Page 46 of From the Shadows

But intents are simply whims flying away.

It’s not chaos inside, but it’s not far off. Evie is awake and calling for me from her room, and Jess’s phone is blowing up, the buzz of a call starting again as soon as the last unanswered one stops.

“Shit.” She squirms until my dick falls free of her tight heat, and we both groan at the loss.

I press a kiss to her temple as she spins away from me to grab her phone. “What…? Now? No, not a problem, just not your normal timing.” She tugs her clothes back into place as she talks and gets started on her coffee.

I follow the summons from down the hall tucking myself away and zipping my pants. “Hold on, ma coccinelle,” I call as I veer into the bathroom to wash the sex from my hands.

Evie dances in her little crib when she sees me, her little feet marching in place, hands gripped tightly to the side rail, her cheeks nearly obliterating her eyes for how wide she’s smiling. My heart does the expanding thump it does only for her. Well, for her and Jess.

What the fuck happened? When did I become this version of myself—one filled with hope and love and thoughts of a familial future?

This is what I’ve worked so hard to avoid, and now I’ve gone and screwed that up again.

Evie talks my ear off while I change her diaper and get her dressed for the day. From the small bit I heard of Jess’s conversation, I’m going to have to find a back-up for my back-up with Evie or take her to work with me.

I check my girl’s diaper bag, but Jess has already refreshed all the necessary supplies in there, including a change of clothes and some new toys. Stacking cups, numbered and with the corresponding a small container of wooden lady bugs, sit in a side pocket of the bag. Jess is a much better mother to my daughter than the woman who gave birth to her.

I follow Evie to the kitchen and watch her one-sided game of hide-and-seek.

“Where Dessy?” she asks, brows pulled low and her palms in the air. The pipes clank as the shower turns on in the primary bathroom, and before I can grab her, Evie takes off down the hall. “Dessy hab tubby? Dessy tubby time?”

The door must be closed because Evie comes right back, and I go through the motions of getting her breakfast and packing a lunch and snacks for the day. She’s happily shoving scrambled eggs into her mouth when Jess returns in a rush.

Hair in a beautiful mess on the top of her head, tight white tank top, and her gray coveralls with the sleeves tied at her waist. Funny how for so long, this was the only way I ever saw her, wondering what the baggy, shapeless uniform hid underneath. And now I have intimate knowledge of every luscious inch.

“Good morning, Miss Ladybug. Are you having eggies?” Jess drops a kiss to the top of my daughter’s head and helps her scoop more of her breakfast onto a spoon. “Look at you go, big girl.”

Encouragement and compliments paired with care and affection. That’s what Jess does for Evie. Guiding her, rooting for her, teaching her little things without them seeming like lessons.

And she drops her hand to my ass, giving me a little squeeze as she pushes me away from her precious espresso maker. Silence hangs, not uncomfortable, but there, as she makes another high-caffeine beverage for herself.

“I got called in for a job,” Jess says, turning to lean against the counter next to me.

I steal the cup from her hand and take a sip. It’s like a bolt of electricity skittering through me. “How many shots did you put in that?” I only saw the two she just made, but likely there were already a few in the cup.

“No diversions; I don’t have time for such trivialities. I need to get my head back in the game. What do you need from me for the day?” Her gaze stays glued to Evie as she asks this.

“Nothing. Just be safe.”

“I’m leaving you in a lurch. Here”—she holds her cup of jet fuel out for me to take—“let me at least make lunch for the little bug. Her bag should be good, I restocked everything earlier, and⁠—”

I take the cup, setting it on the counter beside me, while simultaneously wrapping my hand around her wrist. “There’s no lurch, Jess. We’re good. I’ll take Evie with me to the office and try to work from home this afternoon. Not a big deal.” She reaches past me for her cup, swallowing down at least two hundred milligrams of caffeine. “Thank you for the resupply and for making yourself available. You bend over backward for me, and I appreciate it. But it’s never an expectation.”

“Been telling you for years I’d let you bend me over anytime.” She tosses out the snarky comment because that’s who she is, but she pauses and stares into my eyes. Her features shift, softening when she adds, “Seriously, though. I’m so sorry for the last minute deke. I’ll make it up to you if you tell Evie I miss her throughout the day.”

“Deal.” I press my lips to hers, simply wanting to convey appreciation, that I’ll miss her, that I love her. I’m not sure I’m ready to fully examine the last. But the kiss deepens, turning hot and leaving us both breathless when Jess finally pulls away.

“I need to go,” she murmurs, her usual bluster gone. After she gathers what she needs for the day, I watch her walk out of the house—out of her house—to go muck up remains.

I grab a quick shower and tidy the kitchen, then load Evie into my vehicle and go straight to the office. For all the hours I’ve been working lately, most of them have been at the estate or in Jess’s bungalow.

“Mr. Yore—and Miss Yore, I see.” My receptionist smiles at Evie, reaching out to hold her hand. “Let me get your messages and a fresh cup of coffee for you. Then I’m happy to entertain your little helper for a bit. Will Chantal be by later? Or Ms. Michaels?”

There’s no reason to hide anything, all filings outside of le Milieu go through this office and my petition for full custody will as well. “Chantal is on a leave of absence for the time being, and Amie⁠—”

“I’m just here for half the day—I put it on our calendar…”