Free His Reason, Her Choice by Teona Bell Page A

them to the fair, I’ll talk to my mother. I’ll make her back off.”
    “No, don’t do that.” Joy chewed her lip. “You really think she likes them?”
    He chuckled. “My mother loves kids. She volunteers at a daycare.”
    “You’re kidding?”
    “No. She loves them that much, and she’s good with them.”
    “Wow, I can’t even imagine.”
    “If it will make you feel better, I’ll go along with them as a familiar face. You can have a day off for once.”
    “Why would you do that? Just to let them think we—”
    He touched her lips with a finger. “Don’t analyze it. Just consider it.”
    She did, and she had already made up her mind. The fair was most likely on the weekend. Maybe she could work that day and keep her job a little longer. “Okay, it’s fine with me. Thanks, Russ. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
    He drew her into his arms and kissed her. More and more, she felt like she wanted to always be there. Yet falling for him would be a mistake. What would happen when he was tired of their arrangement and sent her and her kids packing? She had to plan for the inevitable, so the extra shift was good and letting Gloria pay this once was a benefit to that uncertain future.
    “Anything for you,” he whispered, and they returned to the spare room to tell Gloria and the kids.

Chapter Fourteen
    J oy let herself into the house. All was quiet, and she slipped her feet from her shoes to carry to the bedroom. After a shower, she changed her clothes and went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. The restaurant food had gotten old fast, and she preferred her own or Russ’s cooking.
    She smiled a little thinking about him and about how he and the others were doing at the fair. The girls better be behaving themselves. Then worry came over her, and she wondered if she shouldn’t call again to be sure Russ was keeping an eye on her daughters, especially Nicolette, who got foolish notions into her head.
    Joy pulled her phone from her pocket and was just about to call when movement from the corner of her eyes startled her. She jumped and gasped. “Russell, I didn’t realize you were here. You didn’t go with the others?”
    He patted his stomach. “Not feeling too well.”
    “Did you take something? I have the pink stuff in the fridge.”
    He nodded and thanked her. “It helped.”
    She turned back to the bowls with leftovers she had put on the table. “Would you like me to heat you some?”
    “No, thank you. Joy?”
    She tensed.
    “You’re not very trusting, are you?”
    She flicked her gaze to his. “What?”
    “I’ve noticed it watching you this last week.”
    She bristled. “I don’t see how—”
    “No, please don’t get offended.” He strode over and took the spoon from her hand. He began dishing out food onto a plate for her and covered it with a paper towel before placing it in the microwave. “What I first said when I got here still stands.”
    She gritted her teeth.
    “About my son.”
    She frowned. “What?”
    He faced her, that slight smile so like Russ’s on his face. “You don’t trust people, but if you give Russ half a chance, I know he’ll prove himself.”
    “Our situation is a bit different, sir.” She wanted to blurt out the truth and tell him he was right about her being Russ’s mistress. Somehow she thought that would hurt him. Russ’s parents obviously loved him very much, and they wanted to believe he was happy in his personal life. The knowledge hurt her because she knew her mother didn’t give a damn.
    “Russ proves himself every day,” she said and realized it was true. “He’s commanding, but he’s also soft and sweet.”
    Russell cringed at the word soft , and she laughed.
    “Do you love him?”
    Joy’s mouth fell open. “I...uh...”
    “It’s a simple question, Joy. Do you love my son?”
    “Mommy! Where are you?”
    Joy blew out a breath of relief. Denita hurtled into the kitchen with a stuffed purple dog that was bigger