“Oopsis right, kid.”
Billie set the glasses on the counter and turned to her mother.“When are we having dessert?”
“Right now.”
Jane opened a bakery box and pulled out the cake inside.Billie grabbed forks and grinned.“My favorite part of the meal.”
“Mine, too,” he said, trying to ignore the panic building up inside.It was all happening too quickly and too easily.Billie liked him; Jane—He drew in a breath.Something was happening there all right.Hormones or memories or both.And it scared the hell out of him.He was risking too much.This whole thing could explode in his face, leaving him worse off than before.
* * *
“But I wantbothof you to put me to bed,” Billie whined when Jane told her it was time to take her bath.
Jane shook her head and glanced at Adam.“There’s still time to back out.”
He sat on the sofa with Billie curled up next to him.With a lazy flick of his hand, he sent her baseball cap sailing.She chuckled and ducked after it, then climbed onto his lap.
“I’ll take my chances,” he said, holding Billie in his arms as he rose to his feet.“How about if I give you a piggyback ride to the bathroom, thenafteryour bath, I’ll help tuck you in?”
“Okay.But I want alongride.The tub’s real big and takes a long time to fill.”
Jane watched Adam gallop down the hall, with Billie clinging to his back and urging him to go faster.He ducked to avoid bumping her against the hall light fixture.As they passed under the glow, the hair on their heads gleamed.Identical shades of brown reflected in the light.She forced herself to stand and walk up the stairs to the bathroom.
The raw feeling hadn’t gone away, she thought, as she adjusted the water temperature.She needed some serious comforting.As she added bubble bath to the tub, she realized that an hour-long soak and a good book wasn’t exactly what she was thinking of.She wanted to be held.By Adam.The trouble with that scenario was that he was part of the problem.A big part.No doubt he was feeling a little on edge himself.Who would he go to for comfort?Was there someone special in Orchard, or maybe the next town, that he could call?
The thought of Adam with another woman fired up her temper, but she told herself she had no right to care.She’d given away that right the day she’d run out on him.She was lucky he wasn’t married with a dozen kids of his own.At least Billie would have him all to herself while they got acquainted.Charlene had warned her that Adam hadn’t spent the last nine years waiting for her.She would do well to remember that advice.
While the tub filled, Jane went into Billie’s room and pulled a clean pair of pajamas out of a dresser drawer.After clicking on the lamp, she drew back the bright red spread and smoothed the sheets.The worn old teddy bear, with one ear missing and most of the fur rubbed off, was the only vaguely feminine thing in a room full of baseball posters and sports equipment.She picked up a couple of dirty T-shirts and dropped them into the basket, then walked to the doorway and surveyed the room.Where would they live when the dust settled on this new situation?The three of them?Here?She shook her head.Adam would never give up his family home; nor did she want him to.He belonged to theBarrington estate; it was as much a part of him as his eyes.Would they continue to live next door to each other?There didn’t seem to be much option.She wouldn’t move into that big house.She had no right.
Thundering footsteps on the stairs drew her attention away from her thoughts.She stepped into the bathroom and turned off the water, then returned to the hall and watched Adam carrying Billie up the stairs.They were both laughing at something.Billie tugged on his shirt collar as if it were the reins.Her pulling had unfastened two buttons exposing more of his broad chest.Jane felt herself flush and looked away.
“One child delivered for bathing,” he said, turning his back on her and grabbing Billie’s arm to help her slide down.
“Just in time,” Jane answered.“The bath is ready.”
“Aw, Mom.”
Jane laughed.“We have this conversation every night and I’ve never changed my mind about your bath.Why do you keep trying?”
Billie grinned.“You might say I don’t have to.”
“Hope springs eternal.”She pulled off her daughter’s baseball cap.“In.”She pointed to the bathtub.“Now.”
Billie glanced up at Adam.“Will you help tuck me in?”
Jane told herself not to look, but she couldn’t help it.She glanced at his face.The shutters opened to reveal a longing so intense, it took her breath away.He reached out and tapped Billie’s nose.“Yeah.I’ll be there.”
“Cool.”She ducked into the bathroom.“I’m not really dirty, Mom, so this shouldn’t take long.”
Jane rolled her eyes.“We go through this every night.”
Adam smiled.“I can imagine.Call me when she’s done.”
She watched him retreat down the stairs.He moved with a powerful grace that made her long for a second chance.
“I’m in the tub,” Billie called.“I’m splashing.”
“I’m coming.”
