Tender Vow Read Online Free PDF Page B

whisper.
    She sniffed and looked down at her bare toes. “I don’t hate you. At least, not anymore.”
    “So, you did, but now you don’t?” His voice held a blend of relief and amusement. “I feel so much better.”
    She stepped back and finally rewarded him with half a glance. His chocolate-fudge-brown eyes assessed her, toppling her nerves, and she hastened to look away, focusing on the awful condition of her house, with litter everywhere. “Just why did you pick today to suddenly show up? I—I would have cleaned up if I’d known—”
    “I was visiting my parents. Yours were there, as well…and Tanna.”
    “Yeah, I know—your birthday. Hope it was happy.” Her tone must have come off sounding caustic.
    “It’s not till Tuesday.”
    “I know that.”
    He shook his head. “Anyway, don’t worry about your house.” He lifted her chin a notch and bent his head forward. “How about I treat you and the kids to McDonald’s later?”
    “What? No, I—I already have supper planned.”
    “Oh, really?” He sniffed the air. “What are we having?”
    She sucked in a breath and let it out her nostrils. “ We are not having anything, Jason Evans, because you won’t be here. Excuse me while I check on my kids.” Once again, she stepped past him, and, this time, he didn’t try to stop her.

Chapter 3
    A t least she still has some spunk in her , Jason thought as he stood at the foot of the stairs awaiting a glimpse of Meagan and John Jr., vowing never again to let so much time pass between visits. Life was just too short and precious to waste. Besides, John would have wanted him to be present in his kids’ lives, regardless of what Rachel had to say on the matter. Not only that, but her house was in shambles and she needed help. If she wouldn’t accept it from her parents or in-laws, then she’d accept it from him, because—well, he wouldn’t give her a choice.
    He turned and looked at the living room. Toys, children’s books, blankets, a sippy cup, throw pillows, and a laundry basket full of unfolded clothes were just a few of the items strewn about. He figured she’d been sleeping when he’d arrived, if her disheveled appearance and puffy eyes were any indication. And why shouldn’t she have been? The girl had run herself into the ground trying to play the part of both mommy and daddy, plus maintain a household while dealing with the loss of a mate.
    “Lord, she needs help,” Jason muttered under his breath as he bent to pick up a doll and then laid it on a nearby chair. Not that he had a wellspring of time on his hands, particularly since he lived a good fifty miles south of Fairmount, in a little town called Harrietta, a few miles outside of Cadillac. It wasn’t as if he could just drop over any old time.
    “Uncle Jay!” Meagan’s squeal of delight had the power to spin him around in less than a second. She ran down the steps as fast as her four-year-old body would let her and leaped through the air from the third step into his waiting arms. He laughed and spun her around as her arms, wrapped tightly around his neck, nearly shut off his ability to swallow. “Where were you?” she shrieked.
    He laughed some more. “If you mean, ‘Where have you been?’ well, I’ve been busy with my job, and…life.” He glanced over Meagan’s head and looked straight into Rachel’s eyes. “But I’m back now, and that’s what counts.”
    Rachel dropped her gaze to the baby in her arms, her cheek resting on his downy head as he snuggled into her shoulder. The little tyke looked none too eager to meet his uncle.
    Jason stepped closer. “Who’s this?”
    “That’s John-John, silly,” Meagan answered.
    “So, this is the famous little guy.” Meagan wasn’t about to jump down, so he shifted her in his arms to free up a hand to touch the boy’s rosy cheek. Rachel’s breath caught, and she held it, making him want to ask why she was so skittish. “You look like your mommy,” he whispered to