but mostly stupid. An overweight girl who did anything to fit in. I turned out to be a big disappointment to a lot of people.” She released a breath. “So I ran with a crowd that accepted me.”
Jarrett could only nod, but he wanted to know so much more about Mia. What had hurt her so much she couldn’t talk about it?
“Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us.” He began. “I took out resentment for my father on Trace. And it was well over thirty years before I figured out he wasn’t my enemy. We’re still working on it.”
She brightened. “I bet little Jenna helps.”
He tried not to smile but failed. “Okay, the little squirt has my number. But look at her. She’s too cute to tell her no.” So are you, he nearly confessed, trying to fight the attraction he felt.
“I agree. You are so lucky to have them.”
“I’m realizing that.” He eyed her closely. “When was the last time you slept?”
She shrugged. “I nap when BJ does.”
He breathed a curse. “It’s not enough, Mia. You haven’t even been out of the hospital a week.” Had it been that long since he’d seen her? Since he’d been purposely avoiding her? He’d worked late at the office, staying away to finish the repairs. Anything not to get any more entangled in her life. Trace was the family guy, not him.
Tonight, he realized how much he’d missed her. His gaze went from those brilliant blue eyes to her full mouth. God, he had to be crazy, but he couldn’t stop himself as his head lowered to hers.
“Jarrett…”
“I like the way you say my name, Mia. A lot.” He reached for her, pulling her to him until his mouth closed over hers. She released a sigh as her fingers gripped his arms and she leaned into him.
Only the sound of their breathing filled the room as his mouth moved over hers in a slow, sensual, drugging kiss, taking as much as she was willing to give. And he wanted it all.
Hungry. He was hungry for her. His tongue slid past her parted lips and tasted her, but it wasn’t enough. He never could get enough of her.
He broke off the kiss and they both drew in needed air. He knew he had to stop, it was too soon for her.
Yet, it was already too late for him.
Mia stirred in the warm bed. It felt so good as she pressed deeper into her pillow. Sleep. She loved just lying in bed. Soon her thoughts turned to last night and Jarrett. The kiss. Smiling, she opened her eyes to the morning light coming through the window, then reality hit her, as she registered her tender breasts.
“BJ,” she whispered, throwing back the covers to get out of bed. The crib was empty. Her heart pounded in her chest and she raced out to the other room. That was when she heard a familiar voice in the kitchen. Nola.
She stood in the doorway. “You are getting to be such a big boy,” the older woman cooed at the baby in the plastic tub. BJ’s tiny arms waved in the air as he enjoyed his bath.
Nola glanced at her. “Well, good morning.”
“Good morning, Nola.” She brushed her hair back. “What are you doing here? And why didn’t you wake me to feed him?”
“He slept most of the night until five o’clock, which is when Jarrett called me and asked about using the bottle of breast milk in the refrigerator. I instructed him on how to heat it and he fed BJ. That was an hour ago, when I came up to relieve him. So I decided to steal some time with this guy while you got some more sleep.” She grinned down at the baby, who was cooing. “BJ and I are getting to know each other.”
Mia glanced around the empty apartment. When she’d dozed off last night Jarrett was still here. She suddenly recalled several things from their evening together. The things she’d told him about herself. Things she hadn’t told anyone.
“If you’re looking for Jarrett, he had a meeting to go to. He said he’d be back later today. I hope in time for our Christmas party.”
“Who said I was looking for Jarrett?” She hated that she was so easy to read. “Why did he call you instead of waking me?”
“Because we’re both worried about you.” She nodded for Mia to hand her the towel. She lifted the baby out of the water and Mia wrapped her son in the hooded terry cloth. “New mothers can get burnt out.”
Mia hugged BJ to her. “I need to be able to take care of my son.”
“You are a good mother, Mia,” Nola assured her. “You’re also doing this alone. But you have what’s most important, a good heart and a lot of love for this little boy.”
Together they walked into the bedroom and dressed BJ in one of his new outfits with a shirt that said, Chick Magnet.
Before Mia could pick him up, Nola did. “You need to eat something first. And I figure you have just enough time for some breakfast and a shower before this guy wants his mommy’s attention.”
She smiled. How lucky she was to have friends. “Thanks, Nola. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“We owe you a lot, too. We’d all be homeless without your help.”
“We’ll all be homeless soon anyway. So I didn’t help that much.”
The older woman pushed her bifocals back in place. “It’s not over yet. I have faith in our handsome landlord. I also see the way he looks at you, Mia.” She smiled. “And you should have seen him with BJ this morning. He’s a natural.”
Mia tried not to think about Jarrett McKane. He wasn’t the man for her. He was the kind who only thought about the financial bottom line. Business before family. It was all about profit. The money. “He’s counting the days until we’re all out of here.”
Nola watched her. “Yeah, that’s the reason he had us all out to his house for Thanksgiving. And helped Joe paint your apartment. And stayed with you at the hospital during the birth of this little one.” She glanced down at the baby, but quickly looked back at Mia. “Jarrett has a few rough edges, but that just makes him interesting.” She lowered her voice. “And sexy.”
Mia felt heat rise to her face. He had always been the one who’d showed up to help her. She recalled the way he made her feel when he kissed her last night. She hadn’t wanted him to stop. That was a problem. If she got involved in a relationship with a man, she had to think about BJ, too. They were a package deal.
Worse yet, could she share all her secrets about her past? Even the lies she’d told to protect herself. What happened when Jarrett discovered who she really was?
Just a little before noon, Jarrett walked into the restaurant for his meeting. He hoped his lack of sleep last night wouldn’t hinder him from convincing Fulton of his new plans. If he kept thinking about Mia and their kiss, it would. Or the fact that he’d left a beautiful woman’s bed and gone into the other room to sleep on the sofa. That had been a first for him. There had been a lot of firsts with Mia, including being a babysitter for her son.
When Nola had relieved him from his duties early this morning,
