12 #2
First and foremost, he needed her to know he was nothing like his father. He wasn’t abusive, wasn’t lazy, and would definitely
pull his own weight.
The only way he knew to do that was to stick to his original plan. He’d fix up his apartment, and once she was better able
to get around on her own, he’d move into the damned thing, too—just long enough to show her that he’d rather be with her.
He’d move in, but he wouldn’t stay there. By joining her in the morning for coffee, taking her to dinner—to restaurants and
to visit his family—he’d prove to her that he wanted to be with her. Shower alone when he could shower with her? Leave an
empty apartment when he could instead kiss her goodbye in the morning?
Hopefully, she’d get the message soon enough.
Sucked that she was trying to find ways to pretty up the place for him when he no longer wanted it. His overall plan had been
to rely on no one but himself. And he could—except the thought wasn’t as appealing as it once was.
Sure, he didn’t have the same financial status as the McCallahan family, but he wasn’t destitute, either.
He had a good job, a comfortable savings account, not a lot of bills, and a retirement portfolio.
He’d never be rich, but he’d ensured his future as much as he could, he had a solid plan, and now he wanted to prove to her . . . What?
“Kam,” she teased. “You’ve gone awfully quiet, and if you don’t get going, you’ll be late.”
Gently taking her face in his hands, he kissed each bruise that remained, then gave her another of the kisses she enjoyed,
putting his whole heart into it.
“Well,” she breathed when he let up. “I know what I’ll be thinking about all day.”
He smiled with her, but the worry remained. “The stitches will dissolve soon.”
“I know. I’ll be glad to be done with them.” Wrinkling her nose in that now familiar way, she said, “They itch.”
God, she was precious to him. “I’d take them for you if I could.”
“Don’t be a martyr.” A peck to his chin, then his throat, followed by a soft nuzzle, took away the insult. “I shouldn’t complain
so much. And you shouldn’t be late. Now go on before I get whiny.”
Concerned, he tipped up her face. “Are you feeling whiny?”
Her grin said otherwise. “Not really. I feel pretty good today, and I think it’s because I took action.”
“Don’t believe Mike.” Sure, the prick had sounded convincing, as if he’d been dealt the worst insult ever. Kam wouldn’t buy
it. In his gut, he knew Mike was involved in some way.
“I don’t. Not entirely. I’ll always be cautious when it comes to him, I promise. But at least I stopped sitting around worrying and actually did something. I have some other ideas, too—and no, I’m not going into them now. We’ll talk about it soon.”
Slowly, in halting steps, she urged him toward the door.
“Anxious to get rid of me?”
“To do some online shopping, actually.”
Unwilling to dim her smile, he took that one on the chin. “Do you need anything before I go?”
“I need you to stop worrying.”
“Let me worry. Let me take care of you.” Let me love you and let me make you mine. Swallowing down that sentiment wasn’t easy. “Swear you’ll call me if anything happens.”
“I swear.” Smiling, she paused in the doorway. Softly, she said, “Thank you for caring about me, Kam. You make my heart happy.”
Aw, damn. It took two quick breaths before he could say, “You make my heart happy, too.”
Glory closed the door, but he waited until he heard the lock. As he started out to his SUV, someone asked, “Moved in, huh?”
Kam turned, and spotted Nosy Old Lady Simmons, still in her flowered housecoat and slippers, standing on her front stoop.
“As much as she’d allow, ma’am.”
Wonder of wonders, the woman cracked a smile. “I hope you’re behaving.”
“Only as much as she makes me.”
At that, she cackled a laugh, waved him off, and headed inside.
Huh. Had he won over the neighbor? He’d take every bit of help he could get.
Once he was out of the driveway, he called Tanner.
“What’s up? Callie’s heading out in a few minutes.”
“I know; she told me. Glory’s home alone, so I’m glad she won’t be long.”
“Hold on.” Tanner muffled the phone, and when he came back, he said, “Callie will take off now.”
Relieved, Kam nodded. “I’m glad. Glory is hell-bent on doing things on her own, but if she so much as moves her pinkie, she
flinches.”
“Broken ribs are no joke.”
With that covered, Kam filled him in about the call to Mike. “He’s insane, and that makes him even more dangerous.”
“You think he’s still here in town?”
“Or somewhere nearby. He said he heard about her wreck from others talking in a store, so he’s not far.” In his gut, Kam knew
Mike was too obsessive to go back home and get on with his life—without Glory. His biggest fear was that the bastard would
never give up. “Think you could check around, see if anyone knows of the white car, or if they’ve seen Mike? I talked with
the cops, but they can’t be everywhere at once.”
