bus.”
“But I always stop and see Rick on the way home.”
It was on the way, Amy had to admit, though she didn’t say it out loud.
Slowly, Jace rose to his feet, and Amy’s heart quickened. He was so tall she had to tip her head back to look at him. The shoulders she’d been admiring earlier blocked the entire world from her view.
She moved closer to Katie. “Let’s head home.” She tried to guide her by the shoulders.
“But, Mama, can’t I stay? You can take my backpack home. You know where I am.”
“You need to change into your play clothes.”
“Can I come back?”
“I don’t think—”
“You go on with your mom. I’ve got to go get some, uh, more stuff,” Jace interrupted, blatantly lying to Katie.
What was he trying to do? Amy was doing just fine taking care of her daughter. She didn’t need his help.
“Okay.” Katie’s voice dipped with disappointment and she seemed to wilt. Amy could swear she actually saw the gears work in her daughter’s head. She watched Katie’s head snap up and her smile return. “Will you be here tomorrow?”
“Katie.”
“Sure.”
Amy and Jace both spoke at once. Katie looked back and forth between the two of them expectantly.
Amy scrambled for any reason to give her daughter that made sense. All she got was a whole lot of blank. Only the fact that he was a stranger. A very disturbing stranger. A stranger she had questions for.
“Please, Mama? I really like the motorcycle.”
Oh, Katie was in high gear today. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” Amy said before thinking. In one statement she’d made her daughter frown and obviously insulted the man.
“Mama. Can’t I? Please?”
Jace stood there, silent, regarding them with a guarded expression.
“Katie, little girls don’t usually work on motorcycles.” Amy tried again.
“She’s no problem, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” she snapped. Katie and Jace both stared at her.
He leaned back, wiping his hands on the already greasy rag. “Ah,” he finally said, with a chagrined look on his face. “It’s not Katie, it’s me.” He turned slowly and tossed the rag into the bucket beside the workbench. He didn’t look at her, instead lowering his gaze to Katie. “Go on with your mom, kiddo,” he urged softly.
“But, Mr. Jace...”
“Katie, it’s okay.” His voice sounded sad and soothing all at the same time.
Amy found her voice. “Go on, Katie. I’m right behind you.”
“Okay.” Katie dragged out the word with a sigh. “Thanks, Mr. Jace.” She headed to the door as if her tennis shoes were suddenly weighted down.
Amy waited until Katie had cleared the doorway. Then she turned on him. How dare he interfere in her life so easily?
“Don’t even say what you’re thinking.” Jace bit out the words and stalked over to the bike. He turned his back on her and knelt beside it, dismissing her.
“She’s too young for this. I don’t want her to know anything about my father.”
Jace spun around all too violently. He didn’t stand, but he somehow managed to intimidate her. “Do you really think I’d do something like that?” He finally uncoiled, rising to his full height again, towering over her. “She’s a great kid. I’d never, ever hurt her, and if you choose not to believe that, you can go to hell. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
“I don’t even know you. But you come here, butting into my life, without being asked, telling me about a father I never knew.” Amy took a deep breath, waiting for him to say something. He remained silent. “You have no right.”
“He was a good man,” Jace whispered.
“Men who abandon their families and end up dying homeless on the streets are not good men, Mr. Holmes.”
Jace didn’t return to the big motorcycle, but stalked out into the desert sunlight. She watched him go, hearing his boot heels echoing on the cement long after he’d
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