style="font-size:15px;"> She answered the door on his second knock. To Eric’s amusement, her gaze slid past him, right to the baby watching her with wide-eyed interest. “Well, hello there,” she said, crouching down so she and Garth were at eye level. “I see you’re finally awake, little sleepyhead.”
Garth made a gurgling sound, jingling his plastic keys as he gazed up at her.
“You’re so precious,” Julia cooed. She glanced up at Eric. “Is everything all right?”
He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d mind keeping an eye on him for a few minutes. The plow covered my SUV and I need to dig it out so I can head into town. I’ll come back for him as soon as I’m done.”
“No problem.” She took the infant carrier and brought it inside. “Like I told you earlier, if you want, I can watch him while you go to the store.”
Tempting, but again, he barely knew her and she’d already done more than enough for him. Leaving her in charge of Garth while he was a few feet away, outside, was entirely different than driving away without his son. “I appreciate that, but I’d rather bring him with me.” He cast her a sideways look, trying to judge how she would take this news.
To his surprise, she smiled. “I understand. You don’t know me yet and he’s your entire world. Believe me, I wouldn’t leave my baby for very long with someone I just met, either.”
Relieved, he nodded. “I’m glad you understand. Fifteen minutes, okay? He’s already been fed and has a clean diaper. I’m thinking this won’t take much more than that.”
“No rush.” Her gaze had already strayed back to his son. “We’ll be right here whenever you finish.”
* * *
After the door closed behind her new tenant, JJ let out a sigh of relief. She liked looking at him, plain and simple. Even though another man in her life was the absolute last thing she needed right now. She hadn’t worked through her recent past yet. Hell, she didn’t even recognize the woman who’d fled New York City as if the hounds of hell were after her, with giant teeth. And of course, her dreams still haunted her.
This appalled her. She’d always been fierce, a fighter, but not a killer. She’d often questioned how she could have let herself become the woman Shawn had made her into, a woman afraid of her own shadow, too terrified to speak or even look at something the wrong way. She’d walked on eggshells, never knowing what might set him off.
Initially, she’d gone into the relationship a strong, female shifter. A she-wolf, proud of her heritage, confident in her humanness. Shawn might have been only human, but in the beginning he’d seemed kind and thoughtful and handsome. She’d also liked his size, instinctively feeling a large man like him would always protect her.
In fact, it had been the opposite. He’d used his size to intimidate and threaten and hurt. What she’d become after three years with Shawn...
Now, she knew personally how some abused animals felt. She understood the impulse that had them cringing at sudden movements or a raised hand. Objectively, she could see how several years of conditioning by a man she’d thought had loved her had made her this way. What confused and astounded her was how she’d let it happen. How she’d managed to come to believe it was all her fault. If she’d been prettier, smarter, quicker... A better girlfriend, a harder worker, more... As if he was the rational person and she was the one spiraling out of control.
She deserved everything she got. He’d actually said that to her, numerous times. Until finally, something had broken inside her and she’d known she’d had enough. That had been when she’d gotten the news of her great-aunt’s death and learned she’d inherited a house in a town she’d never known existed. That had been when she’d realized she’d be all right, that she could leave.
She’d grabbed on with both hands and secretly planned her escape. When she’d fled, she’d taken care to make sure he was at work and had no idea. Even so, she’d been terrified he’d find out and catch her, and make her pay.
And she’d done it! Freed herself, and most likely saved Shawn’s life. Because she’d always known, deep down inside herself, if he pushed her too far, she’d snap and shift to wolf. A cornered wolf would kill in self-defense. Even Pack law allowed this, but she didn’t want to be a killer.
This had been her first major victory in nearly three years. Now she was here, a few hours north of the city, and Shawn had no idea how to find her. After taking a few deep breaths, she let the tension drain off of her.
Her throat tight, she rolled her shoulders. Focus on the positive. A house of her own in upstate New York. Enough money to tide her over until she figured out what she wanted to do, and now a paying tenant, which meant a nice revenue stream. Her way out, her ticket to another life.
When she’d first arrived, relieved to find the house completely furnished, she’d met with the attorney and signed the necessary paperwork. After, she’d slept for two days, not stirring from her bed except to guzzle water and use the bathroom. When she’d finally surfaced, she felt like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Full of possibilities and hope.
This was all still too new, only one short month along. She had the rest of winter to burrow in, claim her space and find her way. She needed to rebuild her life, piece by piece, not let herself get distracted by a man.
Or his too-adorable-for-words baby.
As if he knew her thoughts, the baby gurgled and flashed JJ a sweet smile. Her heart constricted.
“Hello there, Garth,” she cooed, loving the way his bright blue eyes sparkled as he smiled up at her. Carefully, gently, she lifted him out of his portable crib, breathing in the sweet baby scent of him. Moving him to her shoulder, she murmured baby words and nonsense while swaying slightly. His tiny body nestled into her, relaxing in a way that let her know he trusted her to take care of him. She, who’d never even been able to keep a potted plant alive.
This would be her ideal job, taking care of this sweet baby while his daddy worked. Maybe once Eric got settled in and knew her better, he’d entrust her with his precious son for more than a few minutes.
Carrying the infant, she walked to the front window to check on Eric. He was still shoveling her sidewalk. Heart in her throat, she continued to watch him, holding the baby and pointing out his daddy. Even in his bulky parka, Eric’s movements were both strong and graceful, an intriguing combination. He left his parka unzipped and wore no hat, his long blond hair tied back in a sexy ponytail.
Baby Garth squirmed, making her realize he’d just dirtied his diaper. Since Eric had brought a diaper bag, she located the spares—disposables, thank goodness—without difficulty, along with baby wipes, and clumsily managed her first diaper change since she’d done babysitting as a teenager years ago.
Feeling pretty accomplished, she picked up the now clean and dry infant and went back to the window. Still holding his shovel, Eric had stopped shoveling snow. Instead, he stood on the freshly cleared sidewalk talking to her next-door neighbor. Rhonda and JJ had hit it off immediately and, according to Rhonda, were destined to become best friends. Like JJ, she was in her thirties and single, though unlike JJ, she was divorced and now actively searching for The One. The Right One, she often quipped, winking.
Judging from the way she was eyeing JJ’s new tenant, Rhonda considered him a viable possibility. She’d even ventured outside in a ski jacket and snow boots, shovel in hand, as
