Free Bourne to Love Emma (RED-Stone Operatives Book 1) by MacKenzie K. Paxton

his hands on my shoulder and
crouched down enough to put us at eye level.  “Emma.  Go.  Change pants.  Bath
in ten minutes.”  He turned me around and gave me a gentle push toward my own
room.
    I went.
    I set Mia on my bed and dashed to get
dressed.  I grabbed a hair tie off my nightstand and pulled my hair into a
quick, messy ponytail.  What I really wanted was to brush my teeth, but that
was impossible with him in the bathroom….
    I picked Mia back up and snuggled her
close as she cried.  She was so miserable.  I walked with her to the kitchen
and took her temperature again.  102.4. 
    “Okay, kid.  Let’s get you some
medicine.”  As I was measuring her dosage while balancing her on my hip, Jason
walked past me carrying an armful of wet towels.  He threw all of them into the
washing machine, opened the cabinet for detergent and started the washer.  His
jeans were wet at the knees and the neckline of his shirt was damp from sweat. 
There had never been a sexier man in my life.  Ever.
    “I’ll have maintenance bring a fan
for the carpet in the hallway.  But the bathroom is good to go.”
    “Thank you so much.”
    He started walking to the door, so I
followed him.  When we got here, he turned and put his hands on my shoulders
again, giving me a squeeze.
    “Are you going to be okay?”
    I nod.
    “I’ll be out most of the day, but
I’ll be back around seven.  If you need anything from the store or anything,
text me.  Okay?”
    “Okay.”
    I stand completely still as he leans
in and presses a kiss to my forehead before he runs a hand down Mia’s back. 
    “Hope she feels better.”
    “Thanks, Jason.  For everything.”
    He smiled as he stepped out into the
hallway.
    I knew he would wait outside until I
lock it.  So I just stood there….
    “Emma…” I heard through the door.
    I laughed softly and slid the
deadbolts home.
    “I heard that.”  There was laughter
in his voice.  “I’ll talk to you later.”

Chapter 7
    ~Emma~
     
    A few hours after Jason left us,
Carla showed up with lunch and held Mia so I could take a shower and catch up
on my work e-mail.  Jason had stopped at her apartment before he left to let
her know I was struggling and asked her to check in with us.  Carla smirked
when she told me about it and the sparkle in her eye told me she was all for
the two of us being “together.” 
    “Miguel says Jason is a good guy. 
Navy man, yes?  You should ask for pictures.  Men in uniform are why cameras were
invented.”  She laughed when I just gaped at her.
    “What?  I might be old, but I’m not
dead!  He is very handsome.  And he looks at you like he wants to eat you up. 
You look at him the same way.” 
    I just shook my head at her. 
“Carla.  Are you matchmaking?  I’ve only known Jason for a little while.  He’s
a nice guy, but I don’t think he’s interested in me that way.”
    “Hmmm,” was her response. 
    “Let me send out a few of these by
e-mail and I’ll be good for the day.  Maybe twenty minutes?”
    “That’s fine.  No hurry.”  She had
Mia on her shoulder and bounced her as she walked around the apartment humming.
    When I finished dealing with work, I
took Mia from her and thanked her again.  She promised to check on us again tomorrow. 
She winked and said she’d bring lunch again, so I shouldn’t make anything. 
    I called Heather and cancelled our
dinner plans since Mia was so sick.  Heather told me about some stuff going on
at the bar and reminded me that I’d owe her a raincheck for cancelling our
standing girls’ night.  I laughed and promised we would do something as soon as
Mia was feeling better.
    By dinner time, Mia was burning up
and crying pitifully no matter what.  Her fever was over 102.  I read online
about alternating medicines since she’d had acetaminophen just an hour before
and her fever was still too high.  Finally, I called the doctor’s office.  The
after-hours on-call doctor called me back