Page 92 of Before and After

He cupped my shoulder. “You can’t shield him from everything. I’m not saying give him all the details, especially about these assholes, but tell him a bad guy hit you, but you’re fine.”

She sighed. “I want to shield him.”

“I know, but it’s better to teach him resilience.”

“He’s already had to learn that lesson.”

Caden handed me a mug of coffee, which I took with a grateful smile.

He ran a hand over my hair. “Drink that, then we’ll get Ollie.” Then he pulled something out of his pocket. “For you.”

I stared at the brand-new iPhone.

“Your data and photos from your old phone have been copied over.”

A lump lodged in my throat. This man. I took the phone. “Caden…you’re spoiling me.”

“Just say thank you, Allie.”

I went up on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

Then he grabbed my hand and frowned at the grazes on my palm. “These could get infected. You have a first aid kit?”

“Under the sink. There’s not much in it. I have a huge collection of Band-Aids. I learned pretty quickly that Band-Aids fix a lot of things when you’re five.”

He came back with the kit. I sat on the stool while he bent over my hand, cleaning my grazes with antiseptic wipes.

“You want a Band-Aid?” he asked.

My lips twitched, all kinds of flutters in my stomach. “No. A kiss will do.”

Then badass Caden Castro leaned down and kissed my grazed palm.

Everything inside me quivered.Oh, God.

I was falling in love with Caden.

My chest tightened. All kinds of thoughts flew at me, the biggest one being that he’s not going to hang around forever.

Just one day at a time, Allie.

He took my uninjured hand in his, his fingers entwining with mine. “Let’s go get your nephew.”

“Anything I want?”Ollie asked from the backseat.

“Anything,” Caden assured him. He expertly drove the SUV back toward my condo.

“Can you make French toast?” Ollie asked.

“Pretty sure we can work it out, buddy.”

I smiled. They were so cute together. Ollie had been thrilled to see Caden and learn that he was having breakfast with us.

We pulled up at my condo. I climbed out, then opened the back door. Ollie was already scrambling out of his booster seat.

“I’m glad you had fun with Caleb, Haley, and Emily.”

He nodded, then paused and reached up. I bent down and he gently touched my bruised eye.