Chapter 25
“That was your brother,” Jules said as she disconnected the call and set aside her phone.
“Don’t tell me. He’s going to be later than expected, and we should eat without him?” Kelly asked as she drew a new set of letters from the Scrabble bag.
“Yeah. Should we order pizza for delivery?”
“Sounds good.” Kelly turned the game board to face Jules and asked, “What is Callum doing that’s keeping him away from his houseguest?”
“He wouldn’t say, other than department business that he had to personally handle.
But he took his gun and his badge and acted dodgy when I asked if it was dangerous business.
” Jules studied the Scrabble board while Kelly placed the order for a large pizza.
Finally, Jules played PAINT on the P of Kelly’s last word.
“Dodgy, huh?” Kelly said, picking up the thread of conversation expertly when she finished calling in their dinner order.
“Well, I know what it is to worry about loved ones on the job—” Kelly paused to record Jules’s score “—having three brothers in law enforcement and a firefighter. But if it’s any consolation, Callum is good at what he does. He doesn’t take unnecessary risks.”
Jules forced a grin and waggled a few fingers dismissively. “Oh, I’m not worried.”
Kelly angled a dubious look at her.
“Well, not too worried,” Jules amended. “I just don’t like being kept in the dark about what he’s doing.
” Shrugging, she tempered that comment. “Not that I’m keeping track of his business or—” She frowned at the Scrabble board where Kelly had just played QI on the IN of her PAINT.
“Qi? Now I know you’re making up words.”
Kelly laughed. “Look it up. It’s perfectly legit. And the Q is on the double letter, so I get it doubled both ways… And I’m out of letters, so…game over.”
“Ugh.” Jules rolled her eyes and stretched out on the sofa. “If you hadn’t brought cherry cobbler, I’d swear you came to torture me.”
“Speaking of…ready for a serving? There’s ice cream to put on top.” Kelly put the letter tiles back in the game box and stood.
“Now? The pizza hasn’t even gotten here,” Jules asked with a furrow in her brow.
“True. But the cobbler is still warm, and I’m starving. Besides, haven’t you heard? Life is short…”
Jules laughed. “Eat dessert first!”
Kelly flashed a mischievous grin, much like her brother’s. “Exactly.”
Jules started to get up. “I can come to the table.”
“No.” Kelly held up a hand. “I’ll bring it to you. Enjoy the pampering while you’ve got it.”
Kelly disappeared into the kitchen, and a moment later, Jules heard Kelly coo, “Oh, my goodness! Aren’t you precious? Where did this kitten come from?”
“Be careful!” Jules called. “She’s still pretty feist—”
Kelly strolled back into the living room with Joy curled against her chest, a docile ball of fluff. “Is it yours?”
Jules gaped. “How did you do that?”
“Do what?” Kelly stroked Joy’s fur with her fingertips, and a loud rumbling purr filled the room.
Jules shook her head and chuckled. “You’re the kitten whisperer. Joy’s been nothing but feisty since we trapped her.”
“Feisty?” Kelly kissed Joy’s head and walked over to Jules. “Not this little love, surely.” She handed the kitten to Jules, who cradled Joy on her chest. “You hold her while I get our cobbler.”
Joy stood and turned around once before settling down again and continuing to purr. Tears pooled in Jules’s eyes as she cuddled the kitten.
“You were just scared, weren’t you?” she whispered as she patted the fuzzy baby. Her heart swelled, knowing the kitten’s calm and loving behavior meant Joy felt safe now, could even be forming bonds with her people.
And why did Joy’s turnaround make her think of her own experience with Cal? Was she starting to feel safe in their relationship? Was she forming bonds with him and his family? Friendships, certainly. But was it more?
And what if the answer was yes? What did she do with that information?
“Here you go,” Kelly announced brightly as she returned from the kitchen with a bowl of warm cherry cobbler topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Jules took the bowl, then waffled as to how to eat it without disturbing Joy, who was now asleep on her chest. “Um…”
Kelly laughed. “Want me to move the kitten?”
“Not on your life! I’m loving this.” Jules propped the bowl beside her and took small bites, taking care not to jostle Joy or drip ice cream on the couch.
“So are things between you and Cal serious?” Kelly asked.
Jules sputtered and choked on her last bite of ice cream, startling Joy away and sloshing a bit of cherry juice on the sofa cushion.
Kelly set aside her dish and came over to help Jules sit up and dab at the cherry stain. “Sorry. That was rather blunt and out of the blue, wasn’t it? You can take the lawyer out of the courtroom, but…” She pulled an apologetic face.
“Is this a cross-examination?” Jules asked as she sat up and wiped her mouth on the napkin Kelly had given her.
“Not at all. Just a sister hoping her oldest brother has finally met someone who’ll love him and stick around. He deserves to be happy, and his last couple girlfriends weren’t in it for the long haul.”
Jules perked at mention of Cal’s past. They’d never discussed previous relationships, and knowing Cal had been let down twice before pierced her heart.
She hated to think of Cal getting hurt, yet…
she didn’t plan to stick around. If they were able to get Chase Hamilton off the street and Abby felt safe to resume her life outside the hospital, why would she and Abby stay in Red Grove?
When Jules didn’t answer, Kelly frowned. “I’m kinda protective of my brothers, I suppose. Not that they aren’t capable of taking care of themselves, but…” She shrugged. “Personal relationships are different, and I’ve already seen him hurt.”
“I have no intention of hurting Cal.”
“Then you have feelings for him? You plan on sticking around?” Kelly asked, brightening.
Jules’s stomach tightened, and she set aside her bowl of cobbler. “Um…”
“It’s just that I can see how much Cal cares for you. I think he’s got some real feelings for you. Serious feelings.” She paused. “And excuse my being blunt again, but…if you don’t feel the same way for him, I hope you’ll let him know now. Let him down gently and—”
“I do—” Jules blurted before she’d stopped to analyze what bubbled up from her core. “Uh…care about him. A lot. He’s been very good to me, and…” Her heart thrashed in her chest. What was she saying? Had she already fallen for Callum Colton?
Kelly leaned forward, her eyebrows lifting. “And?”
“I’m scared,” Jules admitted, her hands starting to shake. “Or I was. I don’t trust easily. Too many people have used and betrayed me in the past.”
“You can trust Cal. My brother is one of the good ones.”
Jules nodded. “I’m learning that. More and more every day.”
Joy waddled close to Jules’s foot, and she scooped the kitten up to hold in her lap.
She smiled as she ran a finger down Joy’s small back.
Like Joy, she’d begun to feel safe around Cal and the Coltons.
Optimistic. She’d begun to believe they would catch Hamilton.
Abby would get her life back. And she might—maybe—have found someone to build a relationship with, someone to love.
And the prospect of sharing herself with Cal didn’t frighten her. It gave her hope. It gave her joy.