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The Groom's Little Girls
Katie Meyer


THIS ATTORNEY'S GOT A CASE OF TRUE LOVE!Father to tenacious and adorable twin girls. Business owner. Friend. That's plenty for Tyler Jackson to juggle. Did he really need to add mentoring a troubled little boy to that list? Yet he knows he can make a difference and maybe help the child’s guardian, Dani Post, too. Because something about the lovely lawyer sends the widower’s heart skipping . . .After several difficult months, Dani is finally getting her career and life back, while learning to deal with her PTSD. Her heart is even opening up again, thanks to handsome Tyler. His ability to care for family and help her unsettled charge sparked something deep within Dani–something she'd thought was lost long ago. But can she learn to trust again–and open her heart to Paradise?







This Attorney’s Got A Case Of True Love!

Father to tenacious and adorable twin girls. Business owner. Friend. That’s plenty for Tyler Jackson to juggle. Did he really need to add mentoring a troubled little boy to that list? Yet he knows he can make a difference and maybe help the child’s guardian, Dani Post, too. Because something about the lovely lawyer sends the widower’s heart skipping...

After several difficult months, Dani is finally getting her career and life back while learning to deal with her PTSD. Her heart is even opening up again, thanks to handsome Tyler. His ability to care for family and help her unsettled charge sparks something deep within Dani—something she thought was lost long ago. But can she learn to trust again—and open her heart to Paradise?


“There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” No, Tyler had no intention of keeping Dani from joining them. In fact, he found he was almost looking forward to another meeting with the fiery lawyer. Ever since his wife’s death, his friends and family had treated him with kid gloves—always careful with how they spoke, what they said.

Dani, on the other hand, had gotten in his face, telling him what she thought without holding back. That kind of forthrightness was refreshing and, he was shocked to realize, a bit of a turn-on.

Of course, it wasn’t going to lead to anything; he was already overwhelmed with running a business and caring for his daughters, not to mention the new responsibility of being a mentor to a troubled boy. The very last thing he needed was one more complication in his life—romantic or otherwise.

Still, there was no harm in looking. No harm at all.

* * *

Proposals in Paradise: True love on bended knee!


The Groom’s Little Girls

Katie Meyer






www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


KATIE MEYER is a Florida native with a firm belief in happy endings. A former veterinary technician and dog trainer, she now spends her days homeschooling her children, writing and snuggling with her pets. Her guilty pleasures include good chocolate, Downton Abbey and cheap champagne. Preferably all at once. She looks to her parents’ whirlwind romance and her own happy marriage for her romantic inspiration.


This book is dedicated to all those who have been mistreated because of their gender or sexual identity, and to anyone struggling with mental health issues, especially PTSD.


Contents

Cover (#u27f101fd-7f31-5bee-b3e7-a422b451b1ea)

Back Cover Text (#uc5c28eaf-960c-50a8-8500-a11a66d7cf0f)

Introduction (#u58d1c0bd-46cb-5549-b795-76ba4191da33)

Title Page (#u31e1c38f-cd41-5c74-9b1e-71f4d73a637c)

About the Author (#u1fb6d3fd-2d95-5cd8-9aad-558392974d5a)

Dedication (#u198e925f-29c5-566f-9902-335f8ea05c75)

Chapter One (#ua69bb73c-5639-5c8c-b4f2-f6050b5d9c9c)

Chapter Two (#ubd62665c-d0d1-57e9-9126-a70f5a9ddc32)

Chapter Three (#u399f4cba-6ad5-54d3-b7e5-663e8867757b)

Chapter Four (#u8369391e-f40b-52d4-9c18-07471046386e)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)


Chapter One (#ucaca4f14-8555-596a-a825-50a0758750d5)

Why were the good-looking ones always jerks?

That was the thought circling through lawyer Dani Post’s mind as Tyler Jackson made his way to the witness box. Yes, he was gorgeous, with ice-blue eyes, short, cropped blond hair and an athletic build that had the middle-aged courtroom reporter nearly drooling as she typed. But he obviously lacked a shred of human decency, as far as Dani could tell, and she’d had more than enough experience with men like that. It was because of him that the little boy at her side was trembling with fear, his sweaty hand clenched around her own.

Kevin McCarthy, a precocious nine-year-old, had been caught stealing a baseball bat from the toy store that Tyler owned. Obviously he shouldn’t have done it, but there were extenuating circumstances, not the least of which was that Kevin was a foster kid who’d been through more trauma in his short life than most adults could even imagine. The boy had just wanted to be able to join in the pick-up baseball games at the park, and knowing his foster parents couldn’t afford a new bat he’d grabbed one out of desperation, hoping that it would help him fit in with his peers. Dani didn’t condone his actions, but surely the coldhearted toy-store owner could have handled it without going to the cops! He could have just made the boy return the bat or spoken to his foster parents. Maybe had him do some chores around the shop. But instead he’d pressed charges against a kid barely big enough to see over the witness box.

And now Kevin was her very first guardian ad litem case. Guardians ad litem, GALs for short, were adult volunteers who were assigned to children involved in the family court system, to advocate for their rights and help make what could be a frightening process easier for the child. Originally they had only been assigned in abuse cases, but Palmetto County, Florida, had recently expanded the program to all foster children, to help them navigate the family court system. Dani’s job was to help him understand what was happening, and to speak out on the child’s behalf as his representative. And now, with Kevin facing criminal charges, she was also acting as his guide through the juvenile justice system.

