Full Contact by Tara Taylor Quinn Page A

needed more official resources and his access to them was in Miami.
    He thought about his son, too—about the most recent call from Kelsey. Jay knew nothing about kids, living with them or raising them. He had no idea what she thought he could do to help.
    Leaning to the left, he rounded a corner, comfortable with the powerful machine between his legs. He and the bike were one. Part of one body.
    And thinking of bodies…
    Ellen’s hands were on his shoulders. Their third time out and her touch was still tentative.
    She was enjoying the motorcycle, and, he hoped, learning to trust him so that they could move to the next stage of therapy—light massage. On top of her clothes.
    â€œCan we stop a second, I’m getting a call.” Ellen’s voice came through the buds in his ears.
    Pulling over to the side of the road, Jay guided the bike with his feet until they were far enough onto the shoulder to be safe.
    Ellen shifted behind him. “It was my mother.”
    He couldn’t miss the displeasure in her voice.
    â€œI have to call her.”
    Jay pulled the buds out of his ears when they crackled with Ellen’s movement as she removed her head gear. She got off the bike and he turned to watch her.
    She pushed one button and paced while she held the smartphone to her ear.
    â€œMom?”
    That was it, nothing else for what seemed an inordinately long time. He tried not to listen when Ellen eventually spoke.
    â€œYes, Beth was right. I’m riding on his motorcycle.”
    Beth? As in the sheriff’s wife? Jay wiped at the chrome on his handlebars with his thumb.
    â€œIt’s not like that, Mom.”
    Another silence.
    â€œMom, don’t do this to me.” Her voice was firm. “Yes.”
    More silence.
    â€œBecause I didn’t want you to do exactly what you’re doing. I made a decision. An educated decision.”
    Ellen paced in front of the bike. Then around it. She didn’t look at Jay, but she didn’t stray far, either.
    â€œI know. But you have to trust my judgment. I’m a grown woman.”
    He’d had a lot of attractive clients. He’d never had trouble maintaining the walls between the therapist and the man. What was it about this woman that raised these uncomfortable feelings?
    â€œNot anymore, I’m not. Besides, it’s therapy. He’s reporting to Shawna.”
    She was so damned beautiful and seemed completely unaware of that fact. Which had to worry her mother.
    Beautiful women didn’t usually get their hooks into him. So why did this one seem to be doing so?
    Was it the town? The loving environment that was so foreign to him? Was it the knowledge of Cole? The possibility of a family on the horizon?
    â€œI have to go. I had Jay pull over when my phone rang. I didn’t want you to worry.”
    He tinkered with the key in the ignition, the back of his neck burning as her voice grew closer behind him.
    â€œI know. But you undermine me when you don’t trust me.”
    Ellen had her head on straight. Jay had already figured that out.
    â€œI know,” she said. “I love you, too.”
    He heard the phone click closed seconds before the bike took her weight. Securing his earbuds, Jay didn’t turn around as Ellen fidgeted then said, “I’m ready.”
    â€œEverything okay?” he asked as he rolled the bike toward the road, checking for oncoming traffic. “Yeah.”
    He didn’t pursue the subject further. He had to trust that she knew the situation well enough to know.
    Â 
    â€œS O WHAT IS IT THAT you have to tell me?” Ellen stood in her mother’s kitchen that afternoon, after work. She was still holding on to the joy of her day, reluctant to discuss anything that would crush it.
    The residents at the center had been in particularly high spirits as they’d played bingo for brownies. And Hugh had joined them. For the first time since he’d moved in.
    He’d