Page 68 of Covert Operation
“Not biological.” I shift a little against the overstuffed couch we’re seated on. “Chosen.”
It’s yet another stark difference between the lives Christian and I carved out for ourselves. While he built a home and a family, I closed myself off. I thought I was doing the right thing. That helping women like Savannah would be enough for me.
Now that I’m seeing what could have been, it’s impossible not to think I might have been wrong.
“Morning, everyone.” A slim woman with a wide smile glides in carrying a foil-covered tray. She pauses to glance back at the man who came in with her. “You got them?”
He’s balancing a couple kids, one in each arm, leaning back as the bigger of the two tries to grab at the wad of hair tied at the top of his head. “Keep moving, Beanie. This one’s got about two more seconds before he’s ready for takeoff.”
The woman laughs, but picks up the pace, sliding her offering onto the island before scooping the little boy out of the man’s arms. She swings him through the air and to the ground,laughing loudly as the child giggles along with her. As predicted, the second those little feet hit the floor he starts to run.
And for some fucking reason comes right at me.
I barely have time to brace and block my dick before he launches his little body, sails through the air, and lands on my lap with enough force to make me grunt.
“Hi.” Little hands smack against my cheeks then rub over my beard. “You have fur.”
“Tyler.” The man I guess to be the boy’s dad comes our way. “You can’t just jump on people like that.”
“S’okay.” Tyler continues investigating my beard, looking unbothered. “He doesn’t care.” The little boy’s eyes come to mine. “Right?”
“Right.” What the hell else am I supposed to say? I don’t want this kid to get in trouble because of me.
“Ugh.” The woman comes over and grabs Tyler. “Are you already assaulting people?”
“Wasn’t assault.” Tyler kicks his legs, trying to squirm free. “Was just sayin’ hi.”
“He’s fine.” My eyes drift to the dad and the younger kid he still holds. “He’s not bothering me.”
Kids have never bothered me. This isn’t the first time I’ve been the target of one, so I’m used to their attention. It’s always struck me as strange that they’ll pick me out of a room of smiling, nice looking people, but I guess they don’t quite have the same sense of self-preservation that makes most adults avoid me.
“How about we get you some food and then you can come back and gently visit with Mr…”
“Zeke.”
She points at her chest. “Felicity.” Her finger swings to the boy’s father. “That’s Cody.”
“And I’m Tyler.” The little boy raises both arms over his head, making it nearly impossible for Felicity to keep her grip. He melts down to the floor then takes off in the direction of the food spread across the island.
And there’s a shit ton of it. Everyone who’s here brought something. Like they were all prepared to whip something up at a moment’s notice.
“Why don’t you guys eat too?” Felicity tips her head in the direction of the plates. “You don’t have long before everyone’s going to start talking your ear off, so you should probably get something in now.”
Savannah stays plastered to my side as we go through the line and fill our plates. She’s just as close when we sit back down, her eyes moving around the people packed into Christian’s kitchen and great room.
“You okay?” I rest one hand on her knee, letting my thumb stroke over the jeans she borrowed from Lydia. The two women are similar in size, but very different in style, and it’s odd seeing Savannah in clothes that are so starkly different from what she usually wears.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed I guess.” She flashes me a small smile. “At least when I go to parties at Sadie’s house I’m in a familiar place and know most of the people.”
I lift my hand to her face and push back her hair, smoothing it behind one ear. “Do you want to go upstairs? I’ll tell them I’m the one who needs a minute.”
Her head tips, pressing her cheek into my palm. “I’ll be okay. Thank you though.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I look over her face, regret making my stomach sink. “I’m the reason you’re in this mess.”
There are so many things I could have done to avoid this. So many ways I failed her. All she wants is to feel safe, and I fucked it all up.
Savannah’s dark brows pinch together. “This isn’t your fault.” She frowns. “You didn’t know someone was going to blow that building up and try to chase us down.”