idea, Cam. He can’t make too much noise banging on plastic.”
She poured coffee into a mug, got herself a glass of water then awkwardly settled herself on a high stool that faced the family room. “So, what happened with Emma? You said she was gone. Where did she go?”
“To her parents’.” Everyone in town knew that the Crawfords had their daughter back. “She called earlier to say she would watch Kyle during the day until I can find a replacement for her.”
And that ticked him off. How was he supposed to do that? A daunting prospect would be climbing Mount Everest, but replacing Emma would take a miracle.
“That doesn’t sound like she’s gone, as in really gone,” Cam commented.
Justin sat on the edge of the floral-covered sofa, close to where Kyle was busily slapping a green-and-white measuring cup on the rug. “How about this, then? Her brother Kane came over for her clothes and things.”
The guy hadn’t said much but was clearly protective. He hadn’t been at the house long, but when he left with her packed suitcase, Justin’s anger melted, releasing something that felt a lot like pain. If a doctor knew anything, it was that pain was an indicator of something very wrong.
“Let me get this straight.” She tapped a finger on the granite. “She didn’t leave you high and dry as far as child care is concerned.”
That’s not how it felt. His son’s routine had been thrown into chaos and that was unacceptable.
“Kyle really feels her absence.”
Cam smiled tenderly at the little boy chattering away to all the things around him. Then she met Justin’s gaze and there was a knowing look in her eyes. He wasn’t particularly fond of the expression women wore when they became aware of something a man couldn’t seem to comprehend on his own.
“Kyle isn’t the only one not taking this well.”
“If you’re talking about me, that’s just wrong. I’m doing fine, if you don’t count the part where household routine is turned on its ass.”
“No, you’re not upset at all.”
“A grown man isn’t allowed to be fussy,” he said.
“Just crabby,” she retorted.
“I’m not—” The look she aimed at him said protesting was a waste of breath. “Okay. Maybe a little.”
“So...cool, calm, collected Dr. Flint is hot under the collar. That’s clear evidence this is more than your nanny giving notice. Emma put you on notice by leaving. Spill it, Justin. Confession is good for the soul. What really happened to send her packing?”
He blew out a breath and weighed the pros and cons of telling her, then realized he had nothing to lose. “I asked her to marry me.”
Cam’s expression went from surprised to pleased. Then she frowned. “If that had gone well, you wouldn’t be here in a snit and she wouldn’t be staying at her parents’. What did you say to her?”
“We like each other. We have fun together. Marriage makes sense.”
“Obviously not to her.” Cam’s eyes narrowed. “What else did you say?”
“I reminded her that she loves Kyle. He’s lucky to have her. If she agreed to marry me, he would have a mother and father. We could give him a normal life.”
And that was when Emma had reminded him of his own warning that he wasn’t looking for a wife. He’d said what he’d said because he wanted to be up front with her. Look how well that turned out. Being honest had blown up in his face.
And speaking of faces...Cam’s disapproving look made him want to squirm, but he held it together. She didn’t need to know that Emma had called him out on using the wrong L-word.
“You didn’t tell her you love her.” So much for Cam not knowing. “Look, Justin, you didn’t come here because taking care of your son is a challenge for you. When he was an infant and his mother was off doing whatever it was she did, you handled that little guy like a pro.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not finished.” Cam slid off the stool. “Next to my fiancé, you’re the most honorable man I know, so don’t start lying to me now. You came here because I’m your friend and you needed someone to talk sense into you. This reaction of yours is more than just to an employee quitting.”
The words struck a chord, but he didn’t like the tone he got. “If you’re saying what I think you are, that’s not a place I’m prepared to go again.”
“Sometimes our head goes in one direction,” she said more gently, “and the heart goes somewhere else, whether or not we want it to.”
“You’re trying to say I have feelings for her?”
Cam nodded like a teacher proud of the star pupil. “Any idiot can see that you’re head over heels in love with her.”
Justin’s mind was racing at the same time he carefully watched Kyle push to his feet and toddle around the family room. A leather ottoman doubled as a coffee table, so no sharp corners or breakable stuff there. On short, chubby legs the little boy checked things out, then tottered over to Cam. She smiled but stayed still and let him get used to her.
“Can I give him a cookie?” she asked. “Vanilla wafer. Ben likes them, but I think it should be age appropriate for Kyle. I’ve been reading up on all the stages.”
“He’d like that.”
She moved to the pantry and the little boy followed her. He was right there when she pulled out the box. After squatting to his level, she reached in and took out a cookie for him. He grinned and snatched it away then said two unintelligible syllables that sounded a little like “thank you.”
Cam’s expression turned soft and tender. “Good to know food is a bridge to détente.”
“You’re a terrific friend. And you’ll be an even more terrific mom,” Justin said.
