“The guy just sounds like a jerk to me,” Josh added, being the only brother that had yet to meet Carlos.
“Yeah, that’s kind of what I thought the first time I met him, but that’s maybe too simplistic,” Jake added. “From what I can tell, MacKenzie is a good parent, so there has to be something else going on as to why Carlos would feel the need to keep Noelle away from her mother.”
Turning to his twin, Jake pushed forward with their dilemma. “I need Carlos’ number. Aviva has it, right?”
“Come on, man, you must be slipping or something. His address and number were the first things I got my hands on,” Josh told him, answering for Jason.
With the phone in hand, Jake made ready to dial the number Josh gave him.
“Don’t you think you should wait until we at least discuss what you intend to say to him?”
The echoes of “No!” being spoken in unison by his older brothers was enough for Josh to rethink his comment.
“Well okay then, no discussion, but just out of curiosity what are you going to say to him?”
“Don’t know yet but I’ll think of something, like bring the baby back, so I don’t have to kick your ass!” Jake voiced.
Jake tuned out his brother’s laughter as he dialed Carlos’ number. Expecting nothing else, it came as no surprise when the call went to the answering machine.
“This is Jacob Kingdom. I have MacKenzie here with me. As you can imagine, she’s extremely upset that you have yet to return Noelle. I’m sure you feel you have some deluded reason for keeping the baby from her mother; whatever that is, I don’t care. Under state law, your actions are tantamount to kidnapping, and those are the charges you will answer to by 9:00 am if Noelle isn’t returned before that time. You have my number, and I will await your call to tell me where and when to pick her up.”
“You know that’s not gonna happen, right,” Jason told his brother once he disconnected the call.
“I know, but I had to try. At the very least, I hope it forces him into showing what he’s thinking. I need to have something to tell MacKenzie by the time she wakes up.”
**********
Moving down the hallway the house seemed eerily quiet. Making slow progress down the stairs, her thoughts disjointed, MacKenzie edged her way towards the family room.
As she slipped inside the door, the first thing that caught her attention through the pulled back curtains was the glow of the sky as it began to lighten with the dawn of another day. At first glance, the room appeared empty of occupants. About to turn away, her eyes landed on a sleeping form stretched out on one of the well-used sofas. Jake slept with one arm hanging off the sofa, and the other resting above his head, his long muscular body taking up the length of the seat. On his chest lay a computer tablet, and to MacKenzie it looked as though he had fallen asleep in the midst of reading.
On silent feet, she made her way towards him and carefully lifted the tablet. Brushing her fingers across the screen to take a peek at what he had been reading. To her frustration the computer asked for a password. Scrunching up her face, because her curiosity wouldn’t be appeased, she attempted to replace the device in its original position without waking him.
Pleased with her accomplished mission, MacKenzie’s eyes travelled up his chest, and a very nice chest it was too. Shaking her head, she tried to pull her gaze away from Jake’s sleeping form. Her intended message never reached her brain as her eyes continued their perusal.
Her gaze continued up to his shoulders. Try as she might, there was no getting away from the fact that these Kingdom men were built for strength and endurance. The sheer breadth of his shoulders left MacKenzie staggered. A second, or two or four, spent on his neck in appreciation, and her eyes moved on. Up to his chin, she decided he had a nice chin that currently showed signs of dark blonde stubble. Up to his lips, nice, if a little thinner than she was used to. Feeling a tingle pass through her body, MacKenzie pulled herself out of her near trance and gave herself a mental slap, disgusted with herself at how easily her mind had wondered away from her child.
Flicking her eyes upwards, she was confronted by orbs of dark green, over which a thick eyebrow was raised. Being honest with herself, MacKenzie understood her interest in his masculinity, even if the current moment of recognition was highly inappropriate given the circumstances.
To his credit, Jake didn’t say anything to make her more uncomfortable, and she was grateful for that.
“I’m sure you’re hungry, how about a cup of coffee and something to eat,” Jake suggested, lessening the charged atmosphere that suddenly surrounded them.
Grateful for his ploy, MacKenzie readily accepted his offer.
**********