A legal background like Dani’s, although not necessary, was helpful, and the program director had assured Dani that even though she’d only been practicing a few years she was more than qualified. But nothing in the training program had prepared her for how emotional it would be, and how hard. The very thing that had drawn her to the program, her understanding of what it felt like to be vulnerable and powerless, was what made doing the job so heartbreaking. When she looked at Kevin she didn’t see a case or a volunteer project. She saw a frightened little boy who had made a mistake he was very sorry for. He was just a kid who needed a break—someone to stand by him and believe in him. Sitting next to her, legs dangling several inches above the ground, he seemed so small and vulnerable. And she knew too well what it was like to feel vulnerable.

Unfortunately, the outcome was out of her hands. Her role in this case was as an advisor and sounding board. She could explain things to Kevin, but she had no say in what happened. If this had been a custody hearing, she would have presented her opinion to the judge, but in a criminal case she was on the sidelines, there for moral support as much as anything. So she bit her tongue, held Kevin’s hand and glared daggers at Tyler Jackson.

A few minutes later, he finished speaking and, at the judge’s direction, left the witness box and headed for the back of the courtroom. Dani found her eyes drawn to him as he strode down the center of the room, passing within inches of the table where she sat. As if feeling the intensity of her gaze, he glanced down at her briefly. Then he was past her, and a minute later she heard the heavy doors of the courtroom thud close.

“Good riddance,” she mumbled under her breath. Something about him made her nervous, almost restless. She’d like to blame it on her anger at him for pressing charges, but she’d noticed it the moment she saw him in the courtroom, well before she’d realized who he was. No, it was something intrinsic to him, and not the situation, that made her skin tingle in awareness. The same hyperawareness she felt before a big electrical storm, telling her lightning was about to strike.

It was probably just that he seemed too handsome, too sure of himself, too confident, which were all characteristics that had led her astray in the past. Or maybe she’d met him before, and it was some weird recognition kicking in, although she hadn’t been in the toy store he ran that she could remember. She tended to shop online, late at night when insomnia struck.

But whatever the reason, he was gone now and she could turn all her attention back to Kevin and the trial. The judge, a matronly looking woman in her midfifties or so, finished writing something on the papers in front of her, then cleared her throat before turning toward the defense table. Kevin was instructed to stand, and he did, his freckles stark against his suddenly pale skin.

Dani felt her own pulse racing, and forced herself to smile, trying to send positive thoughts even as she waited for the judge’s decision. Luckily, the Honorable Sheila Graves lived up to her reputation as both efficient and compassionate, delivering her verdict without further delay—probation, and participation in the county mentoring program for at-risk youth.

Dani let out a shaky breath and turned to Kevin, who looked a bit shell-shocked at the decision. “Do you understand what she said?”

He started to nod, then shook his head in confusion. “I don’t have to go to jail?”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “No, big guy, you don’t have to go to jail. You got probation—that just means you have to be on your best behavior, and not break any more laws. You can do that, no problem, right?”

He nodded, more confidently this time. “And I have to have a mentor.”

She smiled. “That’s right. Do you know what a mentor is?”

“Not really.”

“It’s just a person, someone older and maybe a bit wiser, who will be your friend. Someone to hang out with you, give you advice, someone you can talk to about things that are bugging you.”

Some of the stiffness went out of his stance. “That sounds okay, I guess. But can I still hang out with you, too?”

Dani felt her heart squeeze. He tried to pretend he was tough, but deep down he was still just a scared little boy. Putting an arm over his shoulders, she guided him toward the back doors, where his foster parents were waiting. “Of course. You didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?”

“So you’ll come with me to meet the mentor person?”

She hesitated. It really wasn’t her place, and the mentor might want one-on-one time to build a rapport.

“Please?”

Tears welled up in big brown eyes, and she knew she couldn’t say no. Whoever the mentor was, surely they’d understand. And if not, they’d just have to deal with it. “Of course I’ll go with you. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

* * *

Dani spent the remainder of the afternoon holed up in her office, trying to concentrate on the probate paperwork she’d promised to finish by tomorrow. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep her mind on her work. Estate planning, although important, didn’t compare to the challenge of trial law, and on days like today she missed her old job. More than that, she missed who she’d been, before she’d lost faith in the system and herself.

Restless, she found her eyes drawn to the window yet again. It was a gorgeous spring day, and as usual there was a crowd of kids at the ice-cream parlor across the street, eagerly lapping up their after-school treats while their moms congregated in the shade of an awning. Usually she found the view soothing, a reminder of all the goodness in life, but today it was like a punch in the gut. Kevin should be doing stuff like that—eating ice cream and laughing with friends. Not spending the day in court. And as much as his foster parents, the Cunninghams, wanted to do right by him, she couldn’t picture the elderly couple taking him for ice cream after school or pitching baseballs to him in the park. Maybe his new mentor would help with that kind of thing. But even that was a temporary fix to a much larger problem. One she had no idea how to solve.

And staring at the same paragraph of legalese for the fifteenth time wasn’t going to change anything. She shoved the papers into her briefcase and decided to finish up at home. Maybe a brisk walk would clear her head and help her focus. A run would be even better, but her work clothes weren’t exactly conducive to that, so a walk would have to do. Snagging her purse, she ducked into the room next door, where her father was seated at an oversized desk covered in yellow legal pads. “I’m going to head out, and work on this at home.”

Her father’s eyebrows arched. She never left early. “Everything okay?”

