Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set

by Claire McEwen

  Thea nodded wildly, and Wade could tell by the spark in her eyes that this was going to be the first of countless races. He grabbed his phone, fully expecting a timing element to be included, and sat down to dangle his feet in the water.

  “We’re ready when you are,” Brisa called out from her spot near his right knee. Her hair was a sleek curtain. The perfection of her face, no shadow or lipstick or any of the usual tools, was impossible to ignore.

  “When I say go…” Wade met her stare. The tears were gone, and she was happy in that moment.

  Playing pool games with his daughter.

  If that didn’t change a man’s mind about a woman, nothing would. Whether he’d already forgiven the catfishing or not, there was no way to hold on to the irritation now.

  “Go!” He tossed one single ring. “First one to get it wins.” Instead of jumping into the churning race, Brisa squeezed his knee, giggled at the way he jumped and then gracefully lost the race.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  BRISA GAVE WADE’S daughter a high five for winning their latest competition. As she caught her breath after doing a handstand in the shallow end of the pool, she shared a quiet laugh with Wade. Someday, Thea McNally was going to give Mira Peters a run for her money as the strictest personal trainer on the planet. Wade’s daughter did not hesitate as she dreamed up new combinations of races and feats of strength.

  It was also more fun than Brisa had experienced in a pool since her sister had gotten too old for their competitions. Lap swimming might be more adult, but she wasn’t sure it was a better workout than meeting the challenge of Thea McNally.

  The calculating gleam in Thea’s eye was warning that she’d dreamed up a doozy.

  “How much do you know about synchronized swimming?” Thea asked, a small frown communicating how seriously she took the question.

  Before Brisa could frame an answer that captured both “absolutely nothing” and “willing to learn,” Wade’s phone rang. “Thea, let Brisa rest now. We need to get out and eat some dinner soon.” Then he stood and answered his phone. “Hey, you could have texted. I didn’t expect a call.” He moved away, so it was harder to eavesdrop and Brisa knew Thea was watching her closely. At her father’s words, Thea had sat down on the steps, her shoulders hunched. She would follow his directions, but it would take self-control and a theatrical long-suffering expression.

  Thea reminded Brisa of herself. It was both cute and alarming. Wade was going to be facing an ongoing battle of wills.

  “I don’t know anything about synchronized swimming,” Brisa said. “Do you?”

  Thea brightened. “You can win medals and look so beautiful. You get to wear bright red lipstick. I’m going to do that before I go into space. It’ll be harder to do it after, I think.”

  Brisa pursed her lips as she considered the proper order to become a world-class athlete and astronaut. “You could be right.”

  “Let’s practice our sculls. Want to? I can show you! This is a stationary scull. Watch. You need to know how to do it so you can stay afloat while you’re upside down in the water.” Thea immediately tossed her floaty to the side of the pool. Then her head was underwater while her legs were perfectly straight and her arms moved close to her sides. Thea didn’t move, and Brisa realized that was the measure of a successful stationary scull.

  There was also no way Brisa would be able to copy it.

  “It’s a long travel day, I know. You could have texted me the babysitter’s phone number.” Wade met Brisa’s stare as he checked on Thea. “Thea’s practicing her sculls, like she threatened to.”

  Brisa heard whoever was on the other end say, “Show me.”

  Wade fiddled with the phone and then turned it to face Thea’s legs, capturing Brisa nearby. Even from the distance, Brisa was almost certain the woman was Wade’s ex. The woman’s eyebrows shot up and she said, “Wade McNally, turn me around right now.”

  Thea popped back up out of the water. “Good, right?” Brisa nodded and heard the caller say, “You did it! You did it! I’m so proud of you. You asked her out, didn’t you?” The last part was high-pitched, a happy squeal.

  Wade met Brisa’s stare and cleared his throat. “Uh, no, she’s Thea’s new synchronized swim partner and she’s listening.” Whatever she would have said in response, he covered by adding, “But I do have a date on Saturday with someone else. That’s why I was asking about a babysitter. A couple of hours in the morning, maybe lunch. That’s all. If you’ll text me the number of the neighbor you usually call, that’s all I need. You can go back to honeymooning in whatever European airport you’re currently in.”

  “Take me off speaker or face-thing or whatever right now. I need to talk to you,” his ex-wife said.

  Was he in trouble? That was the tone, but Brisa wasn’t sure.

  “My mom and Steve are going to Japan for a honeymoon now that Daddy’s here. It takes a long time to get there.” Thea shrugged as if it made perfect sense. Brisa nodded again. That did make sense, and Wade had already mentioned his ex’s suggestion that he start dating again.

  The desire to know what else Thea’s mom was saying while Wade listened patiently burned.

  “My mother hates water deeper than the bathtub. Steve loves swimming but he’ll never be a good swim partner. He can’t stay still in the water,” Thea said sadly.

  “Mommy wants to talk to you, Thea.” Wade held out his hand and pulled Thea out of the water. He picked up a towel. “Dry off for a minute and then find out how her trip has been.”

  “They’ve only seen airports. I didn’t know they could be exciting,” Thea said, but she followed directions and then settled down in his seat for a chat.

