Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5)

Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5) by Morgan Kearns

Book: Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5) by Morgan Kearns Read Free Book Online
Authors: Morgan Kearns
bed.”
    “But I’m not tired.” He rubbed at his eyes.
    “And that’s why you were sound asleep when I came back down?”
    “I wasn’t asleep.”
    Ian tipped his head, cocked one brow. “What’d we say about lying?”
    Chase righted himself. “ So maybe I was asleep, but I’m not now and it isn’t ten yet.”
    He debated letting the kid stay up, but there was no way of getting the miniature tank to bed if he pulled another dead-weight on the couch. ‘Cause if Ian couldn’t lift him, no way in hell could Kayla.
    “Listen, man, I’ll make you a deal. As long as you’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed you can camp out until ten. But the second your eyelids get droopy, you’re done. You weigh a ton .”
    Chase laughed. “Yeah, I weigh more than I look.”
    “No kidding.” He plopped down next to his mini cohort. “Do we have a deal?”
    Terse nod. “Yep. No sleeping. Got it.”
     
    A nd yet two hours later, when Kayla walked into the living room, Ian and Chase were dead to the world. She grinned. Ian looked just as young and innocent as Chase. Her son curled up on one side of the couch while Ian had flattened out the recliner on his side of the couch, his feet crossed at the ankles, his arms over his chest.
    The television softly played F.R.I.E.N.D.S .
    “What’s a ven-er-e- al disease?” Sadie asked.
    Horror washed over her and she whirled on her daughter. “Where’d you hear that?”
    She pointed at the TV. “What is it?”
    Kayla grabbed at the remote and turned off the television. “You’ll learn about that when you’re older.”
    “Like learning what a MILF is?”
    Ian’s soft chuckle interrupted her eyeroll. “Where’d she hear that?”
    Sadie smiled, big and wide. “That’s what Daddy used to call Mommy.”
    “That’s a great nickname ya got there, Kay.” His laugh mocked as well as humored.
    “What does it mean, Ian?”
    “Just like VD, you’ll learn about that when you’re older.” He lowered his legs, snapping the recliner closed. “Lemme see your head, love.”
    Thankfully , she forgot all about MILFs and VDs as she ran over to Ian. She pushed her hair out of the way. “You can’t see it because of the Band-Aid, but I got four stitches!”
    Ian dropped down to one knee, bringing himself down to her level. “Shut up! Four stitches? Dang, you’re bra- You were brave, weren’t you?”
    “Yeah. Mostly.” She glanced at Kayla for verification. “I only cried a little when they gave me the shot.”
    Kayla smiled at her daughter. “You were very brave, sweetheart. It’s time for bed now.”
    She nodded at her mother then threw her arms around Ian’s neck. “I’m glad you were still here.”
    “I’m glad I was here too. Goodnight, Sadiebug.”
    She hurried up the stairs, half crawling when she stumbled.
    Kayla picked up a couple of toys and set them on the coffee table. “Thanks, Ian. I’m sure you had better things to do than watch my kids.”
    “Nope. Didn’t have any plans at all.” He shook his head and glanced over at Chase. “Ah, man. I told him no sleeping allowed.”
    “He weighs a ton.”
    “Yeah, he does. Wh at the hell are you feeding him? Concrete?”
    She heard herself laugh and the noise s urprised her. It’d been way too long. “He’s always been like that. There’s a lot of weight jamb-packed in that kid’s body.”
    “ I’m going to leave him right there.”
    “That’s a wise plan. Wouldn’t want you straining something.”
    His expression went offended. “Are you saying I’m a wimp? ‘Cause I’m no wimp.” He flexed the bicep on his right arm. “I totally could get that little brick shithouse up to his bed.”
    “And give yourself a hernia for your trouble.” Her face sure felt strange. She touched her cheek, felt her dimple. Well, hell, she was smiling. The idea of being happy scared her.
    Back in the old days women mourned their husbands, wore black and a frown for a year. And here she was grinning and laughing after only

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