“Sure, just a bit of spring fever.”

Worry lines creased his forehead. They’d always had a close bond, but in the year since she’d returned home it had become a bit strained. Not because of their working relationships—the letterhead might carry the name of Phillip Post, but he treated Dani as if she were a full partner. No, it was more likely because he sensed there were things she hadn’t told him about her time in Jacksonville and her reasons for coming home. Finally, he sighed and nodded. “If you need anything, call. I’m happy to help.”

Impulsively, she rounded the desk and gave him a hug. “I know you are. I’m lucky to have you.”

He smiled at the sudden show of affection. “Yes, you are. And don’t you forget it!” His eyes twinkled. “Now go, and let an old man concentrate on his work.”

She smiled, feeling a bit lighter, and made her way out of the small but well-appointed office, waving to her mom, who worked part-time as the receptionist and was on the phone discussing appointment times with someone. She really was lucky to have such a close family. Some of her friends thought it was a bit odd that she didn’t mind spending her days with not one but both of her parents, but they got along well and so far it hadn’t been a problem. She liked them, and although her sister, Mollie, had butted heads with them on a regular basis, Dani had been fortunate enough to always have a good relationship with them. Working in the guardian ad litem program, seeing how many people didn’t get to grow up with a loving family, had led her to a new appreciation of her own circumstances.

Kevin might look up to her, but she found she was equally inspired by him and his ability to hold on to hope despite his circumstances. He’d lost his mother a year ago to an opioid overdose, after she’d been prescribed the medication for a back injury. He’d never known his father, and when he ended up in the foster-care system it was discovered the man that had sired him was in prison, serving out a twenty-year sentence. Once in the system Kevin had bounced around from one temporary placement to another before ending up with the Cunninghams. Senior citizens, they had been fostering kids for nearly a decade, ever since their son had moved to California for a job in the tech industry. They’d missed having family, and foster care had given them an outlet for the love they were eager to share.

In many ways, it was the perfect placement for a grieving boy like Kevin, but as wonderful as the Cunninghams were, they were getting on in age, and Dani suspected that keeping up with an active little boy was taking its toll. What he really needed was his parents, but they were gone and the chances of a boy his age being adopted were slim from what the caseworker had told her. The whole thing just sucked. But dwelling on it wasn’t doing Kevin or her mood any good. She needed to snap out of her funk if she was going to do right by her clients and get any work done today at all.

On a whim, she crossed the street and turned left instead of right. The big trail that wound through the park would take her only a little out of her way, and the extra sunshine and fresh air would be worth the lost time. Turning east off of Lighthouse Avenue, Paradise Isle’s version of Main Street, she walked the two blocks to Pelican Park and felt her spirits lift. Dozens of children were playing a chaotic game of dodgeball on the big green field near the entrance. Peals of laughter alternated with shrieks of indignation as the kids scrambled in the thick grass. On the other side of the trail squirrels played their own games, fighting over acorns and chasing each other through the tree boughs.

Continuing down the paved path, she passed the basketball court, empty now but sure to be bustling once the high school let out, and then the baseball fields. A group of kids, maybe late-elementary or early-middle-school-aged, were playing a pick-up game on the closest diamond. She squinted, shading her eyes from the sun. Were these the boys Kevin had been trying to impress? Had they teased him for not being able to afford his own bat, or had he just imagined their judgment? He hadn’t wanted to give details and she hadn’t pushed. In the end, it didn’t really matter.

Pushing on, the playground finally came into view. It was situated near the far entrance of the park and had been rebuilt recently. Gone was the scorching hot metal slide she remembered from her youth along with the rest of the old equipment—it had all been replaced with more colorful, and no doubt safer, modern play equipment. Domes of red and blue shaded the ladders and slides, offering protection from the tropical sun. Benches full of watchful parents circled the perimeter, giving wearied moms and dads a chance to socialize a bit while keeping an eye on rambunctious little ones. That part of the scene, at least, was similar to what she remembered. Her mom had often sat on those same benches after walking to the park with Dani and Mollie. On the weekends her father had come, too, often taking the whole family for ice cream afterward.

Smiling at the memory, she was almost to the park gates when the sound of crying stopped her. Glancing back, she saw a little girl with blond pigtails, no more than five years old, sobbing hysterically at the foot of the swing set. Standing over her was a man, one with an oddly familiar build, his back toward her. Without thought, her feet started moving in their direction, the little girl’s cries spurring her on. Rounding a bench, she was about to offer assistance when she realized why the man looked familiar. It was the toy-store owner from the trial! What was he doing here—harassing random preschoolers?

“Haven’t you upset enough children today?” He looked up, and again she was hit by that feeling of unease that she’d felt in the courtroom, like her skin was suddenly a size too tight. Ignoring the feeling, and him, she looked down to the girl, who had stopped crying at Dani’s interruption. “Are you okay, honey? Is he bothering you?”

“I’m okay. Daddy was just kissing my boo-boo.” She pointed to a slightly skinned knee. “My sister, Amy, is the one that was bothering me.” She glared back toward the swings, where an equally adorable and nearly identical girl glared back at her. “She pushed my swing too hard and I felled off.”

Dani did a double take, looking from one angelic face to the other, then slowly turned back to the man in the middle of it all. “Your daddy?”

Tyler Jackson, the coldhearted man who had pressed charges against a nine-year-old boy and then testified against him in court, was a father?