  “I once ran through the airport in Atlanta with one shoe on because I had five minutes to make a connection and no time to waste stopping when a heel broke. Airports come with stories, most of them terrible.” Brisa hoisted herself up to sit beside Wade. “No more swimming today?”

  “For a guy who spent a lot of time on boats and in water, I enjoy pool time a lot less than you’d think. Give me an ocean, and I’ll get serious.” Wade grinned. “While Thea dreams of gold medals for swimming and who knows what she’ll set her sights on tomorrow.”

  “She is a dreamer and the plans she makes…” Brisa tried to imagine ever thinking that big and couldn’t remember doing it. “I love it.”

  “You would. You’re a lot alike, always thinking, planning, improving.” He sighed. “I’m happy to have this time with her, but keeping up? I’m not sure I have it in me. If you hadn’t been here, there would have been an argument and tears because I might have chased that ring once or twice, but you lost…so many times.”

  Hearing his assessment of her caught her off guard. He thought she was like Thea? When they first met, she’d been certain Wade was one more person in the world who would always be either faintly patronizing or prepared for her to fail.

  Like her sister after she first came home.

  Or worse, loudly state his disapproval of her decisions.

  Like her father.

  Wade kept showing her that wasn’t who he was.

  After a lifetime, Brisa had built up a thick skin to hide the disappointment and hurt, but inside, it was harder to ignore the little girl who was always on the wrong step. Even if the adults in Thea’s life were doing a good job of encouraging her, not trying to make her dreams smaller.

  If Wade McNally believed she was always working to improve things, then… Brisa bowed her head. It was too much to grasp in that moment. “Thea explained why I lose so often. I’m still in training. She’ll have me whipped into shape soon.”

  They both laughed, and it was so simple, so sweet, to be lazing at the pool, talking with a handsome guy who lifted her spirits effortlessly. How nice it could be to have this contentment always.

  Wade kicked his legs slowly in the water. “Cou
ld you text Mira my number and ask her to call me? I have to reschedule Saturday. Vanessa’s babysitter is on vacation, of all things.” He grunted. “She won’t cut short her trip to Hawaii to help me out.”

  “A babysitter, something else it would be good to have a recommendation for if we’re going to bring families to Concord Court. I need to make a note.” Brisa pretended to scribble in her binder as she tried to come up with a name, someone who was good with kids and available, but the only person she could come up with was Mira, the other person on the date. “I should have considered the babysitting question when I was making your plans. Sorry about that.”

  Brisa wasn’t in the habit of worrying about childcare since most of her friends were even more single and free than she was.

  “I’ve decided it’s a good thing, to take more time with this. I was in such a big hurry to get out there, to find someone, because I wanted to get my life together before I started the new job.” Wade held his arms out to show how big the problem was. “What was I thinking? I loved being married to a great woman and it still managed to fall apart. Did I really believe all I had to do was put my mind to it, all that logic would make it quick and easy?” He laughed. “I’ve lived most of my life without family, so it’s become my only goal. Rushing will lead to another mistake and I can’t have that. I’ll have to be patient.” He expelled a harsh breath. “Shut up, Wade. This is what it sounds like in my head, one question, three different things to analyze, which lead to six more questions, until I’m worn-out by thinking.”

  “May I suggest my patented binder system? Writing it down can get it out of the head,” Brisa said with a grin. Then she bumped her shoulder against his. He was hard to read most of the time. Tonight, he was open in a new way. Foster care was beyond her knowledge, but she understood the need for family. She loved hers, even if she wondered where she fit sometimes.

  And she knew about that hurry he’d been in to solve everything at once. For her first few weeks at Concord Court, she’d been convinced she’d have it all under control by the end of the next week…except the next week kept moving farther and farther out and she was still scrambling.

  Getting hit with two grant rejections on the same day had knocked her feet out from under her.

  But Wade’s babysitting problem? That, she could fix. Brisa clapped her hands. She’d spent almost zero time in charge of children and might regret making the offer, but he needed help. She could help, so she should help. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ve also learned that naming your problems aloud can help with the answers.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “I’m off this Saturday. Thea and I can kill a couple of hours if it will nudge true love along its way. I haven’t been to the science museum since Pluto was still considered a planet.”

  Thea sat up straight. “The science museum? Could we go?”

  Wade frowned as he studied Brisa’s face. The longer it took him to respond, the more certain she was that he was evaluating her skills and they didn’t measure up.

  “I can’t ask you to do that. It’s too much. And the physical demands are intense. You lose a lot of races. What if Thea is kidnapped by a rogue dolphin? Who would save her? Not you.” He shook his head slowly. At close range, Brisa could see the small upturn in his lips as he teased her.

  “I’ll postpone the date until Vanessa’s back. That’s the smart thing to do,” Wade added.

  “Wade, go on the date. You’re stalling because of cold feet. Give Thea your phone, some money, and send them both to the science museum,” his ex-wife yelled through the phone.

  Brisa wondered which airport they were in. Would loud Americans in a German airport make international news?

