Chapter 7
SEVEN
After the tech confirmed there weren’t trackers on their cars, Clara greenlit Linc’s plan to have an officer drop Kendra’s car at her apartment while they went to his friend’s house. Kendra didn’t get a say and couldn’t even go by her apartment to get a change of clothes or a toothbrush. She was now going to be confined with her client’s child—that part she was okay with—but also with Bri’s alpha brother.
“I hungry.” Jalen batted his long lashes at Linc as he buckled him in his booster seat.
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Hot dog with French fries and ketchup.”
“Big surprise.” Linc raised his gaze to Kendra. “Will’s Grill okay with you? I doubt there’s food at Dev’s place.”
“Sure.” It beat fast food.
“We’ll eat, and then you and I can build a fort in Mr. Devin’s living room.”
“Do I get to sleep in the fort?”
“You sure do.”
“Can Champ come?”
“We left him at home, so not tonight. We’ll bring him on our next camping trip,” Linc promised.
“When’s Mommy coming home?” Jalen asked.
“She’s still on her trip,” Linc said.
“Where’s Grams?”
“She wasn’t feeling well. But you’ve got me.”
There was a definite catch in Linc’s voice. Instead of his usual alpha warrior posture, he seemed like a regular human. One with vulnerabilities—at least when it came to kids. His patience in answering Jalen’s barrage of questions made him attractive in a way Kendra had not counted on.
After they picked up their food, Linc drove to a neighborhood of mostly brick ranch homes close to the base. He got out and punched in the code on the keypad of the detached garage, then parked inside next to a sleek, red motorcycle. A sporty, metallic blue sedan occupied the right side of the garage.
The inside of his friend Devin’s house was clean and decorated in a contemporary style. This guy liked nice things. It didn’t jive with what she knew about Army salaries. She wondered what Linc’s home looked like.
“You can have the main bedroom.” Linc pointed to the open door before placing the bags of food on the kitchen table. He moved to the cabinet and removed plates.
“No need to dirty plates. We can eat out of the boxes,” Kendra offered.
Linc’s head jerked slightly, and the muscles in his back tightened. He turned and set the plates on the table. “We’re worth it,” he said tightly.
“I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s okay,” he cut her off.
Clearly, it wasn’t. Dammit. He projected such confidence that she hadn’t anticipated his self-worth issues. But it was an issue common to former foster youth.
“What was the best thing you did at school today?” Linc waited until Jalen had taken a few bites to ask.
His little face scrunched up as he thought. “I did the obsacle course four times!” He held up four fingers.
Kendra smiled at the way he pronounced obstacle.
“Way to go, J-man. Did you pay attention during story time?”
Jalen gave an impish grin as his answer.
“Jalen,” Linc warned.
“It was a loonng story.” The kid drew the word out in a whine.
“Do you remember what the book was about?”
His mouth scrunched up, and he shook his head.
“You owe me a fry then.” Linc reached for Jalen’s French fries.
Jalen quickly pulled his plate close and covered it with his arms. “You have fries.” He scowled.
“Yeah, but yours taste better.” Linc held out one of his fries to Jalen, who dunked it in ketchup. “See?”
Jalen thoughtfully selected one fry and held it out. When Linc took a bite, Jalen laughed.
The way Linc engaged Jalen had Kendra’s mind going places that would only end in disappointment—or worse. The realization that she was confined to this house with no real means of transportation made her chest tighten. She didn’t have a choice. Even Clara agreed this was the safest option. She intentionally slowed her breathing. Linc wouldn’t try anything, not with Jalen here.
In less than twenty-four hours, she’d gone from doing her usual thing as a social worker to being targeted by people associated with drug smugglers. That was insignificant compared to Jalen, who didn’t know about either his mother or his grandmother. They’d taken him out of his familiar place and routine. Linc was here now, but what would happen with Jalen if something happened to Bri?
While she understood Linc wanted to help Bri, she needed to talk him out of his crazy ass plan to go to Mexico on his own. Even if Clara was right and he was in Delta—which was impressive—he needed to leave this to the proper authorities. Once Jalen was in bed, she could launch her battle plan.
Before she could clear their plates after they ate, Linc collected them and carried them to the sink.
“I’ll do the dishes,” Kendra offered.
“I got it. I said we’d use them. Besides, you’re being inconvenienced already.”
Jalen came to Linc’s side with the hand towel as he rinsed the plates. “I help.”
Despite turning her down, Linc handed him one.
“I can help around the house,” Jalen sang.
“Good job, J-man.”
“If I help Mommy, I get to watch a show. Can I watch Bluey ?”
“We’ll see if we can find it on the T.V. After we build the fort.”
“Yay.” Jalen nearly dropped the second plate.
While she imagined Linc’s friend would love coming home to find preschooler shows on his recently viewed list, all Linc was doing with Jalen upped his relatability and appeal.
After finishing the dishes, Linc raided Dev’s linen closet for spare sheets and blankets. When he carried out the sawhorses, she did a double take.
“Where did those come from?”
“The second bedroom. I was helping him with some renovations before we deployed.”
She pulled out her laptop while he set up the sawhorses. He brought over two of the kitchen chairs, then draped a blanket over one side and anchored it with some books from the shelves on either side of the wall-mounted television. After he finished covering it, they had a fort far better than the blanket draped over two card tables she and her sister and cousins used to make.
He put a folded blanket down on the floor and added some pillows before Jalen crawled in.
“Come in, Uncle Linc,” he pleaded.
Linc got on his hands and knees and crawled in.
Kendra’s body temperature rose, and her ovaries came dangerously close to exploding. With his incredibly good looks, charming smile, muscular body and arms, intelligence, and love for kids, how was this man still single?
She shook her head as if that could dispel the thoughts going through her brain. Linc Porter was military and not the man for her. For all she knew, he might have a girlfriend. Not that she was going to ask. This arrangement was just for a day or two, then she’d resume her regular life, and he’d return to his.
As much as she detested the initial online matching process, once she was no longer a possible target of a drug cartel, it would be time to start thinking about dating again. She loved helping others but wanted her own family—a husband and kids.
Marcus hadn’t been the right one—even though it broke her family’s heart. But Prince Charming wasn’t going to randomly knock on her door. She had to put herself out there.