Just One Kiss by Carla Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page B

can’t even accidentally fall.”
    â€œOkay. Sounds good,” she agreed.
    â€œWhy don’t you bring Nate and then come back for the pizza,” he suggested. He started down the hallway. “Come on, the deck is off one of the bedrooms.”
    â€œHow many bedrooms do you have?” she asked as she followed him with Nate in her arms.
    â€œThree,” he replied. He went past one closed door, then another, then turned into his own bedroom. It was a large room with sliding glass doors that led out to an oversize deck overlooking the beach.
    He often sat out there in the evenings, watching darkness steal away the blue sky, fighting sleep that all too often was filled with tormenting dreams.
    Although his bed was not made, the room was relatively clean. Sleep was the only activity that took place here. He opened the sliding glass door and gestured her outside.
    â€œOh, this is beautiful,” she exclaimed, her eyeslighting with pleasure as she took in the ocean scene before her. Jack felt a momentary pride. “You have such a beautiful home, and this view is magnificent.”
    â€œDon’t get scenery like this in Kansas City, do you?”
    She smiled and put Nathaniel down. “Unfortunately not. Why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll go get the pizza and something to drink.”
    â€œBeer for me,” he replied. “And if you don’t want a beer there should be some soda in the fridge.” He eased down into one of the chairs.
    It had definitely been a good idea to come outside to eat. He wouldn’t be able to smell Marissa’s perfume out here. The light breeze was rife with the scents of salt water and seaweed. Hopefully the fresh air and warm sunshine would banish any lingering rush of desire he’d experienced for Marissa.
    Nathaniel stood and toddled over to Jack. “Nose,” he said, and touched the end of his own nose.
    â€œYeah, kid, you tried to break mine.”
    â€œEar.” Nathaniel grabbed his ear.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Trying to show me how smart you are?” Before Jack could block it, an image unfolded in his mind…the vision of another little boy, a boy with dark hair and brown eyes.
    Bobby. His son. Bobby had enjoyed playing the same game Nathaniel was playing. He’d point to his ears, his eyes, his nose, then to his tummy.“Tummy,” he’d say, and pull up his shirt to expose the rounded potbelly. That was Jack’s cue to tickle Bobby and he’d tickle that sweet little belly until Bobby was giggling with delight.
    Emotion rose inside Jack, filling his throat. He stared out at the ocean, the view shimmering with the burden of thick, choking sentiment.
    He tensed as Nathaniel moved closer to him, leaning his sturdy body against Jack’s leg. The little boy laid his head against Jack’s side and a chubby hand patted Jack’s cast.
    Jack nearly came undone. He wanted to shove Nate away to escape the emotions that exploded inside him. He wanted to grab him up and hug him, revel in the sweet scent of babyhood that still clung to him, lose himself in the emotions that exploded inside him.
    He moved a hand across the top of Nate’s head, feeling the silky-soft baby hair. He closed his eyes, fighting the waves of pain that assaulted him.
    Bobby…Bobby, where are you? The question called from deep within his soul.
    â€œHere we are.”
    Marissa’s voice pulled Jack back from the abyss of his grief. His eyes snapped open and he dropped the hand that had been caressing Nate’s head.
    â€œJust in time,” he said, his voice gravelly and deeper than usual.
    She carried the pizza box topped with two bottles of beer, two glasses and a tippy cup filled with whatappeared to be grape juice. “Is he hurting your leg?” she asked as she set the tray on the table.
    â€œNot yet, but I don’t take anything for granted where he’s concerned.” He breathed a