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Her astute observations only helped to cement his theory. Now more than ever he was certain he was on the right track. “Do you remember anything else?”
“He was worried about how long I'd keep him on the injured reserve list.” She shrugged. “He mentioned a big game coming up in October. I don't know the details, but maybe it was a game that would attract college scouts or something.”
“Good point. I wonder if I can get a subpoena for his name.” He figured it was worth a try. The phone in his pocket vibrated. Drawing it out, he recognized his sister's number. “Excuse me while I take this call.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, Andrea.”
“Hi, Alec. Do you think you could pick up Shannon soon? Or do you want me to take her with me to Bethany’s soccer game?”
“No, I'll pick her up in a few minutes.” To his shame, he'd almost forgotten about the need to pick up his daughter by one o’clock. Thankfully, it looked as if Jillian was finished eating.
“Shannon?” Jillian guessed with a smile. He was relieved she didn't look annoyed.
“That’s right. I need to pick her up from my sister's on the way home.” He tucked his phone back into his pocket. “I hope you don't mind.”
“Not at all.”
Alec paid for their meal and then walked Jillian out to his car. She seemed lost in thought, and the way she worried her lower lip between her teeth made him want to cover her mouth with his to soothe her worries away. Only once he started, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop.
Don’t go there, he silently warned. She was off limits, remember?
“Are you working second shift again tonight?” Jillian glanced at him once they were seated in the car.
“Yes.” He shot her a glance, as he headed for his sister's house. “You?”
“Same.”
If he wasn't a father with a young daughter waiting for him at home, he might have suggested they get together for a drink after their respective shifts were over. But he was a father. Shannon would be up early. Besides, Megan the college student he'd hired to help him during the summer would also want to get home.
“I'm sure it's difficult for you to work second shift while Shannon is in school,” Jillian said. “You probably don’t see her much during the week.”
“I switched to third shift after I brought Shannon home to live with me. My body didn't like working graveyard, but it was very nice to be home with her in the evenings. And I managed to get some sleep while she was at school during the day.” Shannon was more important than his sleep schedule. “I'm next in line for the day shift, but if that doesn't happen by September, I'll have to go back to night shift.” He would do whatever was necessary to care for his daughter.
Yet it occurred to him that if that happened, their schedules wouldn't match at all. It was yet another reason why a relationship between them would be impossible.
So why was he stuck on the idea of trying to make it work?
* * *
Jillian shifted uncomfortablyin the passenger seat of Alec’s car as he pulled into the driveway of his sister's house. She braced herself for more teasing. Would Andrea wonder what they were doing together? As it turned out, she needn't have worried because his sister along with the two girls were outside, waiting for them. Shannon ran over the minute they pulled up.
“Hi Daddy. Hi, Dr. Jillian.”
“Hi yourself, munchkin.” Alec didn't get out of the car, but simply waved at Andrea and Bethany, who was wearing a soccer uniform, while Shannon climbed into the back booster seat. He glanced over his shoulder, then began to back out of the driveway. “How was your morning?”
“Really fun. Beth and I played with our new dolls.”
“Great.” Alec grinned. We're just going to drive Dr. Jillian home, first, all right?”
“Actually, why don't you just head home?” Jillian suggested. She felt bad, keeping Alec away from the portion of the day he normally spent with his daughter. He'd been kind enough to come to her test, she didn't need to intrude on his personal time any longer. “I can walk from there.”
“Yeah, Daddy. We can take Daisy and walk Jillian home again.”
Alec nodded. “Fine with me.”
When they reached Alec’s house, Jillian had barely gotten out of the car when Shannon dashed past her toward the house to fetch her dog. In less than thirty seconds she'd returned with Daisy on her leash. The little dog wagged her tail with excitement and Jillian bent over to greet the cute pup.
