Love Rents A Room
Chapter 68: Irresistible Him

Chapter 68: Irresistible Him

Joanne paused at the doorway, her gaze drawn to JD as he sat on the couch, little Lizzy nestled against his chest. The tiny girl was fast asleep, her small fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, her delicate breaths barely audible.

But what truly made Joanne’s breath hitch was him—the way he held her, protective yet gentle, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

And the smile on his face...

It was beautiful.

JD was handsome; there was no denying that. But there was something about a man holding a baby that made him irresistible. Maybe it was the tenderness in his expression, the warmth in his usually sharp green eyes.

A flutter stirred in her stomach, unbidden. A strong feeling bloomed like butterflies fluttering in her stomach, awakening a deep desire within her. She found herself smiling.

Ah... If I had gotten married that day, I probably would have had a toddler this age too...

Her smile wavered.

It was a passing thought, one that should have held no weight. But the second she realized where her mind had wandered, a dull ache settled in her chest.

She wasn’t thinking about Liam or his proposal when she thought of her kids.

She was thinking about him.

Jeffrey Winchester.

She clenched her fingers. Why? Why him?

Liam had been in her life for as long as she could remember, steady and familiar. And Jeffrey? He was nothing more than a fleeting presence—a stranger she almost married, a man who left her at the altar without a word.

And yet...

Liam’s words echoed in her mind.

Was he right? Did she love Jeffrey?

Was that why it hurt so much when Jeffrey disappeared? Was that why his careless insult—calling her bland—still made her chest tighten?

Had she hated him all these years because of what he did... or because she had cared more than she was willing to admit?

Joanne shook her head, pushing the thought aside. No. That couldn’t be it. She was only associating him with marriage because she had been hours away from walking down the aisle in a wedding gown meant for him. That was all. Nothing more.

JD must have sensed her presence because he looked up, catching her standing there. His expression softened as she approached.

"She fell asleep?" she whispered, careful not to wake Lizzy.

JD nodded. "Yeah. Poor baby... must’ve been exhausted."

Joanne reached down and gently lifted Lizzy from his arms. As she bent down to get the baby, JD’s eyes wandered somewhere else... under her neck. His throat dried and clearing his throat, he looked away. He didn’t know how long he could resist her allure.

Joanne wasn’t aware of the war that was going on Jeffrey’s chest. She cradled Lizzy against her shoulder before placing her in the crib. Her movements were fluid, practiced.

JD watched her, mesmerized.

The crib—though clearly well-used—looked sturdy and expensive. This wasn’t some last-minute purchase; it had been placed here with care, with intention.

This wasn’t just kindness. Joanne knew how to care for children. Everything about her was perfect.

A thought slipped into JD’s mind before he could stop it.

She’d make an amazing mother.

His throat tightened.

And if he was the father of those children... wouldn’t that be the greatest blessing of all?

He let out a quiet sigh, watching her with something dangerously close to longing.

After that, he got ready and went to the office. Joanne was readying the kids for the doctor’s visit when he left.

JD barely had time to settle into his office chair before yet another inspection team from the Department of Transportation arrived. It was the second time in three weeks. Last week, it had been the Environmental Protection Agency.

Each time, they combed through everything with a fine-toothed comb, and even though their company followed every regulation to the letter, they still managed to find faults—technicalities that resulted in fines.

Something wasn’t right.

JD leaned back, drumming his fingers on the desk, a frown settling on his face.

Who was behind this?

It wasn’t just bad luck. This felt deliberate. Someone in power was gunning for them, tightening the noose inch by inch.

After making a few calls, he spoke to Jason, who had already been looking into it.

"It might be Tom Sullivan," Jason said. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words was heavy. "Liam’s brother."

JD’s brows furrowed. "Tom? Why would he care about this place?" He heard that he owned a car dealership in another town and was doing pretty well himself.

Jason hesitated. "Because he doesn’t like Joanne. Not after what happened at the last Junior League Award Ceremony."

JD’s frown deepened.

The pieces started falling into place. Apparently, last year, Tom Sullivan had been honored at the Junior League event—something that Joanne had very publicly voiced her discontent about. And Tom’s wife? She was conveniently related to their congressman.

So that’s how it is...

JD exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. Petty politics. They were getting caught in the crossfire of someone’s bruised ego.

For now, his priority was keeping the company protected. He had to ensure every department was airtight, that no further penalties could be imposed.

But that, in itself, created another problem.

Pushing for stricter compliance meant friction among their people. Some of the long-time employees didn’t take well to his authority. They were fiercely loyal to Joanne and saw him as an outsider trying to take control.

It was frustrating. JD wasn’t here to play power games—he was trying to protect what Joanne had built.

He knew she would understand.

He needed to talk to her about this. She would stand by him.

Wouldn’t she?

-----

After his talk with Joanne, Liam went straight home. He didn’t have the energy for work today. His mind was restless, his thoughts tangled in a mess he couldn’t quite unravel.

The moment he stepped inside, Fiona greeted him with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up.

"You’re here!" She beamed, wrapping her arms around him before pressing a soft peck to his lips.

Liam’s expression softened. He rarely came home for lunch, often working late into the evening. Seeing her so happy just because he was here made his heart swell a little. She must miss me every day...

"Do you want a sandwich?" she asked, already heading toward the kitchen.

Liam caught her wrist before she could leave. "Are you hungry?" His voice was quieter now, as if distracted.

Fiona shook her head, noticing the subtle crease in his brows. Something was on his mind. Without a word, he led her to the couch, pulling her down beside him before resting his head on her lap.

Fiona blinked, caught off guard. What’s happening?