* * *

Tyler helped Adelaide, the younger and more dramatic of his twins, up off the ground. “It’s barely a scratch, you’ll be fine. Now go play—we’ve got to head back soon. And Amy,” he said, shifting his attention to the other girl, who was trying and failing to look innocent of all wrongdoing, “be nice to your sister. I’ll be watching.”

“Okaaay!” she huffed, clearly offended at his implication that she needed watching. Full of sass, that one was. Between her newfound bossiness and her sister’s histrionics, he was starting to feel like he’d never get the hang of this single-parenting thing. Just as soon as he thought he had them figured out, they grew and changed and confused him all over again. Where were the sweet little girls that had cooed at him from their cribs? Of course, those days hadn’t been easy, either; raising infant twins never was. But at least he’d had help then. Jennifer, his late wife, had done the bulk of the caregiving, leaving him to enjoy the fun parts of fatherhood.

But Jennifer had been gone for two years now, taken by ovarian cancer faster than he could have imagined. And he was going to have to fill her shoes along with his own, no matter how hard it was. Often the weight of the responsibility felt like it might crush him, but the girls were still the two best things in his life, and he was a smart enough man to know that he was luckier than most.

“You have kids?”

He turned back to face the woman that had approached Adelaide when she’d been crying. She looked familiar, and it hit him. She had been in the courtroom today, sitting with the boy he’d caught shoplifting. Maybe she was a relative? He extended a hand, falling back on the manners his grandmother had ingrained in him. “I do. Name’s Tyler Jackson, and those little munchkins are Amy and Adelaide. I’m sorry if they upset you. They normally get along pretty well but you know how siblings can be.”

She ignored his hand and stared up at him. She was probably a good six inches shorter than him, and less than half his weight, but if she noticed the size difference she didn’t let on. Instead, she stabbed a finger into his chest and lit into him like an angry mother hen. “I know exactly who you are, Mr. Jackson. You’re the man that tried to get a confused little boy, an orphan no less, put behind bars over a measly baseball bat. That’s who you are!”

He kept his tone even, not rising to the bait. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it. And you are?”

“Dani Post, Kevin’s guardian ad litem.” She looked fierce, he’d give her that, with her dark hair blowing in the breeze like a mane and her dark eyes snapping in anger. But at least she’d stopped poking him.

“Well, Ms. Post, I’m very sorry about the boy’s family situation, but that doesn’t excuse stealing.”

She glared. “Of course not. But he needs help, not legal trouble.”

He crossed his arms and settled onto his heels. “And I happen to think the legal system is the best way to make sure he gets that help. He’s going into the mentor program, right?”

She nodded, but didn’t look any less upset. “You couldn’t have known that would be the final result, though.”

“Actually, the prosecutor’s office assured me that was the most likely scenario. And I’ve had some experience with juvenile courts—they don’t go throwing young kids in jail if they don’t have to.”

“Thank goodness for that.” She tossed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “But he’s had a hard time, and deserves a second chance.”

“And he’ll get it.”

“No thanks to you.”

Tyler checked to be sure his daughters were still safely playing on the swings, then turned back to the angry woman in front of him. Dressed smartly in black slacks and a crimson blouse, she looked like she should be in a boardroom, not at a playground. But if she was a lawyer, that made sense. As did her confrontational communication style. But he wasn’t a witness on the stand, and she didn’t intimidate him. Impressed, and even a bit attracted, but not intimidated. “Actually, I intend to be a very large part of it. I’m going to be his mentor.”

“You’re what?” He could almost taste the anger and frustration pouring off of her as she digested that bit of news. “Haven’t you done enough damage? What more do you want?”

“To keep him from making any more mistakes. Listen, I get that you are worried about him, and that’s admirable. And I’m sure it helps. But a boy that age needs someone who can teach him how to be a man.”

“And what makes you the right person for the job?”

“Nothing really, except I’m willing to do it. I turned him in because I thought it was the best way to teach him a lesson, to keep him from getting into more trouble down the road. I made a few mistakes of my own at that age, and someone stepped in and helped me out. I figure now it’s my turn.”

She blinked at him, a wary respect replacing the look of disgust she’d worn only a few minutes ago. “Well, I hope that’s the truth. But you should know, he’s asked me to be there when he meets with you, and I intend to do just that. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” With that she spun on her high-heeled shoe and strode off.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said to himself, watching her retreat. No, he had no intention of keeping her from joining them; in fact he found he was almost looking forward to another meeting with the fiery lawyer. Ever since his wife’s death, his friends and family had treated him with kid gloves—always careful how they spoke, what they said. No one wanted to upset the grieving widower. He appreciated the sentiment, but a man didn’t want to be handled like a child.

Dani, on the other hand, had gotten in his face, telling him what she thought without holding back. That kind of forthrightness was refreshing and, he was shocked to realize, a bit of a turn-on. He hadn’t had a physical reaction to a woman in longer than he could remember. He’d had chances; plenty had been interested in stepping into his late wife’s place. But none of them had sparked the kind of attraction he’d felt just now.

Of course, it wasn’t going to lead to anything: he was already overwhelmed with running a business and caring for his daughters, not to mention the new responsibility of being a mentor to a troubled boy. The very last thing he needed was one more complication in his life—romantic or otherwise. But still, there was no harm in looking. No harm at all.


