Page 50 of Bountiful
“I do, though.” His voice wasgruff.
“No,” I shook my head. “Don’t. A lot has changed for me these two years, but that’s not a bad thing.” It wasn’t easy for me to explain. “Becoming a mother wasn’t something I’d been considering—yet. I was kind of a wild teenager. I may havementionedthat.”
He smiled broadly, and it changed his face into a more welcoming place. It was so easy to smile right backathim.
“Anyway… I didn’t think I was a maternal person. So at first I was terrified. But then I realized that I was herperson.” I checked his face, and he was listening intently. “That sounds like a weird way to put it. But it was me or nobody, and that wasbracing…”
Nicole pushed past me and toddled over toward the stuffed dogagain.
I realized I was rambling. “I’m not expressing myself well. My brother Damien says that he had to become a soldier before he figured himself out. And for me, it was like taking care of a newborn was my own personal boot camp. I just dug in and learned how everything worked, and I did as good a job asanyoneelse.”
“I’m sure you did,”hesaid.
“The thing is—I loved it. She slowed me down. I used to spend time worrying about my lack of direction and all my mistakes. But I don’t anymore. And now I co-own a growing business. Go figure.” I took a breath and realized I’d been talking about myself for a long time now. So I sprang off the couch. “Shall we walk outdoors? It’s aniceday.”
Nicole looked up when I mentioned going outside. She pushed up onto her feet and headed for the door. I followed her and slipped some shoes onto my feet. Then I had a moment of wondering whether I should try to put shoes on Nicole. She’d prefer to be barefoot, and I’d prefer to avoid the wrestling match. But I didn’t want to look like a hick who didn’t dress her childappropriately.
My baby let out an impatient squawk, so I lifted her and decided she didn’t need shoes. “Okay, toots.” I openedthedoor.
Dave followed me downstairs and outside, where we spotted Benito in the distance, showing Bess the cornerstone of the Gin Mill building, laidin1804.
“Nice place,” Dave said to break thesilence.
“It belongs to my brother, Alec. He opened the bar first. Then Audrey and I opened thecoffeeshop.”
“Audrey is the blonde?” heasked.
“That’s right,” I said. “She’s my businesspartner.”
“Is she still datingyourex?”
I looked at him with surprise. “They’re getting married in two weeks. How did youknowthat?”
“I remember her from the bar, that’s all.” He frowned at me. “So you own a business with your ex’sfiancé?”
“Sure. She’s my best friend now. It’s not weird.” My gaze challenged him todisagree.
His said,Well, okay. If you say so. Out loud he said, “I’m going to pay child support, just as soon as my lawyer educates me on how that allworks.”
“Dave,” I argued instinctively. “I didn’t ask you formoney.”
“Never said you had. But I can afford it, and there’s no reason for you toobject.”
We stopped right there on the lawn, staring each other down. The familiar push and pull of our summer together seemed to have risen up like a spirit between us. I saw the same bossy spark in his eye, and it was so familiar that I couldn’t look away. The masculine curve of his cheekbone. The determined set of his mouth. It was justthesame.
And Iached.
“What do you want from me?” I finallyasked.
He smiled. “I’m pretty sure that’s my line. Lawyers can only tell me so much. I need to know what you want fromme. How I can help you. I have a few ideas, but it’s better if you letmeknow.”
I turned away, walking slowly toward my brother and Bess again. Nicole had already made it to Benito, her little hand onhisknee.
What did I want from Dave?Nothingwas the first answer that popped into my head. There were already too many people I owed. My heart was a traitorous bitch, though. If I opened my mouth to say so, the wordeverythingmight come tumbling outinstead.
And that wasn’t on offer, and neverwouldbe.
“I’ll think about it,” I said stiffly. “How long are you in town, anyway?” By which I meant,How often do I have to look at you and try not to remember how good we weretogether?
