by Cindy Kirk
“Then I’ll definitely consider a nap.” The door to the back terrace was open, and Hadley stepped out into the sunshine.
Flowers edged the flagstone covered by a green and white awning. The food sat on long tables in the shaded area.
Prim and her baby—a little girl named Adelyn—sat in the shade visiting with Ami and Sarah Rose. Beck, Jeremy and Cade tossed horseshoes with Steve at the far edge of the yard, while Max supervised the badminton net. It appeared Max had recruited Marigold to partner with Brynn in a showdown with the twins.
Hadley assumed David’s siblings would be here, but she hadn’t yet spotted them. “Are Greer and Clay coming?”
“Right behind you.”
Hadley turned. Greer looked as fresh as lemon sorbet in a white summer dress with yellow piping. Her dark hair hung loose to her shoulders.
Although Hadley didn’t know her well, she knew that Greer had returned to Good Hope after college. She was following in their mother’s banking footsteps, and rumor was, she was a natural.
“I wasn’t sure you were back from Milwaukee.” David lifted an oversized glass bowl containing lettuce interspersed with mandarin oranges and pecans from her hands. “How was the banking seminar?”
“Very informative.” Greer’s smile took on a wicked edge. “The Bank Secrecy Act Compliance seminar was especially enlightening. I could tell you about the new beneficial owner rule over lunch?”
“I’ll pass.” David grinned. “The banking bug that Dad always hoped would bite me…still hasn’t.”
Hadley watched the interaction between David and his little sister with interest. She wondered if Brynn would miss not having siblings when she was grown.
Greer rolled her eyes, then glanced at Hadley. “Congrats. I hear you’re Brynn’s new nanny.”
“Temporarily,” Hadley clarified.
“Well, she couldn’t be in better hands.” Appearing to shift gears again, Greer turned back to her brother. “Have you heard from Clay? Once this salad is on the table, we’re ready to eat.”
“He was in church this morning.” Lynn strolled up and took the salad bowl from her son’s hands. “We can start without him. He’ll be here. The boy never misses a meal.”
Hadley hid a smile. Clay was pushing thirty. He hadn’t been “a boy” for a number of years. Then again, he would probably always be Lynn’s little boy, just like Brynn would always be David’s little girl.
She shifted her gaze to the badminton area in time to watch Brynn hit a shot that sailed over Connor’s racket. The child jumped up and down, doing her own version of a victory dance, then high-fived Marigold.
Her blond hair caught the light, and when she turned, the happiness on her face brought a sweet heaviness to Hadley’s heart.
Sometimes, a decision made a decade ago wasn’t one you’d repeat.
Even if you knew it was the right one at the time.
Chapter 9
The look of tenderness in Hadley’s eyes when they landed on his daughter had a lump rising in David’s throat. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have someone in his household who cared so deeply for his daughter.
David thought of the kisses he and Hadley had shared. He needed to keep his desire for her under control. The last thing he wanted was to affect the balance at home.
He forced his eyes away and caught his sister staring. Before she could ask any questions, he walked to the brass bell mounted on a post at the edge of the terrace.
“Ready for me to ring the bell?” David inclined his head, his gaze fixed on his mother.
The captain’s bell, complete with stick, had been an impulse purchase by his mother early in her marriage. Surprisingly, his father had taken a shine to it. For as far back as David could remember, they’d rung the bell before each meal.
As kids, getting chosen to ring it had been a big deal.
Lynn nodded. “Everything is on the table and ready to go.”
For a second, David thought about calling Brynn over, but then Callum and Connor would want to get in on the action. There was only so much bell-ringing he could take.
Everyone was claiming their seats, either in the sun or under the awning, when David heard Clay call out.
“Way to wait for me.”
“You snooze, you lose,” David joked.
Ami strolled over with Sarah Rose on her hip. The toddler stared at Hadley for a long moment, then broke into a smile of recognition.