Chapter Two (#ucaca4f14-8555-596a-a825-50a0758750d5)

Dani parked her red convertible, a gift to herself when she’d been hired at Whitehorn and Watts right out of law school, in the gravel lot in front of the Paradise Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Making the payments was a bit harder on her current, significantly lower salary, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to trade it in for something more economical. From the backseat Kevin peppered her with questions, anxious to see the animals, and probably equally anxious about coming face-to-face with Tyler Jackson. Dani had worried that the boy would balk at the idea of the shopkeeper being his mentor, but she’d assured Kevin that the man wasn’t looking to punish him, just help him. Hopefully that was the truth. She’d been up half the night wondering if she should have petitioned the court for a different mentor, one not associated with the case. But it was too late now, and with Kevin being so brave, she didn’t want to undermine his confidence by backing out.

“What about tigers? Do they have tigers?” A glance in the rearview mirror showed Kevin practically bouncing in his booster seat as he swiveled his head from side to side, trying to spy one of the animals she’d told him the center housed.

“Nope, no tigers. Remember, I told you they take care of native species, animals that live in Florida naturally. But they do have a panther, which is kind of a cousin to a tiger. His name is Simba.”

“Okay, that’s cool. Can I pet him?”

“Definitely not.” She got out of the car and opened the back door, leaning in to look him in the eyes. “You don’t touch any of the animals unless an adult says it is okay, got it?”

He nodded solemnly, his serious expression at odds with the sparkle in his eyes. Seeing him this excited, this happy, made her heart flip-flop in her chest. Rumpling his hair quickly, she backed out of the way so he could get out of the car, then led him to the main building, where Tyler was supposed to meet them.

The low-slung brown-and-green wooden building nearly blended into the woods around it. Groupings of native plants, many chosen for their attractiveness to butterflies, lined the path to the front door. Set on land designated as part of the Paradise Wildlife Refuge, the rehab center served a vital purpose. Injured animals were treated at the hospital on site, and then released when they were ready. Animals that couldn’t be released were allowed to live out their lives at the center, where they were cared for by the staff and a dedicated team of volunteers including Dani and her sister. Dylan Turner, the director, had become a close friend. Seeing how gentle the big surfer dude was with injured animals had put her at ease around him during a time when her defenses had been at an all-time high.

Opening the door, she spied him sitting at his desk, behind the big reception counter that separated the public area from the staff office. “Hey, Dylan! Working hard?”

Shaking his blond hair out of his eyes, he smiled wanly. “Always. You know how busy spring is...lots of babies being brought in this time of year.”

“Any we can see today?”

“Sure, I’ve got a possum back there to show you two, if your friend there would like to see it.”

“I’m sure he would.” She gestured between them and made introductions. “Kevin, this is Mr. Turner. He runs this place. Dylan, this is Kevin. We are meeting a new friend, and then we’d love a tour, right, Kevin?”

“Definitely!”

Perfect. When she’d talked to Tyler on the phone to discuss possible outings, he’d suggested the ice-cream parlor on Lighthouse Avenue. Which probably would have been fine. But this seemed so much cooler for a kid, and she’d convinced Tyler it was the better choice.

The bell over the front door rang, cutting off her mental self-congratulations. Looking more casual but just as intimidating, Tyler walked in wearing cargo shorts and a plain white T-shirt, dark glasses hiding the piercing blue eyes she remembered from the courtroom. Beside her, Kevin crowded closer. Clearly uneasy, she had a sense that only his pride was keeping him from hiding behind her.

Dylan, picking up on the sudden tension, left his desk and came to stand between Kevin and Tyler. “Everything okay?” His words were for Dani, but his eyes darted between the obviously scared little boy and the man that seemed to be the cause of his fear.

“Everything is fine.” She laid a hand on Kevin’s shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture, and forced a smile. “This is Tyler Jackson, and he’s here to have some fun with Kevin and me, right?”

Kevin made the barest of nods, but Tyler, to her surprise, broke into a grin and crouched down at the boy’s level. “That’s right. As long as that’s okay with Kevin. Can I come with you guys?”

The boy’s eyes widened. He clearly hadn’t expected to be consulted. “Um, yeah, it’s okay I guess.”

“Thanks, I’ve been looking forward to it.” He straightened and offered a hand to Dylan, who smiled and returned the gesture. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too. I’m Dylan, by the way. If you want to wait a bit, I can give you a guided tour myself. Otherwise Dani knows the place pretty well, and I’m sure she can show you around.”

Dylan was famous for getting caught up in his work; if they waited for him they might never get to see anything. “I think we can manage on our own, right, guys?”

“Sure,” Kevin agreed, no doubt eager to get on with it. She glanced at Tyler, who nodded his assent.

“All right then, let’s get started. Dylan, where would we find that baby possum you were telling us about?”

“In the main treatment room, in one of the cages on the back wall. Just don’t take him out—he’s little but his teeth are sharp.”

“We’ll start there then, thanks.” She opened the half door that led to the office, then led the way through the back door into the heart of the rehab center. Kevin trotted at her heels, with Tyler bringing up the rear.

“Wow, this is like a real doctor’s office.” Running over to the long stainless-steel table, he eyed the tubes and dials of an anesthesia machine. “Do they do surgery on alligators and stuff here?”

“Um, maybe?” Dani usually helped with the fund-raising side of things, not the hands-on, messy stuff. “We can ask Dylan on the way out, or I can call my sister later. She’d know. She volunteers here a lot. In fact, she even trained that panther I was telling you about.”

“Cool!”

“That is pretty cool,” Tyler agreed, making his way toward the bank of cages Dylan had said the possum was in. “I’ve never seen a panther close up.”

