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Although still on the early side, only one other person sat outside enjoying the cool breezes off the ocean. Since Curt merely waved as they passed, she assumed the woman wasn’t his cousin’s wife. A few of the homes even looked empty. No lights appeared on inside, and at two of them the patio furniture on the deck remained covered up.
Before heading back inside, they walked the entire length of the beach in both directions. Reese managed to collect half a dozen seashells and watched the sky above them turn a gorgeous shade of pink as the sun went down. When the stars became visible, Taylor herded her niece inside and upstairs.
“Your bag is in here.” Curt flipped on the bedroom light, revealing a room at least twice the size of Taylor’s room at home.
“I get a TV?” Reese asked, her eyes wide. She walked in, carrying Peanut and the backpack holding all of Peanut’s friends. “What’s in here?” She opened a closed door and turned on the light. “My own bathroom!”
Taylor went straight for the bag and searched for the toothbrush and toothpaste she’d packed. “And why don’t we use it to brush your teeth.” She handed Reese the items as well as her pajamas. “Change while you’re in there, too. I’ll wait right here.” She closed the door and turned. Curt lounged in the doorway, his shoulder against the frame and his arms crossed.
“I put her in here so you’d be close by. My room is right across the hall.” She must have made a face because he straightened up and moved into the room. “There’s a third bedroom if you want it instead. Or you can stay in here, I guess.”
She hadn’t thought about sleeping arrangements when Curt invited them. Faced with the three options, only one appealed to her. “No, I’ll stay with you. I’ll just make sure I’m up in the morning before her.”
Dating a woman with a child brought up issues he’d never considered before, like sleeping arrangements. The few girlfriends who’d stayed with him here or at one of his other homes always slept in his room. There had been no reason for them to sleep anywhere else. Taylor’s hesitation made sense. Reese had probably never seen anyone in her aunt’s bed. And despite her ability to carry on an intelligent conversation, Reese was not even seven years old, way too young to know anything about adult relationships.
“Okay, you’ve got Peanut and the gang. If you need me, I’ll be across the hall. Just come and knock.”
He watched Taylor pull the covers over Reese. The little girl clutched her stuffed tiger tightly. A stuffed penguin and a unicorn rested on the pillow to her right, while a stuffed white-and-black dog and an elephant rested under the covers on her left. He’d been surprised she’d managed to cram so many animals into her backpack. Taylor hadn’t blinked an eye when Reese pulled one animal after another from the bag.
“See you in the morning. I love you.” Taylor kissed Reese’s cheek.
Reese returned the hug. “Love you, too, Auntie Taylor.” She let go and looked over at him. “Can I give you a good night hug, too?”
Before he’d realized it, she’d wrapped him around her little finger. Denying her anything, whether it was a soccer lesson, or in this case a hug, was now impossible. He came forward and took the seat Taylor vacated. What did people say when they tucked kids in? He tried to remember all the times his parents put him to bed.
“Sweet dreams, short stuff.”
Reese kissed his cheek as she wrapped her arms around him. “’Night, Curt. I love you. Thanks for walking in the ocean with me.”
He cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the golf ball stuck there. “Love you, too.” Reese, much like her aunt, had crept into his heart and taken up residence there.
Taylor didn’t comment on the words exchanged in Reese’s room as they walked back outside. She must have heard their conversation. Reese wasn’t exactly one to speak in a low voice, and Taylor had been standing close by.
“Between the TV in the room and the private bathroom, we might have trouble getting her to leave Sunday night. She’s been asking for a TV in her bedroom for over two years. And even I’d love my own bathroom.”
He’d brought a bottle of wine outside with them. Curt poured them each a glass and passed one to her as he listened.
“This condo is beautiful and the view incredible. I could get used to seeing this view every morning and night. I can’t believe you don’t live here year-round.”
“The drive from here into Boston every day would’ve killed me. But I try to spend weekends here in the summer. I want you and Reese to come with me when I do.” He sipped his wine and enjoyed the rich citrus flavor.
She didn’t take a drink but instead set the glass down. “I heard Reese tell you she loves you.” Taylor’s fingers moved up and down the stem of the glass, her face a mask of worry and concentration. “And I heard your response.”
Curt interpreted her worry immediately, but she continued before he had a chance to comment.
“I don’t want her to get hurt.” Taylor’s voice contained an uncharacteristic wobble, something he never wanted to hear again when she spoke.
“I meant what I said. I don’t know when it happened. Maybe when she started our soccer lessons. But I love her.” Moving to the edge of his seat, Curt put his wine glass down next to hers. “I love her aunt, too.” He spilled his heart out. It was her turn.
“Really? Do you know when that happened?”
Damned if I know exactly. “Maybe the day we put together my patio furniture. I asked you for an Allen wrench from the toolbox. Instead of asking what it looks like, you asked me what size I wanted. Other women I know would’ve either told me to get it myself or brought over the entire box because they didn’t know what I was talking about.”
“Well, knowing the difference between tools comes in handy. Imagine the disaster if the guy you love asked for a flat-head screwdriver and you brought him a hammer instead. He’d never finish renovating his house. He’d be stuck living there a long time because he couldn’t sell it.”
“I’m not really in any rush to finish. I enjoy doing the work and don’t see myself selling the place anyway.”
“Wasn’t your grand plan to complete your book, renovate the house, and move on?”