Little hands reached out, and Hadley scooped the child into her arms.
“She likes kids,” Clay said to David, not bothering to keep his voice low.
“Hadley is wonderful with children.” Ami turned to the men. “She’ll make a fabulous mother one day.”
Of that, David had no doubt. He was only surprised she wasn’t already married with several children in tow. But he was glad, for his sake—and Brynn’s—that she was still single.
The line formed, and David took his place beside Brynn and Hadley. He tried to concentrate on the food, rather than how good Hadley smelled.
“No burgers, brats and beer for Lynn Chapin.” His whispered comment brought a smile to Hadley’s face.
Skewers of spicy shrimp, grilled corn with basil butter and bread salad with broccoli rabe and summer squash filled the tabletop.
Hadley turned toward him, and her mouth was so close, David would have to shift only an inch or two to kiss her. Desire punched like a fist in his gut.
“It looks wonderful.” But she wasn’t looking at the food. Her gaze was on his mouth.
David saw his own desire reflected in the blue depths of her eyes. It would be so easy to put his lips on hers, to—
Sarah Rose shrieked and lunged forward, nearly clipping David’s chin. He jerked back.
“What the—”
“She loves oranges.” Across the table, Ami’s green eyes danced.
David blinked.
Ami pointed to the salad in front of him, generously mixed with mandarins.
“Oh.” David shifted his gaze back to Hadley and the little girl in her arms, who seemed determined to grab everything, not just oranges, from the selections.
Once they reached the end of the table, Ami handed her plate to Beck and lifted Sarah Rose from Hadley’s arms.
Hadley waited, plate in hand.
“Let’s sit over there.” Brynn pointed to a table under a large oak tree. Wind chimes dangled from one branch, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody.
David didn’t know whether to be relieved or irritated when Greer and Clay joined them. The first fifteen minutes were filled with talk of the weather before veering to the upcoming Founder’s Day celebration.
“Hadley helped me with my family history project,” Brynn announced proudly.
“Oh?” Greer lifted a well-shaped brow. Curiosity danced in her gray eyes.
Brynn popped a grape into her mouth. “We made pizza. It was fun. That was before she moved in.”
Greer’s curious gaze shifted from Hadley to David. When neither said anything, she refocused on her niece.
Brynn leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Did you know Hadley’s middle name is Elizabeth, just like mine?”
“I didn’t know that.” Greer appeared suitably impressed.
“It’s a common name,” Hadley clarified.
“It came from my birth mother,” Brynn announced, stabbing a piece of orange.
David smiled. Both he and Whitney had spoken freely of Brynn’s adoption, not only with her, but with family and friends.
The conversation shifted to exploits of the Chapin siblings growing up. David slanted several surreptitious glances at Hadley during the meal, then stopped when he realized he was acting like a lovestruck schoolboy.
“I assume my brother gave you a tour of the old homeplace.” Clay paused in his assault on a piece of cherry cobbler the size of Texas to focus on Hadley. “I’m curious what you thought of the medal room.”
Hadley smiled apologe
tically. “I haven’t taken a tour.”
“After you finish eating, you need to take a trip upstairs to David’s bedroom.” Clay shot his brother a teasing glance. “If he wouldn’t have left for college, Mom would have been forced to take out the bed to make room for the hardware.”
David chuckled. “While we’re up there, I’ll show you Clay’s room. We call it the Harry Potter shrine.”
Clay pointed a fork at his brother. “Some of those posters are worth hundreds.”
Hadley grinned at the brotherly teasing. “I’d love a tour of both rooms, after I help with the cleanup.”
“Thanks, but not necessary.” Lynn, who’d just walked up, offered a reassuring smile. “I have staff to take care of that chore.”
Only then did Hadley notice the two young women in black pants and white shirts already silently clearing the tables.
“Okay, then.” Hadley smiled at Brynn. “Are you joining us?”
