AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She folded her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Why did you react that way?
I hesitated. I didn’t have a good explanation at the ready. “Honestly, I’m not completely sure.”
“I wouldn’t have said anything about that night. You didn’t have to act as though we’re basically strangers.”
“I know,” I grumbled. “I’m sorry. I think… It’s just that….” I growled in frustration, unable to find the words. Instead, I hauled her closer and kissed her. She was stiff for a moment, but then melted into the embrace. I inhaled her sweet scent and reveled in the sensation of holding her, but then she was pushing away from me, putting distance between us.
“What was that?” she demanded.
Damn. I’d screwed up again.
I dragged a hand through my hair. “I want you,” I said. “I know you wouldn’t have given anything away back in the bar, butImight have. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind, and every time I see you, it gets harder to remember why I don’t do relationships.”
“Oh.” She deflated, her face puckered with confusion. “You know, you haven’t really explained to me why you don’t date. Is it because of Ruby?”
I glanced around, noticing a few people in the vicinity. “You mind if we walk while we talk? I think we have an audience.”
Her lips pursed, but she nodded. We walked side by side along the pavement. I followed her lead, not sure if she was taking us back to her place or somewhere else.
“The reason I’ve chosen not to date anyone seriously is partly because of Ruby.” I scrubbed my hand over my jaw, feeling spiky stubble against my palm and fingertips. “I already told you how her mum left after she was born. When she got pregnant, she didn’t want to keep the baby. I persuaded her to carry her to term, and then I adopted her. She signed away parental rights, and we got a divorce. We’d been high school sweethearts and married young. We hadn’t meant to get pregnant, and there had been lots of other things she wanted to do. Travel, live footloose and fancy free. A baby got in the way of that.”
“I’m sorry, that can’t have been easy.” The sympathy in her voice felt like progress. “For you to suddenly become not only a first-time dad, but also a sole provider must have been a massive learning curve.”
“You can say that again. I wasn’t completely alone though. My parents helped out. They were amazing.”
“You’re lucky to have them.” Something in her tone sounded wistful. “So, the no-dating thing. It’s because you don’t want Ruby to get attached to someone and lose them?”
“I’m not sure how I could handle it if we started caring about someone and they left,” I admitted. “But I also don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to a relationship. I couldn’t take a woman out and give her the attention she deserved.”
“If you found the right person, it wouldn’t matter.”
I sighed. “There’s also the fact you’re young and carefree. You deserve better than to be tied down with someone like me.”
She scowled. “Shouldn’t that be for me to decide?”
I kept my mouth shut because she had a point, but since it would affect my daughter, if I dated Hannah only for her to later take off, it was a factor I couldn’t ignore.
“Besides...” She stopped walking and turned to face me. A quick check of our surroundings showed that no one was paying attention to us anymore. “My life isn’t carefree, and it never has been.” She drew in a slow breath. “You met my dad.”
“Briefly.”
“I’m not sure if Ruby has told you this or not, but he’s an ex-con. He served time for car theft.”
She outlined the whole story, including how her mother hadn’t cared enough to want to see her after her father got out. The woman’s careless attitude made me unreasonably angry. At least my ex had removed herself from Ruby’s life from the beginning, so she’d never rejected her personally the way Hannah’s mother had done to her. I didn’t understand how any parent could do that.
“So,” she concluded, “You’ve got the wrong impression of me if you think I’m the type of flake who’s going to take off when things get hard, and I like to think I know more about single parenthood than most, even if I haven’t experienced it myself.”
I was at a loss for words. When I’d chased after her, I hadn’t imagined us having this conversation. Although, to be fair, I hadn’t known what I would say if I’d caught her.
“I misjudged you,” I said eventually. “Made a generalization. I’m sorry.” I winced. “I feel like I’m always apologizing to you. How about I try to stop doing things that require an apology?”
She laughed, the sound of it lightening my spirits. “That’s a solid plan.” To my surprise—and pleasure—she smiled. “So, where’s Ruby tonight?”
“Staying at a friend’s.”
“That’s great. She deserves a little fun.”
My heart squeezed. I loved that Hannah seemed to care about Ruby. Perhaps her big heart hadn’t been the thing that had initially drawn me to her in Wellington earlier in the year, but it certainly made it more challenging to resist her. But then, was there even any point in resisting her? She wanted me, I wanted her, and she’d made some good points tonight. Besides, we could see where this went without telling Ruby, and then share the truth if we decided to pursue a relationship seriously.
