by Cindy Kirk
“Your wish is my command.” Getting to his feet, he bent over and scooped her into his arms.
Instead of setting her down in the chair in her sitting area, he strode into the hall. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere I can keep an eye on you.” David didn’t stop until they’d reached the living room. He had Brynn move aside a cotton throw, then deposited Hadley into an overstuffed chair, lifting her feet up on the ottoman.
Cool air had her skin turning to gooseflesh. Only then did Hadley realize she wore only a cotton sleep shirt that stopped at midthigh. If David noticed all the bare skin, he gave no indication.
He tucked the throw around her, then stepped back, his gaze sharp and assessing. “How are you feeling?”
Behind him, Brynn looked like a pale, lost ghost.
“Better. Thanks.” Hadley summoned a smile. Her gaze settled on Brynn. “That cool washcloth really made a difference.”
Hadley was rewarded with a quick smile.
David stepped back. “Now that you’re settled, what can we get you?”
“I took four Advil during the night, so I can’t have any more of that for a while.” Hadley leaned her head against the back of the chair. “I’m fine for now.”
“Brynn, there are bowls in the lower cupboard to the left of the dishwasher.” David turned to his daughter. “Get the biggest one you can find and bring it, please.”
Confusion furrowed Brynn’s brow. “Why?”
“Your dad is afraid I might get sick all over his nice furniture.”
David shook his head. “Your stomach is upset. You’re unsteady on your feet. If you feel like you’re going to be sick, I don’t want you to try to get up.”
Shame washed over Hadley. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re going to take care of you.” His hand on her shoulder was as comforting as a caress. His gaze shifted to his daughter.
“Right away.” Brynn hurried from the room.
“I’m going to whip up some breakfast for Brynn.”
Hadley lifted a hand before he could ask. “Nothing for me.”
He nodded. “Later, maybe, some toast or a banana.”
Eventually, Hadley supposed, but right now the thought of eating had bile rising in her throat. “Maybe.”
“Here you go, Daddy.” Brynn handed him a large Pyrex bowl.
“Perfect size.” David placed it beside Hadley on the table next to the chair. “If you need it, it’s there.”
“Thank you.” Her lips began to tremble, then she realized it wasn’t just her lips, it was her whole body. She gave a violent shudder. “All of a sudden, I’m freezing.”
Brynn grabbed another throw and brought it to her, tucking it around Hadley with awkward movements.
The child’s gaze locked with hers. “I don’t want you to be sick.”
“Me, either. But I heal quickly. Just wait and see.”
David smiled at his daughter. “Why don’t you get a book? You can sit here and watch over Hadley while I make us breakfast.”
“I could read to her?” Brynn’s voice turned eager. “That would—”
David had started to shake his head, but Hadley answered before he could.
“I’d like that. As long as you don’t mind if I shut my eyes while you read?”
“You can even sleep if you want,” Brynn told her. “I don’t mind.”
Hadley fell asleep to the sound of Brynn reading The Secret Garden, a childhood favorite of hers.
When she awoke hours later, the fever was gone and her headache had gone from hurricane force to a minor rainstorm. Even her stomach seemed…stable.
“You’re awake.”
Very slowly, Hadley turned her head.
David was on the sofa, computer open on his lap.
“Where’s Brynn?”
Setting the laptop aside, he searched her face with his sharp-eyed gaze. “First, how are you feeling?”
“Better. I think the fever broke.”
He stood then and moved to her side, resting the back of his hand against her forehead. “I believe you’re right. How’s the stomach?”
The loud growl that answered him had even Ruckus lifting his head to stare.
“That’s better, too. In fact, I think I could try some toast.” She glanced around. “Where’s Brynn?” she asked again.
“She’s in her room making you a present.”
Hadley’s lips lifted in a slow smile. “What kind of present?”
“A secret one. She wouldn’t even tell me what it is. But she’s been working on it for nearly an hour, so…who knows.”