The child glanced across the yard at the twins, who were attempting to climb one of the many trees dotting the yard. “I’m going to play with Callum and Connor.”
“Be careful,” David urged, but Brynn had already taken off, headed straight for the twins. He turned back to Hadley. “Looks like it’s you and me and a bedroom full of medals.”
And that, David decided, was perfectly fine with him.
Hadley had paid little attention to the kitchen on her way outside. This time, she paused. The shiny cherrywood floor was a startling contrast to the white kitchen cabinets. She turned to David. “This is striking. Classic and traditional, yet warm and welcoming. Still—”
He lifted a brow.
Hadley shrugged. “I like our-ah, yours, better.”
She could tell the comment pleased him. “I’ll show you the rest of the house.”
Once they were alone in the hall, she touched his arm. “Since we’re alone, I want you to know I’ve enjoyed today…”
“But,” he prompted.
“I don’t want you feeling like you have to invite me to family events.”
A slow, easy smile was his only response.
She couldn’t help smiling back. He took her elbow, and they entered an area where two rooms were connected by an elaborately carved colonnade. A floral sofa and chairs had been grouped for conversation near a fireplace. “I hope you consider me your friend.”
Hadley’s heart performed a series of flutters as she crossed the room and ran a hand along the smooth white surface of the fireplace mantel. “This is lovely.”
“It was designed by Robert Adam. Known for his neoclassical style, he trained under his father, William, a well-regarded Scottish architect.” David stepped up behind her, standing so close she could feel the heat from his body. “The fluted Ionic columns and classical urns and ewers show his influence.”
Hadley turned to face him and found him. Right. There. “I enjoy learning new things.”
“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”
At her arched brow, he smiled. “Brian Herbert.”
Oh-so-casually, his hands moved to rest on her shoulders.
She’d lifted her face for the kiss they both knew was coming when he suddenly stepped back.
Hadley frowned, then realized the reason. A young woman, dark hair pulled back in a jaunty tail, had entered the room and was loading half-empty glasses on a tray. Though her gaze remained carefully averted, Hadley wondered how much she’d seen.
“Let me show you the upstairs.”
The promise in David’s eyes had Hadley’s mouth going dry. Neither spoke during the short flight up the stairs.
They’d passed several closed doors when David stopped her with a light touch on her arm. He reached around her to push a door open. “This was mine.”
Clay had been right. Baseball, football and track trophies filled an entire wall.
Moving to a track trophy, Hadley hefted a statue of a silver runner poised to sprint on top of a bright blue pillar. After reading the inscribed base, her lips curved as she turned to David. “I also ran the eight hundred meters.”
He lifted the trophy from her hands, returned it to its spot, then stepped close. They were playing with fire. They could get burned. Heck, who was she kidding? She could get burned. Badly.
Hadley shoved the fear aside. They were adults. Friends. What was a few kisses between friends? The secret that stood between them, the one he didn’t even know existed, would keep her from letting down her guard and getting too close.
In a month, she’d move out of his home. Life for both of them would go back to normal.
“You’re thinking too hard.”
Her breath caught as he lifted his hand and slid his fingers through her hair.
“You’re incredibly beautiful.” His soft voice reached deep, touching a raw, tender place.
“You’re the one who’s beautiful.” She breathed the words. “Gorgeous eyes the color of smoke. Dark hair like highly polished, fine wood. And a body—”
Hadley stopped herself just in time. No need to go down that road and put ideas that would never come to fruition—couldn’t come to fruition—in his head. Though, the desire shimmering in the air told her he probably shared a few of her lusty thoughts.
Afraid of what he might see in her eyes, Hadley wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. Just held him close, liking the feel of her curves molding against his muscles. Where she was soft, he was hard. So very hard.
“Ah, Hadley.” He tipped her head back and gazed into her eyes. “I want you so much.”
He lowered his head. His lips were warm and sweet, and Hadley let her eyelids close, savoring the moment.
