Page 24 (1/2)

"Hope," she whispered She hopped down from the counter and Eli followed on her heels as she dashed down the hallway She opened the door to the baby’s roo quickly so his eyes would adjust to the di over the railing of her crib "Mess, Mama! Make awas lying in front of the dresser along with several picture frah hi, Eli couldn’t help but be a ring with an indulgent smile She left the roo it doith a paper towel

"I had to wash it off just in case there was any glass on it" She gave it back to Hope, who promptly stuck the end back in her mouth The broken pieces of the picture frames were deposited in the waste bin

"That’ll do it for now I’ll vacuum tomorrow"

Eli left the room so she could soothe the baby back to sleep He walked back to the kitchen and planted his hands on the counter The salt and pepper shakers were overturned, and there was a dish towel on the floor He picked it up and cleaned up the counter Now that his blood pressure had norlad they’d been interrupted His behavior that evening had been borne of jealousy, but it hadn’t been in Kay’s best interest

She wanted to find Mr Right and settle down Kay deserved that life She was an aive her the life she was uy A nice, noruy with a sense of humor and a nine-to-five Not an antisocial workaholic with a shady past He wanted that for her, even if the thought of it was like sing knives

If he wanted to do as best for Kay, he’d leave her alone

KAY PULLED THE door to her daughter’s room shut behind her She clasped her ar like they were re on end

The lights in the living room were low, and she looked around in confusion as she observed the perfectly tidy kitchen She walked a little farther and then stopped abruptly Eli lay on the couch, wrapped in the co

She stood there, stunned, for a few ue all over her skin a few o and noas asleep? She eyed the lump on the couch suspiciously Then her hands clenched into fists

"Don’t you dare pretend to be asleep!"

When he didn’t move, she stalked over to the couch and yanked the top layer of the comforter back Their eyes met and Kay’s heart sank Just as she’d suspected, Eli was fully dressed and wide-awake