“Dani says panthers and tigers are cousins. Do you think that’s true?”

“It is. All cats are related in some way, even house cats.” Tyler had Kevin’s full attention now. “My little girls have been begging me for a kitten. Maybe I should ask if they have a spare panther here. What do you think?”

Kevin giggled, his nostrils crinkling. “Not a good idea.”

Tyler scratched his head in mock confusion. “No? Not the same thing?”

“Uh-uh. You had better get them a regular kitten.”

“You’re probably right. Oh, well.” Dylan pointed to a cage just to the right of where they were standing. “Hey, I think I found that baby possum.”

Kevin rushed over, his earlier nervousness forgotten. “Oh, wow, look how small it is! He’s really funny-looking!”

Dani joined them, peering over Kevin’s head at what looked like an overgrown rat with an extralong pink snout. “Whoa, he is pretty unusual. But he’s just a baby. Maybe he’ll get better looking when he grows up.”

“How come he’s all alone in there? Where’s his mom? Is she in another cage?”

Dani winced. “No, it’s just the baby that is here. That happens sometimes. But they’re going to take good care of it, don’t worry.”

“But what happened to his mom?” His voice rose in pitch. “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know for sure, honey, but she—she probably died. Most of the baby animals they get here are brought in because the parents aren’t there to care for them anymore.”

“So he’s an orphan?”

Tears filled his eyes, and Dani felt her own welling up in response. What on earth had she been thinking, bringing him to see orphaned animals? “Yes, he is. But he’s going to be okay. Dylan and the other workers will make sure of it. And as soon as he’s big enough they’ll let him go, back in the wild.” Maybe knowing there was a happy ending waiting for the possum would help smooth things over.

“They’re going to abandon him? On his own? That’s mean. Mean, mean, mean!” Kevin stomped his foot with each word, his face scrunched up to the point his freckles were running together. “I hate this place. Take me home. Now!” And with that he ran out the nearest door.

* * *

Tyler grabbed Dani’s arm as she started to chase after the boy. “Is it safe out there? All the animals are in enclosures, I mean?”

She tugged, trying to break his grip. “Yes, of course it’s safe. But he’s upset. I need to go to him, and explain—”

“Fine, but let him have a minute to himself first. He’s upset, yes, but he’s going to be even more embarrassed for crying in front of us. Give him a little time to calm down. Trust me.”

She kept her eyes on the door, but stopped trying to pull away. “One minute, but then I’m going after him.”

“We’ll both go.”

Dani ran her hands through her shoulder-length dark hair, frustration and regret clear as day on her face. “I can’t believe I was such an idiot. I just thought he’d like to see cute baby animals. Everyone likes baby animals, right?”

It seemed like a rhetorical question, but he nodded anyway.

“It never occurred to me that he’d focus in on them being orphans. Of course, it should have.” She began pacing, her walking shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor with every step she took. “How could I be so stupid? So heartless? Bringing him here would be like taking a burn victim to a bonfire, for heaven’s sake.”

“Now, it’s not quite like that...”

“Yes, it is. He’s an orphan. He lost his mother not that long ago, and his father might as well be dead. And what do I do? Take him to see a bunch of orphaned animals. Then, to make it worse, I tell him all about how they’ll be let loose. ‘Abandoned,’ I think is what he called it.”

“Hey, you couldn’t have known he’d take it that way. We’ll talk to him, make sure he knows that no one is going to abandon him.”

“It was still insensitive. I should have known better.”

“News flash, princess. You can’t always have all the answers, or get it all right. Not when it comes to kids. Yeah, you screwed up. You’ll fix it. And then probably do something else to mess up, and then fix that. It’s how the whole thing works.”

She stopped pacing just a foot away from him and stared at him. She was close enough that he could smell the scent of whatever fancy shampoo she used, something girly.

“You know, I’m not sure if I want to thank you or smack you.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not trying to make you feel better, just telling you the truth.”

“Which is that I screwed up, but it’s not a big deal because I’ll probably do it again?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

She cocked her head, as if trying to judge if he was serious. Which he was. If he’d learned anything since his girls were born, it was that it was impossible to predict what would set them off. And that making mistakes was par for the course. That they were doing okay was more a statement about their resilience than his own parenting skills.

“Fine. But can we go get him now?”

“Sure, but don’t push him, okay? He’s a guy, and he’s going to feel dumb about crying. Don’t make it worse by fussing over him too much.”

“Isn’t he a little young to be worried about all that macho stuff?”

“Nope. Boys his age want to be seen as fearless. I’m not saying you can’t talk to him about it, but just let him take the lead, okay?”

“Fine, let’s just go.” Moving past him she went out the same door Kevin had used.

Tyler followed her onto a mulch path that ran alongside the building and out toward what must be the animal enclosures. To the left was an enclosed space similar to a barn. To the right were open pens ringed with chain-link fencing. At the farthest one, with his back to them, was Kevin.

Dani’s footsteps quickened, but at least she didn’t run up and hug the kid. Instead, she positioned herself next to him, looking into the enclosure. Tyler joined her, flanking Kevin’s other side. For a minute the three of them just stood there, watching what seemed to be a very relaxed, very large panther grooming itself in the sun.

Dani spoke first. “That’s Simba, the panther I was telling you about. You’d never know it now, but he used to be really nervous—in fact, he was terrified of strangers. My sister Mollie’s done a lot of work with him to help him build up his confidence.”

