Free Razing Kayne by Julieanne Reeves Page B

in with the landscape.
    Gracie and Isabelle answered the door moments after Kayne rang the bell. “Kayne, Kayne!
     Up, up up ! ”
    He dutifully picked Gracie up hugging her close, feeling his lungs expand, drawing in his first full breath in days. “Hey, ‘Sabella.” He smiled, crouching to her level. He gently brushed his hand across her baby fine
     hair and kissed her forehead. “Where's Mama?” He was surprised they'd answered the
     door alone.
    “I'm right here.” Jessica stood in the edge of the shadows, a phone to her ear.
    “Mind if I come in?” The fact that he was already in the foyer made it kind of a moot
     point. Still, he felt he should ask.
    “I'm kind of busy.” She sounded angry. He probably deserved that after the way he'd
     treated her Tuesday.
    Before he could say anything, she tuned back into her phone conversation. “Yes, I'm
     still here.” She listened for a moment, and then the conversation became heated. Perhaps
     some of her anger wasn't directed at him. That was good, right?
    “That's just not going to work.” She paused. “I use you guys because you don't make
     these types of mistakes. I have to have the stuff tonight. No, I will not accept a credit!”
    When Maddy walked up and leaned into his side, Kayne hugged her. Damn, he was going to
     have to talk to Jessica about how friendly her kids were with strangers. “What's going
     on?”
    “A food delivery got lost, and it's stuff Mama needs for the brunch tomorrow.”
    “Obviously I'm gonna have to drive down and pick it up. Can someone have it ready
     when I get there?” Jess asked. There was another long pause. “There’s no way I can
     make it by five, especially through rush hour. Someone’s going to have to wait around.
     This is your mistake after all.”
    Go Jessica. He liked her fiery side. It was so much better than what he’d witnessed Tuesday.
     Kayne looked down at Maddy . “Where is this place?”
    “South Phoenix. I only ever went once. Uncle Cody was supposed to go and get stuff,
     but got called to a fire, so Mama ended up having to go and took us with her.”
    Kayne's hackles went up at Maddy’s mention of the belligerent hose-monkey.
    “Maddy, take everyone upstairs to get their shoes on,” Jessica whispered.
    Maddy nodded. She eyed Gracie, who’d wrapped her little arms around Kayne’s neck,
     then walked away shaking her head. “I’ll bring her shoes down.”
    Jessica made a comical mad face at Gracie, who giggled in response. “No, I'm still
     here. I know where it is. You have the list in front of you, right? You can have it
     all ready? Okay, I'm on my way.”
    Jessica ended the call and blew out a heavy sigh. “Kayne, I'm sorry, I really have
     to go. My assistant is sick and so is Polly. I have to find a babysitter for tomorrow
     morning, and now these idiots didn't process my order, so I have to drive clear down
     to...” She paused then rattled off an address.
    “Whoa! First off, you are not going down to that neighborhood by yourself after dark.” It was a bad part of Phoenix
     even in broad daylight.
    “I don't have a choice! Besides, I know how to take care of myself.”
    “Yes, you do, but you're still not going. Give me the address and the keys. You can
     stay here and do the other things you need to. And forget about a babysitter. I'll
     watch the kids tomorrow.”
    “I don't need your help. I don't want it!”
    “Gracie, go ask Maddy to change you. I smell a wet diaper.” Kayne sat the toddler
     down.
    Gracie wrinkled her nose in disgust and scampered off.
    Once he was sure they were alone, Kayne turned to Jessica. “I'm sorry about the other
     day. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
    “I just...it was...I didn't think about it being the exact same place, and then I
     saw the firemen...and for a second, I thought…” She shrugged helplessly.
    “I know, short-stuff. I'm so sorry the deputy let you through.” Kayne understood what she
     was trying to say.