Hadley found she could return his smile without effort. “What were you doing?”
His gaze followed hers to the laptop. “You fell asleep while Brynn was reading. She and I had breakfast, then I settled down to work.”
Her heart became a heavy mass in her chest. “And to watch over me.”
“And to watch over you,” he conceded.
Tears filled her eyes and spilled over.
“Hey.” He crouched beside her chair and wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs. “There’s no need to cry.”
“What’s wrong?” Brynn stood in the doorway, a bunch of papers in one hand, a stricken look on her face. “Is she worse?”
“No.” Hadley took a breath and brought her emotions under control. “In fact, I feel so good, your father was just about to make me some toast.”
Brynn’s suspicious gaze shifted to her dad.
“It’s true.” David gave Hadley’s shoulder a squeeze, then straightened. “Her fever is gone, and her stomach growled so loud it woke Ruckus.”
Brynn’s giggle had everything in Hadley relaxing.
“Would you mind keeping her company while I make the toast?” David started toward the kitchen as if he already knew his daughter’s answer.
“I can show her my book.” The words spilled from Brynn’s lips. “It’s my present.”
“You wrote a book for me?” Hadley asked Brynn as she dropped down on the arm of the chair.
“It’s a book about us.” Brynn thrust the papers that had been carefully stapled together into Hadley’s hands. “It’s called The Adventures of Hadley and Brynn, Forever Friends.”
The tears wanted to come again, but Hadley blinked them back and smiled at Brynn. “I can’t wait to read it.”
Hadley’s illness derailed plans to visit the beach on Monday. But Tuesday afternoon found the three of them soaking in the vitamin D. Too late, Hadley realized the only bathing suit she’d packed when she left her apartment was her bikini. The momentary thought of stopping by construction zone central to retrieve her one-piece struck her as ridiculous.
Before the towels were even on the sand, Brynn had shed the clothes she’d worn over her suit and turned toward the water.
“Wait.” Hadley reached into the brightly striped beach bag and pulled out the sunscreen. “You need to put this on first.”
After casting a longing glance at the water, where her friend Lia splashed, Brynn took the tube from Hadley’s hand and slathered on the lotion.
“I’m coming,” Brynn called to Lia.
“One more second.” Hadley took the sunscreen and applied it to Brynn’s back, then gave the child a friendly shove. “Have fun.”
Long legs kicking up sand on the way, Brynn joined her friend in the water.
Hadley’s heart gave a ping. “She looks so grown-up.”
“She’s still a child.” David gestured to the beach toys. “She insisted I bring these with us.”
Hadley lifted a bright orange plastic shovel from the mesh bag. “I like digging in the sand. I especially like building castles.”
“I do, too.” David gave her a lopsided grin. “I thought that was the architect in me.”
“No.” Hadley kept her voice matter-of-fact and her gaze averted as she casually peeled off her shirt and stepped out of her shorts. “That’s the boy in you.”
Her skin heated beneath his assessing gaze. Bry
nn wasn’t the only one yearning for cold water. “I think I’ll join Brynn and Lia.”
“Not so fast.”
The touch of his hand on her arm had her turning.
At her questioning glance, he held up the tube she’d dropped on one of the towels. “Sunscreen?”
She’d made such a big deal with Brynn, she could hardly tell him it wasn’t necessary.
“Almost forgot.” Hadley shot him a sunny smile, trying not to stare at his broad chest covered with a light dusting of dark hair. The sunscreen went on in record time, and she shifted to head toward the water.
“Not so fast.” David stepped close. “Can’t forget your back.”
Hadley’s breath caught as his skilled fingers skimmed across the skin of her upper back before moving lower. She tried to concentrate on the white sand, on the other families who’d come out on this weekday afternoon to enjoy the unusually warm August day.
But the feel of David’s fingers on her flesh had her desperately wanting to turn around, wrap her hands around his neck and give him a ferocious kiss.
“All done.”
