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The tree in his childhood hoifts wrapped by the department stores before they even ht about it, Jack wondered if his father had ever gone out and shopped for him and Katie, or had he sent his secretary to do the job? Probably the latter Yet that had changed in the last few years, which was a good thing Gaylord had never been cruel, just clueless about his children

Jessica had created a hoht be s on the worn sofa felt as comfortable as any leather variety he’d ever had the pleasure of planting his butt on

The news announced the tihts to where Jessie was and what she was doing A cloud of worry stretched over his earlier happy thoughts She ht not be out with Braaad if Jack had revealed certain truths about himself

Part of him wanted to tell her the truth, and the other part reh to date, spend time with, make love to, that he’d never truly know if it was his uilt in her eyes when she’d said she was going on a date with that loser had said so ht He sht Without a doubt, there was heat in Jessie’s gaze when she looked at him He felt it every damn time he was around her Someone upstairs really should offer hi for the restraints he’d placed on hihed in his sleep; a little drool fell from the boy’s mouth and onto Jack’s pants

Jack was about to pick the boy up and put hi in the lock of the door

Jessie walked in with her eyes to the floor She held her shoes in one hand and the keys and her purse in the other She turned toward the door and secured the dead bolt and the chain lock without even realizing Jack was there

She rested her head against the door and dropped her shoes to the floor "God, Monica, you won’t believe this date"

Jack was proud to say that Jessie’s tone didn’t sound happy or dreaaze She let out a quick squeal and stifled it before it became a full-on scream Her hand flew to hera finger to his lips, Jack said, "Shh, Danny’s worn out"

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a curt, hushed tone

Chapter Ten

"Let me put him to bed," Jack whispered before he lifted Danny into his strong arainst his chest, and walked to Danny’s roo faster than a jackrabbit’s What was Jack doing in her apartment, and where in the world was Monica?

Two hours earlier, Jessie had realized she’d left her phone at home and nearly asked to use the restaurant phone to call in Instead, she kept on with the disaster of a date until she couldn’t handle it any longer

Standing in the doorway, Jessie watched Jack tuck Danny in bed as if he’d done so a hundred ti Tex, the snake, with him

Jack silently tiptoed away and squeezed between Jessie and the door before standing in the hall She closed the door andhere?" she asked again