“It’s okay. Domino kept me company.”
“Domino?”
“It’s what I call the cat that comes around here. I think he’s a stray, but he lets me pet him.”
“I see.” Jenna felt terrible. This seven-year-old girl was wandering around, looking for somewhere to go where she felt safe, and Jenna had run off with a man instead. Even though Abigail wasn’t her kid, it still made sickness rise in her gut thinking of her sitting out here. Alone.
“Does your mama know where you are?”
Abigail shook her head.
“Well, why don’t you come inside and I’ll fix you something to eat and we’ll give her a call.”
“Do we have to?”
“Yes, we do. You can stay as long as you want, but we need to let your mother know you’re safe.”
“Okay. Can I come here tomorrow? And the next day? If that’s okay?”
Jenna’s heart lurched when she saw the sparkle in Abigail’s eyes. To think that she could actually be there for this girl, maybe make a difference, was something she had to do. Wanted to do. And there were other kids who needed something extra in their lives, which was the reminder Jenna needed. The reason why she was pushing so hard to get the after-school program up and running.
“You can come over as much as you want, let’s just make sure it’s okay with your mama first. Okay?”
Abigail nodded and they both stood. Jenna let her inside and pulled out her cell phone.
Chapter Twenty
“Sign here and it’s all yours,” Sebastian said. Sitting in Bass’s office, Colt took a deep breath and scribbled his name on the contract. He was nervous, but not about the big purchase he just made, about the future. Taking a risk, the biggest of his life, and he still needed one woman to approve.
Jenna.
She was it for him. He knew it. Whatever she needed him to be, he would. For the first time in a long time, Colt was planning for something permanent. Now he just hoped she felt the same way.
“Thanks for your help on this, Bass.” Colt stood and shook his friend’s hand, and the attorney nodded.
“Good luck.” Bass smiled and Colt nodded as he headed out. Yeah, he’d need some luck or a stiff drink, because his heart was pounding out of his chest. He had to have a serious talk with JJ, then find Ryder and Huck and get them on board with this little plan he was hatching.
“Umph—” Colt put his arms out to steady her. “Yvonne? Are you all right?”
She smiled and looked down the front of herself. “I’m better now.” She smiled. Colt dropped his hands from her shoulders when she looked steady enough to stand on her own. “I would say I should watch where I’m going but if it means bumping into you, I can’t say I’m entirely upset.”
“I appreciate your kindness,” Colt started, not sure how to say this since he’d never been in this situation before. “I’m seeing someone.” There, not so hard. In fact, he felt pretty good about it. Saying it out loud. He was committed to JJ and was certain she felt the same way about him. It was time to make sure that was understood. Especially by Yvonne.
Jenna had told him once that she was ashamed of herself, and Colt hoped to hell that the past couple days of him loving on her had erased that nonsense. He could support her and her goals. There was no reason to hide anymore. “So from now on, I think it’s best we let the past lie and be friends.”
Yvonne frowned so hard, Colt thought she was gearing up to shoot laser beams from the two pissed-off slits currently boring into him.
“Seeing someone? Who?”
Colt adjusted his shoulders and with all the pride he felt said, “Jenna Justice.”
Yvonne laughed and Colt’s face heated with instant anger. “Is there something funny?”
“I saw you on her stoop a couple nights ago, but I had no idea the perfect Jenna-Jayne would actually be slumming it with you.”
Colt gave his best cocky smile. “Interesting that you think I’m bottom of the barrel all of a sudden.”
“For Jenna? Yeah, you are. She’s uptight and would never want to stain her precious, yet totally impossible reputation she’s been trying to push on this whole town.” Yvonne stepped closer and eyed Colt. “Looks like she really is just like her mother.”