First Kiss by Bernadette Marie Page B

words were had by my father about your ex-husband laying hands on her, not my father.”
    “You didn’t bother to come around for the past decade, but you’ll defend him?”
    He looked back at Olivia as she strapped Gage in. “Yes, I’d defend my father and I hope Gage will too, someday.”
    “I know that look in your eye. You’re thinking of snatching him up as if he were your own. Give him a name. Step in as the heroic daddy.”
    Of course he’d thought that. That’s what happened when you fell in love with a mother and her child. “He is mine.” And, in his heart, he felt that.
    Celeste’s eyes narrowed as though he’d completely confused her, but he found humor in that. As far as he was concerned now, no one else was left for Gage. And no matter what happened between him and Olivia, if Gage was in fact his father’s son, he’d take care of him forever.
    “My aunt told me you’d stopped by. Just so you know, Olivia is protesting the will. She doesn’t want what was left to her, and she plans to pay me back the money my father lent her.”
    “That sounds like her. Always too reasonable for her own good.”
    “You’re right. That sounds like her.”
    Celeste let out a sigh and looked out over the parking lot. “This town hasn’t gotten any better, has it? It’s still a dump.”
    “I think that is the charm of it.”
    She started back toward her room, and he walked with her. “You know, I think I’m having second thoughts about settling down here. She’s doing fine without me. Maybe I’ll come back around Christmas.”
    “I think she’d like that.”
    Celeste stopped before they’d reached her room. “I don’t know why you’d want to take on your father’s mess, but she’s always had a soft spot for you.”
    “I’m counting on that.”
    “You’ll be reconsidering it, I’m sure.”
    Celeste gave a wave to Olivia, who was already sitting behind the wheel of the car, and then closed herself back into her motel room. Cade was sure that was the last they’d see of her for a while.
    He opened the passenger door and climbed into the car.
    He looked at Olivia who sat there gripping the steering wheel, her eyes wide open and full of fear.
    “She’s here to see what she can get her hands on, isn’t she?”
    “I think she’d considered it,” Cade said as he turned and looked at the sleepy boy in the back seat. “I told her you planned to contest the will. She’s not interested in staying if you’re not profiting.”
    A tear slid down her cheek. “How is it possible I was born to that woman?”
    “We don’t get to choose who we are born to, but we can choose the families we keep.” She turned her head and looked at him. He might have said too much.
     
    Olivia pulled up in front of his house. The painters were cleaning up, and he was glad to know they’d be gone.
    “I’m going to pay these guys and get some things together. I’ll be over in a bit.”
    He watched her face tense. “Are you sure?”
    He shook his head. “I’m so confused right now that I can’t even wrap my head around what I’m feeling. But I know I want to spend the night with both of you. I need that.” He reached over and touched her cheek. “Besides, you and I still need to talk.”
    Olivia nodded and looked at Gage, who rubbed his eyes. “I’ll get him settled then.”
    “I’ll bring something for dinner.” He climbed out of the car and headed into the house.
    Cade paid the painters and packed a bag for the night. It might have been the dumbest idea in the world, but the need to spend one more night with Olivia was keeping him from thinking straight.
    He dropped his bag on the couch and looked down at the box he’d brought up from the basement. It had Gage’s name on it.
    He hadn’t thought too much about it at first, but when he’d looked at the note that was taped to it, he knew he had to give it to him. But it wasn’t his place to open it. He wasn’t like his aunt or Olivia’s mother. At