almost ready?” Cal asked. “I’m starved.”
“Almost. Just have to drain the meat and—”
“Caleb!” Cal tossed down his pencil, leaped from his chair and ran across the room, tossing his arms around his father’s waist. “I had fun with you today! Wanna stay for dinner? What’s in the bag?”
“Slow down, man,” Caleb said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “First off, there’s a little something I picked up for you and your mom.”
“Mom?” Cal asked. “Can I open it?”
“Sure.” What was up with the curious flutter taking over her belly?
Cal ripped into the bag to pull out another memory. “Cool!” he said. “What is it?”
“A Chia Pet,” Allie said, gently taking the box containing the terra-cotta Chia Man that would hopefully soon sprout green hair. Years earlier, Caleb bought her a Mr. Chia, turtle and rabbit. All lived on the kitchen windowsill of her rented house. Allie and Caleb took turns watering them. When she’d left, she’d debated whether or not to even take them. They’d been in a sense like kids. In the end, knowing Caleb’s tendency to sometimes forget to water, she’d stowed them on the backseat floorboard of her Honda, where they’d gotten irrevocably mangled during a sudden stop at the intersection of Blueberry and Pine.
“Does it talk or anything?” Cal asked, suspiciously eyeing the ceramic head.
“It’s a plant,” she told him. “But we have to grow it ourselves.”
“Oh.” Cal didn’t look impressed. “Thanks,” he said.
Allie was already taking the head and seed packet from the box. “Thank you,” she said to Caleb. “I love these things.”
“I know.” He stepped up behind her, creating an instant physical hum. “Whatever happened to ours?”
Nibbling her lower lip, fighting the oddest sensation that nothing between them had changed, she said, “They kind of met with an unfortunate end.”
“Sounds familiar,” Caleb said with a solid nod.
The flutter in her stomach died.
“Well? Can you stay for dinner?” Cal asked his father.
“Shouldn’t you ask your mom first?” Caleb looked Allie’s way, stealing her breath with not only his rugged good looks, but also his resemblance to her son. Correction—their son. Guess she might as well get used to the fact that now that Caleb knew about his child, he wasn’t about to vanish from their lives, even after his team’s protective services were no longer needed.
“Nah,” Cal said. “She won’t care. Right, Mom?” Her darling son flashed his most irresistible smile. Crap. The little booger knew full well she couldn’t be firm when he pulled that stunt!
Even worse, Caleb flashed the same smile.
Double trouble!
“Well, Mom?” Cal asked. “Can he stay?”
“Sure. Why don’t you clear your books from the table, then set three places.”
“Wanna help, Caleb? We could race.”
“Sounds good,” Caleb said. “You start.”
“’Kay.”
While his son tore around clearing and setting, Caleb headed for the boy’s clearly put out mother. “If it’s a problem for you—you know, me staying for dinner—I can go.”
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