Kevin blinked in surprise. “The panther was scared of people? Doesn’t he know he could just eat them if he wanted?”

“I guess not.” Dani shrugged. “He used to be a pet, sort of. A mean man kept him locked up all the time in a small cage, and it wasn’t very nice. When he was rescued and brought here, he didn’t know if the new people he met were going to be mean to him, like the place he came from. It took time, and lots of people being nice to him, before he was able to relax and enjoy his new home.”

Tyler watched Kevin take that in, no doubt relating it to his own experience moving from foster home to foster home. “That makes sense. I’m glad the people here are nice to him.”

“Me, too.” Relief flooded Dani’s face. “Now, do you want to see the rest of the animals? Some of them have had hard times, like Simba, so if that makes you sad, we could do something else.” She glanced over at Tyler and smiled. “Like go get ice cream or something.”

Kevin looked at Simba for another minute before speaking, his voice so soft Tyler could barely hear it. “Are the other animals happy now?”

She smiled. “Yeah, buddy, they are.”

“Okay, I’d like to see them then. I like happy endings.”

* * *

After seeing all the other animals, which were thankfully deemed happy by Kevin, they ended up at the ice-cream parlor after all. It wasn’t like she could say no, not after how badly she’d messed up earlier. She’d half expected Tyler to veto the idea, but he’d readily agreed and had even insisted on treating them all. Every time she thought she’d started to figure him out, he’d change things up on her.

In court he’d been cold and distant, almost clinical in his description of what had happened. In the park he’d been patient but firm in his convictions. At the rehab center he’d surprised her by letting her take the lead while he mostly observed. And now he was chatting casually with Kevin, each arguing the merits of their preferred ice-cream flavor. Dani hadn’t been able to get a word in edgewise. Which was fine; it was good that they were starting to bond. And Kevin was smiling, which was awesome. She had a feeling she’d feel guilty about the incident with the orphaned possum for a long time, but he seemed none the worse for it.

The real reason she couldn’t seem to relax had nothing to do with Kevin and everything to do with the man sitting across from him, extolling the virtues of mint chocolate-chip ice cream. Not that he was doing anything wrong. He was just...confusing. She couldn’t get a read on him, and that was making her crazy. As a lawyer she had taught herself to be good at reading faces, at knowing what people were thinking even when they weren’t saying it and be able to grasp what was going on inside someone’s head. But with Tyler, she was at a loss. And damn if it didn’t make her want to spend more time with him, if only to satisfy her own curiosity.

And curiosity was all it was. No way was she ready to date. On her good days she felt like she’d made a lot of progress since she’d come home, but she couldn’t kid herself: she was gun-shy and with good reason. Besides, he wasn’t her type. She tended to date lawyers and bankers, men who wore suits and read the stock report. She wasn’t a snob; she just found that she enjoyed dating men who had similar goals and interests, ambitious men who understood her own drive and dedication to her career. Tyler Jackson was a small-town shopkeeper and single dad who drove a minivan, of all things. So if she couldn’t take her eyes off of him, it was just because she was trying to figure him out. That’s all.

Kevin stood up abruptly, nearly knocking his soda over in the process. She grabbed the cup as he waved at someone behind her. Turning, she spotted his foster parents walking through the door. She’d called earlier and arranged for them to pick up the boy here. Tyler followed her gaze and then stood, offering his seat to a tired-looking Mrs. Cunningham.

“You must be the Cunninghams. I’m Tyler. Can I get you anything? A cold drink, or some ice cream?”

“No, thank you, but we won’t be staying. I’ve got dinner to make still, and need to be getting home. I would have stayed in the car, but I wanted to thank you personally, and apologize on behalf of Kevin for what he did. My husband and I were so upset when we found out. I still don’t know what got into him...”

“Now, Nora, let’s not get into it again. What’s done is done. If Mr. Jackson here can see past things, I suppose we can, too.” He held out a grizzled, arthritic hand to Tyler. “I’m Tom Cunningham. Nora and I appreciate the time you’re spending with Kevin. We adore him, but two old people like us aren’t much fun, I’m afraid.” He turned to Kevin. “Ready to go?”

“Yes, sir.” He shoved the last bite of his chocolate-waffle cone in his mouth and swallowed. “’Bye, Dani. ’Bye, Tyler. See you next week?”

Tyler nodded. “You bet.”

“And can Dani come again?”

Uh-oh. That hadn’t been part of the plan. She looked at Tyler, who nodded good-naturedly. “Um, sure, I guess. If that’s what you want.”

“Cool. ’Bye!”

Dani sighed, and sank back into her chair. “Well, that was quite the day. Sorry about him inviting me along for next time. I didn’t know he was going to do that.”

Tyler sat beside her and took a sip of his drink. “It’s fine. Having his energy level back up can only be a good thing.”

“Good point.” She sobered. “Speaking of which, I’m starting to worry he’s too much for the Cunninghams. They’ve done foster care for a long time, but they look more tired than I remember. More...well, old. I’m not sure how much longer they’re going to be able to do this.”

Tyler frowned. “I don’t know what they were like before, but given how energetic kids Kevin’s age are, I understand what you mean. I’d hate for him to have to move to yet another foster home, but it might be inevitable.”

Dani’s stomach clenched, the ice cream that had seemed such a good idea earlier now a cold weight in her gut. “I just want to make things easier for him, you know? But I have no idea how—I couldn’t even schedule an outing without upsetting him.”