  Wade pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to know he’d been outmaneuvered by his daughter again. “You’re going way beyond the bounds of what can be expected of a leasing manager. I don’t know you very well. I’ve always been good at handling problems, being self-sufficient, but now…”

  Brisa waited for him to fill in the blank, but Wade only nodded.

  As if the situation was too much to put into words.

  “Ugh, you’re just so…frustrating.” Brisa let out a groan. This had been her biggest issue with Reyna, Sean and even Jason Ward. When Jason first moved in and had to be talked into taking the job he was perfect for because he couldn’t accept the help. And Wade was going to get in that line. “Why do you think you have problems no one else does? Really? People all over this world are hunting for babysitters even as we speak. You know what they do? They ask family and friends and neighbors…which you just did. Those family, friends and neighbors pitch in if they can. It doesn’t have to be this soul-searching occasion on why you can’t handle every single problem on your own.”

  Brisa realized she’d raised her voice and slipped down to dunk her head under the water. Clearly, she had to cool off.

  When she surfaced again, Wade was watching her. “Got that off your chest now? Been holding it in for a while, I’m guessing.”

  She shrugged. “I’m right, though.”

  He sighed. “Yeah, you are.”

  His agreement landed with a soft glow right in the center of her chest.

  It felt good.

  “Thea, turn the phone back around,” his ex-wife said loudly. When she was facing Brisa again, she said, “Give me your phone number, your address and your last name, Brisa.” The woman smiled, but there was something wicked about it. “If anything happens to either one of these people I love, I’ll find you.”

  Brisa blinked but rattled off the required information and nodded as Thea returned to her phone call.

  “She seems nice. A little cutthroat. I like her.” Brisa had never been introduced to Vanessa—that was her name!—but it was good to make that brief connection.

  “I accept your help, friend and neighbor.” Wade narrowed his eyes at her. “But I’m about to hit you with some truth, too. I’ll turn down the volume because I appreciate your offer and because they’re listening.” He whispered the last part and waited for a second. “Look at me. This is going to be hard for you to hear.” His voice had lowered as he bent his head closer and Brisa had to fight back the shiver that desperately wanted to sweep through her.

  Would Thea rescue her from this weird… Was it attraction? Brisa hesitated to name it. She would lose ten more races to avoid whatever this was going to be. Thea had stretched out to talk to her mother.

  With no way out, Brisa rested her elbow on the warm concrete. “Be gentle.”

  “I’ll try,” Wade murmured. “Ready?” He raised an eyebrow, so Brisa nodded. “You’re doing a good job here.” The direct compliment immediately triggered the cringe that lived below Brisa’s skin. People could call her beautiful. She’d flirt that away, but this? So unexpected.

  Wade continued, with his eyes locked to hers. “Those notes you made about our dinner conversation and ordering tea for me, so I don’t have to explain being sober? That care is going to help me and who knows how many others. Babysitting? Not many people would make my problem theirs.”

  “Even fewer would lie on a personals website,” Brisa chimed in, her lips twisted, as the urge to remind him how messed up she was spilled over.

  “You sure about that?” Wade asked. “That’s not coming up again, not between us. That means from you, too. Let it go. We are neighbors now, the end.”

  Brisa sighed. “I’m not great at letting anything go.”

  Wade reached down to squeeze her shoulder. “I understand that, but I’m telling you that you have to. You can follow orders, can’t you?”

  His lips quirked as her eyebrows shot up.

  “Orders,” Brisa muttered as she reluctantly joked. “Of all my failures, following orders is at the head of the list. You’ll have to ask my father when that started, but I’m sure it was before I climbed out of my crib the first time.”

  They sm
iled at each other, bound in that moment, until everything else fell away. A kiss would have been magic, but Thea’s giggle broke the spell. Brisa jerked back.

  “Thea, wrap it up. We need food.” Wade started to stand, but Brisa put a hand on his knee. Both of them froze until she moved back.

  “I wanted to say thank you, for distracting me this afternoon. I needed it.” Brisa raised her chin. “I let go of my sense of impending failure for at least an hour.”

  Wade stood and took the towel and the phone Thea held out. “No problem. Maybe someday we’ll pass neighbors and make it to friends.”

  “I think we’re already there,” Brisa added softly as she waved at Thea, who darted through the gate, her father a step behind.

  Then she dunked her head under the water again.

  Something about the way friends rolled off her tongue felt wrong.

  If it was because she was hoping for more, whatever the next step, it should be labeled Big Trouble.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ON SATURDAY MORNING, the day of the big date, Wade realized how little time he normally spent choosing clothes or fixing his hair or even staring in the mirror and really seeing himself. He wore gym clothes to the gym and scrubs at work. That was normal. He wasn’t sure what to do to better his usual routine, especially for a date that would take place on bicycles. Dressing fancy didn’t fit and casual seemed…too casual for a special occasion.

  His daughter was seated at the bar enjoying the breakfast she’d finally agreed to after they ran out of milk for cereal: toast, orange juice, no bacon. Eggs and milk were on his grocery shopping list in bold capital letters.

  “Thea, what do you think of this?” he finally asked when the uncertainty pushed him too far. “Okay for a first meeting?”