“Like Emma.” She met his gaze. “That woman has set a very high bar.”
“She’s awfully good with him. It’s obvious he misses her.” Justin heard the longing in his own voice.
“You know how I felt about Kristina. Your wife was a schemer, and I never minced words to you about that, right?”
“I remember.”
“Obviously I’m willing to hit you with the truth on bad stuff, so my opinion should count for something.” At his nod, she continued. “I’m telling you that Emma is the real deal. She’s a keeper and you know it in your gut. Trust your instincts.”
“Because they’ve never let me down,” he said wryly.
Cam put her arm around the little boy who was digging his little hand in the box for another cookie. “I understand why you’re feeling snarky right now, but get over it. If you don’t fix this with Emma, you’ll be in big trouble.”
Again the words struck a chord and Justin realized she wasn’t wrong about that. The question was how to fix it when he’d made such a mess of everything.
Chapter Fifteen
Justin liked having a plan.
He was a surgeon and before picking up a scalpel, he studied notes and photos, went through each step of the procedure in his mind. By the time he’d scrubbed in, he knew exactly where to make the incision and how much pressure to apply so that every cut was as shallow as possible. Do No Harm was the cornerstone of medical practice, but when intervention was necessary it was a doctor’s responsibility to do the least amount of damage possible to the body.
So he had a plan in place when he pulled the SUV to a stop at the curb in front of the Crawfords’ house. After turning off the ignition, he ticked off in his mind what he would say to Emma.
Apologize for being ins
ensitive.
Be honest with her about his feelings. He didn’t like labels and that’s what had landed him in trouble. The primary message he had to convey was that he cared for her deeply. After everything that had happened to her, she would appreciate truthfulness and integrity.
Finally, he would ask her to come home because he and Kyle missed her. His son just wasn’t his usual cheerful self and clearly felt the change. Fortunately, Cam and Ben had offered to keep him while Justin convinced Emma to come back.
The sun was just disappearing behind the mountains as he exited the car and walked up the path to the door. It was opened almost immediately after he rang the doorbell.
“Hello, Justin.”
“Sir.”
Wow, he hadn’t planned to say that. He’d been on a first-name basis with Alan Crawford since they’d met. But that was before Emma had started work as his son’s nanny. Now everyone in town knew that this man was her father. And Justin was here because he’d slept with the man’s daughter. That was sort of what was on his mind. Mostly he wanted her back in whatever way she would have him.
His plan had only included talking to Emma, but her father was the one standing there, a big clue that he hadn’t thought this through. And then her brothers appeared behind Alan in the doorway. Justin had met them at their mother’s birthday party, the night Emma had revealed her identity.
Kane, the youngest and the guy who’d packed her suitcase, stood directly behind their father and was about an inch taller. Middle brother, Pierce, was to the left. His hair was a shade darker than the other two and his light blue eyes had a challenge in them. This wasn’t the time to let him know there was a procedure that could minimize the scar on his chin.
Rounding out the foursome was Zach, the oldest. He had brown eyes like Emma and his mother, but there wasn’t an ounce of warmth in them. He was taller and broader through the shoulders than the other three, a rugged man who obviously worked hard.
The family was running interference for Emma and that was not part of his plan.
“Nice to see you all again.”
“What do you want, Justin?” Alan did the talking, but the other three listened intently.
“I’m here to talk to Emma.”
“Why?” Zach wanted to know.
“It’s between the two of us.”
Alan shook his head. “She’s not alone anymore. Whatever is on your mind, you can say it in front of her family.”
“Isn’t that for her to decide?” Justin was pretty sure she wouldn’t want their personal details made public. He sure didn’t, and this inquisition was starting to tick him off. “Will you tell her I’m here to speak with her? Please.”
“I’m not sure she even wants to see you.” It was strange, but Kane’s expression had just a touch of empathy. His voice wasn’t quite as dangerous as her father’s and oldest brother’s. “According to what she told me, she can’t be your live-in nanny anymore.”
“That sounds final to me,” Zach commented.
Pierce moved slightly closer to his father, making the four men a solid, united front. “She knows her own mind.”
“And you’re aware of this how?” Justin said. “You’ve known her for what? Thirty seconds?”
Alan’s mouth pulled tight for a moment. “She’s my daughter. A father has an instinct about his child and she’s a strong, resilient woman. No one is going to push her around.”
Anger rolled through Justin at the thought of anyone doing that to Emma. He blew out a long breath and said, “I’m not a bully.”
“She never said you were.” Kane rubbed a big hand across his neck. “You’ve got your reasons for not being all in for whatever it is between the two of you. All of us—Pierce, Zach and me—we’ve all been where you are. But when it’s over, it’s over.”
“Did she say it was over?” Justin rejected that with everything he had. It couldn’t be over. The idea of her not being in his life was what had pushed him into the stupid things he’d said.