A smoldering heat began to build inside her as his tongue circled and danced with hers. She did the same to him, each touch, each tingle reinforcing the possibilities.
He tasted like the most delicious candy Hadley had ever eaten, and she couldn’t help wanting more. When his hands slipped underneath her shirt, she didn’t think of stopping those fingers as they slowly slid upward. With one flick, he had her bra open. Her nipples tingled, anticipating his touch.
The door flew open with a bang. “What do you think of—”
The look of shock on Clay’s face might have been laughable at any other time. His voice trailed off with, “The medals?”
David’s hands dropped to his sides as he turned.
Hadley thought she heard him mutter a curse, but couldn’t be sure as her hammering heart made hearing difficult.
She resisted the urge to straighten her shirt, thankful David hadn’t yet pushed it up, or off. Hadley cleared her throat. “David was showing me his medals.”
“Is that what they call it now?” Clay chuckled, then shifted toward his brother. “Sorry to interrupt you and the girlfriend. Carry on.”
Before either of them had a chance to respond, Clay had pulled the door shut behind him.
“He’s got it all wrong.” Hadley’s voice took on an urgency. “You have to tell him I’m not your girlfriend.”
David was silent for a long time.
“I’m Brynn’s nanny.”
“Temporary nanny.” His sharp gray eyes never left her face. “Are you interested in dating me, Hadley?”
“Dating?”
With one hand, David pushed her hair back from her face and cupped her cheek. The tender gesture had her eyes widening. “You know, that thing men and women do when they like each other.”
Just say no, she told herself. She couldn’t date him. Unless he was talking about simply having fun together. Two friends enjoying each other’s company.
“You’re thinking too hard again.” His smile was lopsided, his fingers not quite steady as they trailed along the side of her jaw. “Just tell me what you want.”
Chapter 10
“A little birdie told me I’ll be seeing you at the Cherry Fun Run.” Ami rested her back against the center cabinet in her ruthlessly organized kit
chen.
Hadley inclined her head. “What little birdie gave you that bit of news?”
After hours of Friday morning baking, she and Ami finally had time to chat about inconsequential things, such as Hadley agreeing to participate in the upcoming two-mile run. Karin, on delivery duty this week, had just left with boxes of pastries and desserts.
Only a large order of cookies and pies, now boxed and ready, remained. Hadley would drop these off at the Good Hope Living Center on her way home. Or rather, on her way back to David’s home.
“Fin gave me all the deets. She said David called and asked ever-so-charmingly if there was any way she could get you added, even though the race has been full for weeks.” Ami gave a little laugh. “Of course my sister made it happen.”
“That was nice of Fin.”
“I’m so excited that you and David Chapin are together.” Happiness ran through Ami’s words like a pretty ribbon. She was a romantic to the core. “I saw the connection at Lynn’s house on Sunday. Beck saw it, too.”
David, Hadley thought, should have taken her suggestion to heart. On their way downstairs to rejoin the others, she’d told him it’d be okay with her if they didn’t mention they were dating. David had simply stared for a moment. Then he’d told her he wasn’t a fan of secrets.
Just remembering made her stomach clench.
Ami put several cookies on a china plate. “Let’s sit for fifteen and you can catch me up.”
“Now that we’re through baking, don’t you need to pick up Sarah Rose?”
Instead of separating out the baking duties today, Ami had asked Hadley if they could work on several large orders together. Beck had left with Sarah Rose shortly after Hadley’s arrival.
“There’s no rush. Beck will bring her home in time for her nap.”
After pouring two cups of coffee, Hadley followed Ami into the dining room. Once seated, she immediately took a fortifying gulp of the hot liquid.
While the robust chicory blend Ami and Beck preferred wasn’t a favorite, Hadley relished the feel of the hot bitter blend warming her throat.
Stick to the truth, Hadley told herself. The last thing she wanted was additional lies between her and Ami.
