Free Losing to Win (Clearwater) by Marissa Dobson Page B

the
sleeping child. “I was thinking…why don’t we take her home with us?”
    “What?” His voice rose, shock
clear in his tone.
    “Hear me out.” She rested her
hand on his arm. “The rest of the family will be joining you in a week or two,
three max. Why not bring her with us now. She needs you.”
    “I’m still at Cameron’s. I
can’t spring a kid on them. Even if I could, there’s no room.”
    She took a deep breath,
wondering how he would feel about her next statement. “You could stay at my
place. I have a guest room. Kelly can sleep there.”
    “I have to work. The shop
isn’t the best place for a child.”
    “I’m part time at
Express-Ohh’s. I’ll watch her while you’re at work, and when we both have to
work we’ll make arrangements. It’s only temporary. We can make it happen.” She
rubbed his arm. “I know seeing Kelly so upset breaks your heart. If your mom is
okay with Kelly coming with us, then why not? It will give Lee and Laya a break
as well.”
    “You’re sure you want to do
this?”
    “I wouldn’t have offered if I
didn’t. We’ll find your mom a great rental, and everyone will be together in a
few weeks.”
    He wrapped his arms around
her, squeezing her tight. “Thank you.”
    * * *
    By the time they arrived at
Rebecca’s apartment, Kelly was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes
open. JC turned to Rebecca, catching a glimpse of Kelly from the corner of his
eye. She was stretched out across the backseat, asleep. “I’ll take her up, tuck
her into bed, and then I’ll come back for our bags.”
    “The bags are light, I can
grab them.”
    He glanced back at Kelly, the
muscles in his shoulders tightening. “Are you sure about this? I could get a
room for us at Winterbloom.”
    “Stop worrying. I want you
both here.” Rebecca laid her hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Now come on, she needs to be in bed.”
    He nodded, opened the truck
door, and stepped around to the passenger’s side. She stumbled as she stepped
out of the truck. His shaft hardened as her chest brushed against his. His body
itched to hold her in his arms, to touch her. There was no doubt that he had
fallen head-over-heels in love with her. It just wasn’t the time to make his
feelings known.
    He reached in the backseat,
pulling Kelly into his arms. She didn’t stir or even bat an eye. He turned to
see Rebecca with the bags in her hand. “I told you I’d get those.”
    “It’s fine. Let’s go inside. I
want a hot bath and a glass of wine before bed.” She stepped away from the
truck and toward the door that led to her apartment.
    JC bit his tongue, refusing to
force the issue. It wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t handle the bags, his
mother had taught him to respect women. Carry their bags, open doors, and be a
true gentleman every time. Tonight he’d let Rebecca have her way. It had been a
long day of travel, and morning would arrive before long. All he wanted to do
was relax, hopefully with Rebecca in his arms. Tomorrow he had to get back to
work and find a rental house.
    Opening her apartment door,
Rebecca stepped aside for him to enter. “The guest room is the first door on
your right as you go down the hall. I’ll bring the bags and a nightlight for
the room.”
    Kelly woke as he headed down
the hall. “Shh, sweetie.” He rubbed her back.
    “Where are we?” Her voice was
a soft whisper and her eyes were still shut.
    “We’re at Rebecca’s. I’m going
to put you to bed, so you can get some sleep.” He kept his voice low. Stepping
into the guest room, he realize it would be the first time Kelly ever slept by
herself. The only bedroom she ever had was shared with two other sisters. If
she awoke before morning it was going to be a rude awakening in a strange room
all alone. He wondered if he should sleep in here with her and decided the sofa
would be better, in case his nightmares plagued him.
    The creamy white walls and
ebony queen bed showcased the