Free Down and Out (Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter Book 3) by Lila Rose Page A

memory of touching myself while my boss's eyes had flashed in my mind.
    Kalen grunted and then looked over. "You look like shit. Did you get any sleep last night?"
    Sighing, my head dipped forward, eyes to the floor in shock at how rude he was. Did he seriously say that? How he ever starred in my twiddling fantasies was a surprise. I had to get my head checked.
    Actually, I hadn't got much sleep. The wind had been fierce the night before, and every noise made me jump out of my skin.
    "Charming as ever I see," I mumbled, ignoring his comment. "Did Judy get away okay?"
    "Yeah, fine." He went to spoon another bite to Koda, but he turned his head away and started grumbling. "He's been doing that since yesterday."
    Walking straight to Koda, I felt his forehead. "He seems a little hot. He could be coming down with something."
    "Shit."
    Without thought, my hand went to Kalen's shoulder when I said, "He'll be okay. We'll take good care of him." When Kalen glared down at my hand, I quickly removed it and stepped back.
    Over the last week, I'd noticed how consumed Kalen was with Koda. He worried over every little thing. It made me wonder if it was because something had happened to Kalen's wife. Still, I realised I overstepped my bounds touching him.
    He was a good-looking man. A woman would be crazy not to see it. But his coldness when his wall erupted around him was enough for me to know to steer clear of him, or I'd have my head bitten off. I wasn't there to help him; my responsibility was Koda.
    Going to the fridge, I grabbed out Koda's water bottle before saying, "If anything changes in Koda, I'll call you." Knowing I wouldn't get a response, I busied myself in the kitchen while he said goodbye to his son. Once he'd left, I went to Koda to pick him up out of his high chair.
    Quieter than usual, Koda leaned his head against my chest. He was definitely coming down with something.
    By the end of the day, Koda ended up with a blocked nose, watery, red eyes, and he'd become more irritable. He hated it every time I wiped his nose and even more when he couldn't breathe from it when it came to bottle and naptime. He didn't get much sleep at all. His appetite was small; all he wanted were soft things, which I realised when he pushed away his favourite cracker. No doubt he had a sore throat.
    Poor boy.
    Come five, I rang Kalen because after using his computer, I worked out what Koda would need for his cold.
    "Yo."
    "Kalen, it's me, Mena." His annoyed sigh was loud, so I went on before he could say anything. "Koda has come down with a cold. Can you pick some things up for him?"
    "Fuck. Yeah, what?"
    "Vapour rub for babies, a humidifier, the chemist should have them, and we'll also need a nasal aspirator."
    "Got it. Be back soon," he said before he hung up.
    Placing the phone down, I went back to Koda, picked him up from the floor, and sat him on my knee. He cuddled right in. "Daddy will be home soon, sweet boy, and he'll bring things that will help." It sucked an eight-month-old couldn’t have medicine to help with all the other pains, but if things didn't improve in the next day or so, I would ask Kalen to take him to the doctors.
    I heard the car pull in before moments later, the front door opened. "You didn't lock it again," he said with a growl before walking to us and leaning in to kiss Koda on his cheek. "Hey, buddy," he whispered in a soft tone that made my heart warm.
    Clearing my throat, I informed him, "Actually, Koda and I got up just before to unlock it for you since it's still pouring out there." His reply was a chin lift as he stepped back. I saw the worry in his eyes for his son. Standing, I said, "We'll take the stuff you got in his bedroom. He hasn't slept much today because his nose is all blocked. I think you may have a rough night ahead. How about I run him a nice warm bath with some lavender lotion mixed in it. It'll help soothe him while you set up the humidifier?"
    "Sure."
    Koda seemed to enjoy his bath at least. After