“They’re better now. You know that, right? The cops who accused me back in the day . . . They knew my dad and made assumptions.
I guess the ill will from too many run-ins with him carried over to me. As an adult, I’ve dealt with a few of them on behalf
of kids, and they’re okay. They do what they can.”
Within the law. If Kam found Mike first, he’d deal out his own justice, and the law could have whatever was left. “Sure, I
get it. I’ll feel better if the people we know are also scoping out the area.”
“I’m on it. I’ll talk to Liam first, see if he’s able to place that white car.”
“Thanks. He and Nell might be going to Glory’s later to set up a run for PB. If he finds out anything, I’d rather he tell
me first.”
“Same. I’ll let him know. And, Kam, if you need anything, I’m here.”
Meaning if he planned to kick ass, Tanner wanted in on it? Grinning, Kam said, “Not the kind of day I have planned, but I appreciate the offer.”
He got to work shortly after that and finished up without a hitch. The customer was happy and wanted to chat, so that took
up a little more of his time. He’d been checking his phone every twenty minutes and, so far, hadn’t heard from Glory. He didn’t
want to pester her, not when he sensed she was waffling between wanting him around and wanting to live on her own. If he tipped
the scales, it’d be in his favor, not the other way around. She wanted some time alone, so he was determined to give it to
her.
Next was Putt-Putt with the kids, and he had to admit, he had a blast. The ages ranged from eleven to seventeen, with seven
kids in all, not counting Liam and Nell who helped to organize by pairing up with the older kids.
One of those kids, he couldn’t help but notice, looked miserable. Repeatedly, the boy cast his gaze at Kam. Each time, Kam
smiled back but it didn’t seem to help.
Shoulders slumped, clothes unkempt, and expression guarded, the boy looked as if he had more than he could handle. Several
times Kam saw him in whispered conversation with Liam. Hopefully, he could find out more about the situation soon. If he could
help in some way, he would.
Just then, a twelve-year-old girl swung at the ball and missed, and when some kids laughed at her, she looked ready to throw
the putter. Kam jumped in, soothing tempers and redirecting anger using the methods he’d learned while helping out with Tanner.
His own angry youth often gave him a good perspective to go by, but then, he hadn’t experienced it as a girl and had no idea
if her reactions would be the same. Hostile, yes. Petulant, most definitely. Yet, she also seemed keen to take part.
If Glory were here, she’d probably have some good insight, and if not—because he couldn’t quite imagine Glory ever hissing at anyone—then she’d likely be good at understanding.
Rather than single out the girl, Kam addressed all of them with his instructions. “Understand, I’m a lousy Putt-Putt golfer,
so I’m sharing what I’ve been told. There are plenty of times when I hit the ball too hard, not hard enough, bounced it in
the wrong direction, or missed it entirely.”
To his surprise, the girl rolled her eyes and then cracked a smile—with no hissing. He’d call that great progress.
The rest of the golf game went well. Even better when he took the kids to Ed and Ted’s for burgers and fries, the brothers
declared it was on the house, and even threw in scoops of ice cream all around.
While the kids all stuffed their faces, Ted called Kam over.
“This is above and beyond, Ted. I’m happy to pay if you—”
“Looks who’s talking about above and beyond.” He waved away the offer of payment. “I like what you’re doing, and I like that
your girlfriend suggested we take on some of the kids to mentor.”
Girlfriend. That seemed like such a bland, tame word for all the things he felt for Glory, but he couldn’t expect Ted to say “the love
of your life” or “the one who’s changed everything,” so he let it go. Leaning on the counter so he could keep an eye on the
kids, who now took up five booths on the far wall, Kam asked, “So that’s working out?”
“We have a gal helping Ed cook. She’s as cantankerous as him, so they keep each other entertained.
Also have a boy waiting tables after school, and another who helps clean up at night.
Can’t get a lot of kids to work so hard these days, but I swear, the ones recommended to us are great.
For the most part, they show up on time.
Got their first paychecks and acted like it was Christmas.
Made Ed and me want to do more.” He lowered his voice.
“The one who cleans up had a black eye a few nights ago. Worried me sick, but he wouldn’t tell me anything about it. Told me to mind my own business.”
Damn. That happened a lot, too often really. “Jot down the name for me and I’ll see how I can help.”
Having already written it out, Ted handed him the slip of paper and then clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks. You’re a good
man, Kam. One of the best.”
Even after Ted walked away, Kam stood there, left blank by the casual praise. He thought of Tanner as a good man. But himself?