His husky voice reminded her of how he’d sounded the last time she’d been in his arms. When had that been? Too long. Way too long.
When he pressed the tube into her hand and turned, Hadley realized the sweet torture hadn’t ended. This time, it was her turn to touch him.
“I must be weaker than I think.” Hadley’s glance drifted toward shore. “Or more out of shape.”
“From what I can see, you’re in excellent shape.” David grinned and continued to tread water.
He and Hadley had spent time playing in the water with Lia and Brynn before swimming farther out. The sun was warm, okay, hot, but the cold water offset the rays.
This was the first time this summer he’d taken Brynn to the beach. What had been so doggone important that he’d denied both of them this simple pleasure until now? Of course, it wouldn’t have been nearly so fun without Hadley.
“Let’s swim back. Build a sand castle. Chill for a while.”
Seeing the fatigue on her face, David cursed himself for his insensitivity.
“Come closer. I’ll hold you and you can rest for a few minutes. Then we’ll swim back.” This was meant to be a kind offer, not a self-serving one. They were, after all, far from shore.
But when Hadley obligingly wrapped her arms and legs around him while he continued to tread water, David was unprepared for the jolt of lust. For the first time, he wished the water was ten degrees colder.
Though his hands were busy with the water, her mouth was incredibly close. He forced his attention to her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes held flecks of gold, just like Brynn’s.
Despite David’s resolve, his gaze refused to linger there, dropping instead to her full mouth. He knew how good it felt, how right it felt, to press his lips to hers…
“Thanks for the break.” Hadley unfastened her hands and legs and pushed back from him. Color rode high in her cheeks from the sun. “Race you back to shore.”
David caught up with her and grabbed her foot just as she reached the sand. Hadley gave a little scream and collapsed as if she could make it no farther. With her lower legs and feet still in the water, she rolled over, her body covered in sand.
Leaning over, David bracketed her upper body between his arms. “I’ve got you now.”
She laughed up at him, blue eyes dancing. “Now that you’ve got me, what are you going to do with me?”
He knew what he wanted to do, what he’d longed to do since they were interrupted before, but before he could kiss her, Brynn and Lia pounced, laughing like hyenas.
“Play shark with us, too, Daddy. Please?”
Hadley raised a brow. “Shark?”
David grinned when the girls continued to plead. “Duty calls.”
With an overly dramatic growl, he dove underwater and went after his prey.
Chapter 15
“For an architect, you make a pretty good shark.” Hadley leaned against the front porch rail.
David blew on his nails, pretended to polish them against his shirtfront. “It’s a special talent, honed over numerous trips to the beach.”
“The girls sure loved it.” While Hadley relaxed in the sun, she’d watched the “shark” go under the water time and time again to grab Brynn’s and Lia’s legs. “Between that and the sand castle, they had a perfectly lovely afternoon.”
“I can’t recall the last time I heard Brynn laugh so much.” A soft look filled David’s eyes. “Seeing her happy means the world to me. With everything she’s been through…”
Hadley placed a hand on his arm. “She’s resilient. Brynn will be just fine.”
His gaze met hers. “Your being here has helped.”
Just hearing that, having him say it, had tears pushing against the backs of her lids. Blinking rapidly, she turned away, sliding her hand along the railing. “Do you think if I’d promised her a Monopoly marathon, Brynn would have come home with us?”
“Not a chance.”
Hadley whirled. “But she loves board games.”
“The puppet theater Lia got for her birthday is set up now. Brynn was dying to see it.” David lifted his hands, let them drop. “She likes playing with her friends.”
Expelling a resigned breath, Hadley climbed the steps. When she reached the porch, instead of heading directly inside, Hadley turned and rested her back against the rail. “You probably think I’m being ridiculous.”
“Not at all.” Understanding filled David’s eyes. “You’re simply going through what I did a couple of years ago. Being home with me and Camille had always been enough for Brynn. All of a sudden, she wanted friends over. Or, like what happened today, those friends’ parents invited her over.”
