Page 73 of Broken
“I’ve gotta find a place to stay.”
“Let’s get this guy something to eat, then we can figure out logistics.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home,” he replied.
She walked over to Ethan who’d been staring at all the identical SUVs. “Ethan, I’ll see you back at Uncle Prescott’s house, ‘kay?”
He hurried over and hugged her legs. “Bye, Jack.”
Love washed over her. “I had fun riding in Prescott’s airplane with you. You did a great job.” She laid her hand on his small head.
He let go and walked over to Prescott, then tucked his small hand into the larger one. Prescott helped him into the truck, then got in himself.
Jacqueline started up the vehicle, adjusted the seat and mirrors, then backed out after him. She tapped the remote built into the visor and the giant door closed. Once it touched down, Prescott drove away, Jacqueline on his tail.
As she followed him onto the main road, she thought about who she could stay with. She had three options.
First, her brother Keith and sister-in-law Naomi. Staying in their small house, along with their puppies, might be a lot for them, especially since she had no idea how long this assignment would last.
Next option? Her sister, Leslie. She lived in a large house with ample room. Then, she remembered Leslie’s musician friend. She had no idea if he was staying there or had just stopped by. Her challenge would be dealing with her social-media-obsessed sister.
Her third option was renting an Airbnb.
While her mom and dad had room for her, staying with them wasnotan option. She adored them, but she couldn’t live with them. She just needed a place to crash, so she’d check with Leslie first.
Prescott turned into a neighborhood. Her brain skidded to a stop at the size of the estate homes lining both sides of the tree-lined street. A few more short turns and he pulled into the long driveway of a massive, two-story estate.
Wow, that’s impressive.
The light gray stucco front had a double-wide front door with a roof overhang supported by two columns. Instead of driving around to the side and parking in the three-car garage, he stopped out front and cut the engine. She sat there staring at the magnificent structure that had over a dozen front-facing windows. While the grounds were perfectly manicured, she couldn’t stop gawking at the house.
This is idyllic.
For a split second, she wondered what life would be like if she lived there with him. Would they get along? Would she fit into his life? Would he fit into hers? Sexually, they were a great match. Professionally, their one encounter had been a complete disaster.
She was about to put their professional lives to the test again.
Here we go.
As she approached Prescott, she checked him out. He was easy on the eyes… too easy. When he turned in her direction, she spied a vulnerability she’d never seen before. He took a few steps in her direction before Ethan plowed into him.
“We need to buy you a football, Ethan. Do you have one at your house?”
“Nuh-uh. I have a soccer ball.”
“Let’s have breakfast, we’ll help Jack get situated, then we’re gonna grab some toys from your house.”
Ethan stared up at him. “Is my mommy there?”
His shoulders dropped, his smile fell away. He squatted. “No, she’s not.”
“But I want to see her!”
“I know. I wish I could make that happen, but I can’t.”
“When I have a tummy ache, she gives me magic medicine and it makes me all better. Can we do that to her?”
