Juniper Hill (The Edens #2)(39)

“There’s my favorite guy.” She smiled at him as she unsnapped him from his seat. In no time, he was in her arms, kicking his legs with a smile of his own.

“Here’s his bottles and more diapers.” I hung the diaper bag on Drake’s designated hook.

Jill didn’t even spare me a glance.

I walked over, touching Drake’s hand. “Have a good day, baby. I love you.”

Jill spun him so that he was out of my reach.

My heart twisted but I backed away, easing out of the room. My strides were slow and sluggish. So much of me wanted to go in there, get my son and never set foot in this building again.

“Is that the one living with Knox Eden?”

That question stopped me cold.

“Yep.” Jill popped the p, the disdain in her voice as bright as the yellow color on the walls.

“There’s another single mom looking for a daddy. I guess if I were her, I’d go after the richest bachelor in town too.”

I cringed. This was what people were saying about me? That I was after Knox for his money? Humiliation crawled up my skin, red and itchy. My cheeks flamed.

It took all of my strength to keep walking. Because while these women were awful to me, Jill at least loved my son. And for today, I didn’t have any other options.

I had to get to work for my shift.

For the first time in weeks, I didn’t park beside Knox’s truck, choosing a space much farther away. After punching my time card, I went straight for a cleaning cart, skipping my regular cup of coffee and quick hello to Eloise at the front counter. Did she think I was here to chase her brother?

I was waiting at the staff elevator when footsteps sounded in the hallway. Knox was walking my way, a notepad and pen in his hand, his white chef’s coat sleeves pushed up his forearms.

He smiled.

A smile so handsome I wanted to cry.

The elevator opened. I looked away, pushed the cart inside and rode to the fourth floor with my eyes squeezed shut.

The phone in my back pocket rang as I unlocked the first guest room door. I pulled it out, hoping that it was daycare with some reason why I had to leave and get Drake. Today, I didn’t want the hours at work. Today, I wanted to curl up with my son and forget the world.

But it wasn’t a Montana number with the four-oh-six area code.

One hundred thirty-two.

I declined it on the second ring and stowed it away.

As I was bending to get the bottle of toilet cleaner, it rang again.

One hundred thirty-three.

I threw the bottle and rag to the floor, ripped the phone out and, once more, hit the red button. “Stop calling me.”

It was still in my hand when it rang again.

My eyes flooded. My chin quivered.

Don’t give up.

I declined it once more and picked up my supplies, then I went to the bathroom and scrubbed the toilet to a sparkling white shine. The mirror and counter gleamed after a polish. The floor was spotless and the air smelled like bleach.

I cleaned.

And the phone rang.

Over and over and over, until finally, as I was stripping the bed, it stopped. There were days like this. Days when I’d get twenty calls in an hour. Others only one in twenty-four.

I tensed, waiting for it to buzz again, but when it didn’t, I breathed.

The stress of the day was building behind my temples, and I lifted my hands, rubbing at the ache.

“What’s wrong?” I jumped at Knox’s deep voice.

How many shocks could a heart take in one day? I felt like I was in a haunted house with a creepy clown jumping out at me after each corner.

“Nothing.” I waved it off.

“Memphis.” He strode my way, stopping close enough that the scent of his spicy soap hit my nose.

God, he smelled good. Today, there was a hint of lemon too. Maybe he’d been making lemon meringue pie. It was my favorite.

“Talk to me.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just a headache.”

“Close your eyes.”

“Knox, I’m fine.”

“You’re a horrible liar.”

I huffed a dry laugh. How many times had Oliver told me the same? Though he’d been the king of lies, so compared to him, everyone was merely an apprentice.

“You ran away from me earlier.” He inched closer.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, squaring my shoulders and raising my chin. If I didn’t have confidence, I’d have to fake it. “I think it’s best if we stop this, whatever this is, before it goes any further.”

His eyes narrowed and those blue eyes saw straight through the fa?ade. Damn. “Why?”

“Drake.”

“Look . . .” Knox ran a hand through his hair. “About what I said yesterday. I was just being honest. But I didn’t tell you the truth so you’d push me away.”

“If we tried this and it didn’t work, you’d lose him.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “I know what’s on the line, Memphis. But I’m standing here anyway.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” Another lie that made him frown. “Drake has to be my focus.”

“Did I ask you to take him out of focus?”

“Well . . . no.” I couldn’t imagine Knox asking me to forsake my child.