“Darn Lia’s mother,” Hadley muttered, only half joking.
“When I complained, my mother told me to remember it’s good for Brynn to play with kids outside of school.” David joined her at the rail. “Being reminded these socializing activities are good for her made her absence easier to accept.”
“I know you’re right.” Hadley sighed. “Children learn and grow by being with other kids. As an only child, I spent most of my time with the kids in the neighborhood.”
“Me, too.”
Her surprise must have shown.
“While I wasn’t an only child like you, my sister and brother were a number of years younger, and we didn’t have much in common. Of course, that’s changed now that we’re adults.”
“Okay.” Hadley expelled a melodramatic sigh. “You’ve convinced me. I’m not going to ruin what has been a wonderful day by whining.”
The smile he shot her sent a flood of warmth rushing through her veins.
“Andrea and Jim are good parents,” he assured her. “We can trust them.”
We.
It was the first time David had ever referred to the two of them as a unit, at least as far as Brynn was concerned. Though pleasure surged, Hadley told herself it likely was a simple slip of the tongue.
She glanced at the darkening sky. “Is rain in the forecast today?”
“Last I knew it was a twenty percent chance.” He stood beside her and studied the clouds. “Weatherman David Chapin says it appears closer to one hundred percent.”
Big fat drops splatted on the walkway and the steps to the porch. The rising wind carried the rain to where David and Hadley stood.
“Time to head inside.” She backed away from the rail.
“Agreed.” David had the door unlocked and open in seconds.
“Just in time.” Hadley tried not to shiver as a gust of wind rattled the windows.
They stood for several seconds, watching as the wind did its best to bend the trees. The droplets now fell in sheets.
“How ‘bout I rustle us up some food?”
Those intense gray eyes boring into her made rational thought difficult. But he wasn’t asking her to strip naked, Hadley reminded herself. He was just off
ering food and, perhaps, conversation. “Sounds good.”
The smile he flashed had her feeling even more off-balance. “I’ll start dinner.”
They actually started with showers—taken separately—to wash off the sand, then met up in the kitchen.
They made the meal together. Nothing fancy, just thick beer bread and homemade vegetable soup his mother had dropped off yesterday.
At the beach, summer had reigned supreme. Now the rain and drop in temperature made it feel like fall was knocking at the door.
Once they’d finished eating, they moved into the living room with glasses of wine. Hadley dropped down onto the overstuffed sofa facing the cold fireplace.
To her surprise, instead of choosing one of the chairs, David sat on the sofa. Not right beside her. A couple of bodies could have easily fit between them. But something about sharing the piece of furniture felt…intimate. Dismissing the feeling as ridiculous, Hadley angled to face him when he spoke.
“Camille called just as I got out of the shower.” David took a long drink of wine.
Inclining her head, Hadley studied him. “What did she want?”
“She feels badly about leaving Brynn so abruptly. She wants to stop over sometime this week and say a proper good-bye.”
Hadley gazed at him over the rim of her glass. “What did you say?”
“I told her I’ll look at the schedule, call her back tomorrow.” He shrugged. “I’ll see what we can work out.”
“How do you think Brynn will react to her visit?” Hadley’s heartbeat quickened. “Camille has been like a mother to her.”
David’s brows pulled together, and he slowly shook his head. “Brynn is fond of Camille. But saying she’s been like a mother is a stretch. Whitney made sure she and Brynn never got too close.”
“Was Whitney jealous?”
Hadley took his careless shrug to mean she should draw her own conclusions. They weren’t difficult to draw.
Even though Whitney had often been absent, she hadn’t wanted her daughter to form a bond with anyone else. Hadley was glad the woman lived out of state, fiercely glad she was no longer a big part of Brynn’s life.
“How could she do that to her child?” Condemnation rang heavy in Hadley’s voice. “She didn’t want Brynn, but she didn’t want her to love anyone else.”
