His-and-Hers Family

“Most of the time. She struggled after Karen and Jim died. But with a lot of love and support, she pulled through. She’s strong, gutsy.” Wyatt watched Fiona’s eyes shadow with a hazy kind of sadness. It twisted something inside his chest. Made him want to offer … what? Comfort? Get a grip. “She’s a lot like you.”

Fiona laughed. Brittle. Uncertain. “I’m not gutsy.”

“I’ve read the file, remember?” he said and then wondered if mentioning it was wise. She didn’t react and he decided to push deeper. “Why have you moved around so much?”

“Habit.”

Wyatt’s brows shot up. “That’s not it. Tell me why.”

She speared another dumpling and slid the carton across the table. “Looking for roots, I guess.”

“Did you find them?”

She ate the dumpling, and when she licked her lips, his heart smashed in his chest. I definitely have to stop looking at her mouth.

“I found Callie and Evie, my two best friends,” she explained. “And I like this town. I enjoy my job and my little house.” She glanced around the room. “Plus I can have Titan nearby.”

“So, no boyfriend?”

Her lips curled up. “Didn’t we cover that already? I’m single.”

“Happily?”

She stopped tossing her fork through a carton of spicy chicken. “Who’s happy about being alone?”

She had a point. Although since he’d broken up with Yvette, Wyatt hadn’t wanted to pursue anything serious with anyone. He’d dated one woman since then, and that had faded before it had really begun. He wasn’t in any kind of hurry to lay his heart on the line again. He doubted he ever would be. “Better to be unhappy alone than miserable with someone else.”

“Spoken from experience?” she asked.

He shrugged the question off. “Old news.”

She swapped cartons. “You know things about me. It’s only fair for you to share a little, don’t you think?”

Wyatt grabbed the spicy chicken, took a bite and then washed it down with the beer. “I was engaged. It didn’t work out.”

“Do you miss it?” she asked. “Being with someone, I mean? Just belonging, having somebody to talk with, having someone who gets you?”

“My relationship with my ex-fiancée wasn’t that romantic.”

She frowned. “But you loved her?”

Nothing he said was going to get him away from Fiona’s inquisitive gaze. “I guess.”

He knew it didn’t sound all that convincing. But he wasn’t convinced he actually had loved Yvette. There’d been attraction and a certain compatibility, sure … but love? It was a nice idea, but did it really exist?

“Did a number on you, did she?”

Pretty, smart and intuitive. “You could say that.”

“At least you’ve had the courage to try,” she said in between a mouthful of noodles.

“Have you ever been close?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I’m always the best friend.”

“What?”

She smiled. “You know, the best friend. There’s the girl who always gets the guy … and then there’s the ever-faithful best friend standing on the sidelines. That’s me.”

The best friend. Who was she kidding? She made herself sound about as exciting as an old shoe. Ridiculous. When he could feel the vibration of her through to his blood. Her skin was as clear as a camellia flower, and that hair … He suddenly had a startling image of it trailing across his chest.

Wyatt cleared his throat and drank some beer. “I suppose we should talk about Cecily.”

She looked up. “That is why you’re here, isn’t it?”

“Of course,” he replied, choosing his words. “Before I agree to anything, I need to know if you really want to connect with her. Or if you feel ambivalent or like you have no other choice because it’s what Cecily wants. If that’s the case, believe me, I’ll leave tomorrow and you’ll never hear from me again until you’re ready to make the next move.”

Panic quickly filled her eyes. “No … don’t do that.”

Wyatt didn’t respond. He waited. She had to make a decision. There were no acceptable half measures. Fiona Walsh was either in or out.

“I want …” She stopped, paused, took a long breath. He waited some more for her to speak again. “I do want this,” she said finally, and Wyatt didn’t miss the way her eyes glistened. “I want a chance to explain why I gave her up.”

“And the hard questions?” he shot back. “Because she’s going to ask them and you need to be ready.”

“I will be.”

Wyatt wasn’t sure. Something was amiss; he felt it through to his bones. There was something she wasn’t telling him. He pushed the food aside. “Fiona, about Cecily’s father—I think there are things you’re not saying.”

She shook her head quickly. Too quickly. “There’s nothing. He’s dead. He can never hurt her.”

Wyatt immediately picked up on her words. “Did he hurt you?”

Fiona’s eyes fluttered. “I didn’t mean that. I meant … I meant he’s dead and won’t ever be a part of her life.”

“And that’s all?”

She nodded. “That’s all.”

Caution rattled around in his head, but he stopped the interrogation. “Okay, I’ll talk with Cecily when I get home. We’ll work something out. Cecily’s welfare is my priority, so you understand that any initial contact will be supervised?”

She nodded. “Of course. I’d like to write her a letter, if that’s okay with you. There are some things I’d like to say to her, and I think a letter might be a good way to start. I’ll understand if you need to read it before she does.”

Her lips glistened and looked delicious, and Wyatt’s libido took serious notice. “Sure. I’ll text you my address.” He pushed the beer aside. “I should probably be going. I have an early flight in the morning.”

She stood up, and he lingered for a moment before he got to his feet. Suddenly, leaving didn’t seem like such a great idea. Stunned to realize how much he enjoyed her company and wanted more of it, Wyatt remained by the table and stared at her. The air between them grew thicker, hotter, as though some kind of seductive force had blown into the room.

She was closer now, barely a couple feet away. Close enough to touch if he reached for her. His fingertips tingled at the thought.