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Pull it together. Walking carefully, he followed Isaiah and the girls across the parking lot, pleasantly surprised when the baby stayed put, exactly how Isaiah had promised. The girls took off as soon as they reached the sand. Palm trees dotted the playground, and in the distance, there was a great view of the Coronado Bridge and boats going under it.
“I’m going in. Cover me, Chief.” Isaiah really did have the best laugh, warm and rich with a hint of spice like molasses. And Mark couldn’t help but grin as Isaiah raced after the girls, easily getting to the top of the largest play structure to do the twisty slide with the kids.
“You guys have the cutest kids.” A woman wearing a tie-dyed dress with a baby in a stroller—see, sensible people did own those—came up to him, walking alongside another, taller woman. A kid around Daphne’s age trailed after them.
“Uh. Thanks.”
“I’m Lydia and this is Jane.” The woman made introductions instead of moving along, so Mark did the polite thing and shook hands. “We just moved to the island.”
“Welcome.” Mark needed Isaiah to come back over. He wasn’t nearly talkative enough for this, especially this early in the day.
“Do you live on the island?” Lydia asked as the other woman prodded the little girl to go play near the climbing toys where Isaiah was now encouraging the girls to pretend to be pirates.
“Yeah. Lifelong except for training and deployment.”
“You’re military? Oh that’s wonderful. I know they’re becoming much more accepting now. It must be hard on your partner though, all that time alone with the kids. Or is it husband?” She looked down at Mark’s hand with a critical eye.
“Oh. Uh...” Crap. How to get out of this mess? “We’re not... That is, I’m not...”
“Not a couple.” Isaiah finally loped over, full of easy smiles, not seeming to care in the least that they’d been mistaken for a couple. Isaiah made the round of introductions and did the polite thing of exclaiming over the baby in the stroller. He was far better at small talk than Mark. “I’m super glad to meet you. Daphne needs more friends her own age. We should do a playdate, and I can fill you in on places you guys might like to check out.”
“That would be lovely.” Lydia had a warm smile for Isaiah, clearly as charmed by him as the rest of the world. “And too bad you’re not a couple. I was having the most fun trying to figure out which of you was the bio dad.”
“Lydia.” Jane had the tone of someone long used to Lydia’s lack of filter. “Not everyone cares to share everything like you.”
“Sorry.” Lydia laughed. “I just got excited for a minute.”
“No worries.” Isaiah continued to be the picture of good humor, making faces at Liam over Mark’s shoulder while talking to the women. “I’ll get you info on Daphne’s preschool. They seem fairly welcoming, and there are other diverse families there.”
Mark spotted Zoe balanced atop one of the slide ladders. His heart gave a lurch. “Zoe! Be careful!”
“She’s fine. But I’ll go spot her if it makes you feel better.” Isaiah headed over to the slide area.
“Uncle Mark?” Daphne had wandered back over. “You and Uncle Ikey gonna have your steak date later? And put out the trash?” She said the last bit with grave importance, and Mark wished the sand surrounding the play structures would swallow him up.
“Uh...” God, he was so articulate this morning. “Not a date.”
Lydia and Jane both laughed like they saw right through him. Meanwhile, Isaiah was helping Zoe down the big slide. He was so good with the kids that his joy at being around them was infectious, watching him a pleasure. It did strange things to Mark’s insides, and he couldn’t help the smile that insisted on happening. For a second—and only one second—he let himself imagine what it would be like if Lydia had been right, if they were a couple, if all that joy and energy was Mark’s. Terrifying. Wonderful. Never happening.
“We better get Chelsea and head on to lunch. Enjoy the not-a-date.” Lydia gave him a little wink.
It was not a date. Mark had been on those, and they usually made him feel like his clothes were three sizes too small, all buttoned up and uncomfortable. Hanging out with Isaiah was nothing like that. Sure he drove Mark nuts, but he was also fun, making Mark relax in a way he did with few others, and that had been the case ever since their first meeting. And despite himself, despite everything that had happened, he found himself looking forward to the rest of the day. And that was something he hadn’t thought possible.
Damn it. Liking Isaiah was just too easy. He needed to be careful.
* * *