“What part of ‘she can’t be your nanny anymore’ did you not understand?” Zach didn’t exactly move forward but seemed to block his way more aggressively. “Maybe it’s time for you to move on, Doctor.”
“When Emma said what she said, there were things she didn’t know about.” That was all he was prepared to say. He met Alan’s gaze because the man was her father and deserved the respect.
“What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
This was starting to feel like the Old West and any second he expected them to pull six-guns. Justin was pretty sure not many fathers in Beverly Hills asked that question. She was an adult, a smart, beautiful woman who could take care of herself. The reality was that he wanted to take care of her. Those angry words were a nanosecond from coming out of his mouth, when thoughts of Kyle popped into his mind.
If anyone hurt his son, Justin would be acting like the Crawfords. He owed her father the courtesy of reassurance that there was no way he would hurt or dishonor Emma.
“I already asked her to marry me.”
“That’s true,” Kane confirmed. “She told Mom and me this morning.”
“But she obviously said no.” Pierce looked at his brothers. “So, I don’t get why he’s here.”
“Married once,” Kane said. “Wasn’t good.”
Zach nodded. “So, he’s got reasons. Understood. But the question was asked and answered, so it doesn’t seem like there’s more to say.”
Justin wasn’t sure what bugged him more—the fact they wouldn’t let him pass or that they talked as if he wasn’t even there. “Trust me. There’s a lot more.”
“What?” Alan demanded.
“Look—” His reserves of patience were nearly gone. He was ready to break through this defensive line, but common sense stopped him. Alan was older, but his sons were in their prime. It was four to one, not good odds. “She obviously talked to you about what happened between us. When I’ve said my piece, if Emma wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”
Alan stared him down. “You hurt her once already in the last twenty-four hours. When she was stolen from me as a baby, the hardest thing was not being able to protect my little girl. I’ve got her back now and it’s my intention to make sure no harm comes to her ever again and that includes you. Unless there’s something you can say to convince me that she won’t be hurt, you’re not getting through us.”
The other three men nodded and Justin knew they were determined. So was he. The need to see Emma was driving him crazy.
“All right.” He looked from one man to the next then settled his gaze on Alan. “I think I love her.”
“You think?” The other man stared at him for several moments, his eyes narrowing as the seconds ticked by. “Come back when you’re sure.”
Then the door slammed in his face.
Justin blinked at the solid wood. He wouldn’t have been more shocked if Alan had punched him. Or pulled out a six-shooter.
Emma heard the door slam as she walked downstairs holding a magazine. An actual book would have required too much concentration. At least the magazine had pictures. Every time she tried to read a story with a plot, her mind wandered back to her last conversation with Justin. She wanted a do-over more than almost anything she could think of.
She reached the bottom of the stairs where her father and brothers were gathered just inside the door. All four of them were looking at her funny.
“I heard the doorbell a few minutes ago. Who was it?” she asked.
The four men exchanged what could only be described as guilty glances. Boys got bigger and became men, but they never outgrew the look they wore after doing something naughty.
She walked past each of them like a general inspecting the troops. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Kane rocke
d back on his heels.
“Why don’t I believe you?” She stood in front of Zach, a big, handsome man who would make any woman he cared for feel safe and protected. And she got the feeling that somehow he was protecting her. She appreciated the effort, but her curiosity was really humming now. “What about you? Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Why would you think anything is?” He shifted his feet on the wood floor and squirmed just a little. It was proof that the bigger they were, the harder they fell.
“Because you responded to a question with a question and didn’t really answer what I asked. In nanny school I learned that’s a classic avoidance technique.”
“You went to nanny school?” Pierce asked. “Is that like Mary Poppins University?”
She moved in front of him and couldn’t help thinking she had the hunkiest brothers on the planet. They got even cuter when put on the spot. Why was it none of them were married, engaged or currently dating? That was a question for another day. Right now there was a conspiracy in progress and she would get to the bottom of it.
“The three of you are covering for each other.”
“What makes you think that?” Kane did his level best to look innocent and failed completely.
“I know so because Pierce just created a diversion. And, for the record, it didn’t work. But obviously someone was about to break and confess.” She looked at her father. “You’ll tell me the truth, right, Dad?”
“Honey—” One word in a tone that said, don’t make me do that.
“I know parents walk a fine line in terms of telling the truth, what with the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Technically, letting kids believe mythical characters are real is lying. But when that kid grows up, she can handle the truth. I’m all grown up. Now, who was at the door?”
Alan looked at his sons and shrugged. “She’s just like her mother.”
“I noticed,” Zach said. “But you’re stronger than this. Don’t give in, Dad.”
“I don’t know how she knows something is up, but she does. And, like her mother, I suspect she won’t let go of this until she gets what she wants.”
Finding Family...and Forever? Page 19