Tyler reached across the table, laying his hand on hers. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You were trying, and he knows that. That’s what counts. That’s what he needs, people that care enough to try.”

Her hand tingled, a warm feeling where his skin touched hers. Tugging it back, she fisted her hands in her lap. “I just wish I could do more, something to really help him.”

“Well, if you mean that, you could talk to his case worker about getting him some counseling. A therapist could help him work through his feelings about his mom, and help him with any transitions that might come up.”

Hell, why hadn’t she thought of that? “You’re right. I’ll call her as soon as I get home, and see what she can set up. I’ll drive him myself to the appointments if need be. Thanks. I’ll call you and let you know how it turns out.” Finally, she had something concrete to do. Just knowing she had a plan chased away a bit of the restlessness that had been plaguing her. Grabbing her purse, she started for the door, feeling more confident than she had since this whole thing started. Funny how the man she’d been convinced was ruining Kevin’s life just a few days ago was the one giving her an insight into how to help him. Remembering how she’d treated him at the park that day, she felt her cheeks heat. She never had apologized for that. She stopped, her hand on the door, and turned back to him.

“Listen, about the other day... I’m sorry if I jumped to conclusions about you. I just—”

“You just wanted to protect Kevin. I get that.” He smiled. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Dani. I just want to do what’s right.”

“I believe you.” Which was somehow sexier than a power suit or a fast car. Who’d have guessed?


Chapter Three (#ucaca4f14-8555-596a-a825-50a0758750d5)

Dani knocked on the door of the Cunninghams’ small but well-built home and waited. The couple had called earlier, asking to meet, and she’d skipped lunch in order to stop by. The house itself was in one of Paradise’s older neighborhoods, built in an old Florida style with stucco exteriors and large windows to take advantage of the sea breeze. Most had well-kept yards, but a few weeds were beginning to take over the flower bed around the Cunninghams’ mailbox, and the paint was peeling on the door. Small things, but it made her wonder again about their health.

Muffled footsteps from inside were followed by the creak of the door opening. “Dani, thank you for coming so quickly.” Mrs. Cunningham waved her in, and then led her into the kitchen. “Have a seat and I’ll get us some iced tea.”

Dani sat at a scarred wooden table, where a bowl of fresh-cut gardenia blossoms floated in water. “Gardenias are my favorite flower. My parents have a big bush that grows right under my old bedroom window. I used to love falling asleep with that smell in the air.”

“They do make the house smell good, don’t they? Kevin picked those for me yesterday. He’s such a sweet boy.” She set down a full glass of amber tea, condensation already forming on the side. “Full of energy, though. The poor bush looks half-scalped now.” She sat, sighing as she did so. “But his heart is in the right place, I think.”

“I agree. But after a day with him yesterday, I know what you mean. I imagine that’s normal, though, for a boy his age.”

“Oh, it is. We’ve had fifteen different foster children over the years, plus our own kids, of course, and they all have more energy than sense at times. Kevin’s no different. The problem isn’t Kevin, it’s us.” She folded her hands in front of her, and grimaced. “The truth of the matter is, I’m getting old. No, I am old. And so is my husband, even if he won’t admit it. We’ve both got some health issues, nothing too serious, but I’m probably going to need a knee replacement sooner rather than later. And Tom’s blood pressure is getting harder to control. The doctor says he has to start taking it easy or he’s going to end up having a heart attack one day.”

Hearing her suspicions stated out loud made the sweet tea sour in her mouth. “I’m so sorry. Is there something I can do?”

The older woman nodded, her tightly permed grey hair barely budging at the movement. “Not for us, but for Kevin. The social worker said you’re his advocate, and I figured you should be the first to know. We’re going to have to give up fostering. My daughter has found us a nice one-bedroom apartment in one of those assisted-living facilities, where I can get some extra help when I have my surgery, and Tom won’t have to do yard work anymore. It’s the right thing for us, but Kevin’s going to take it hard.”

That was an understatement. “I understand. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll try to make things easier for him. Has he been to the therapist yet? She should know, too.” Dani had spoken with the caseworker just a few days ago about arranging some counseling, but hadn’t heard anything further. Maybe she should have followed up sooner, but her own workload had kept her busy since then.

“He has an appointment tomorrow after school with someone the social worker recommended. Thank you, by the way, for suggesting it. I should have thought of it myself, but lately it’s been all I can do to keep track of my own doctor visits.”

“I’m glad they were able to find someone for him. You’ll want to tell whoever he sees about this, so they can help him deal with it. They have the training for this kind of thing.”

“Of course, and we will. But Kevin’s really taken with you. He talks about you all the time. I think he looks up to you, what with being a lawyer and having that fancy car. He’ll get whatever counseling he needs, but he’s going to need a friend, too. And I’d just feel better about this whole thing if I knew you’d be keeping an eye on him.” She quickly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I don’t mind telling you that I feel sick about this. If it was just me, I’d manage. But Tom’s had some chest pains, and—”

“And you have to take care of yourselves. You can’t risk your health... What would happen to Kevin then? He’d still have to move to a new family, and he’d be worried sick about you. No, you have to follow the doctor’s orders. Kevin will be okay.” She tried to project confidence, but worry was already worming its way through her mind. How would Kevin handle yet another move? Would he act out again? He was still on probation; he couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes. And would the new family support him, or would he be labeled a troublemaker and a thief? Mind whirling, she stood to go. She’d get back to the office, make some calls and talk to his social worker. If there was a way to make this easier on him, she’d do it. Not just because it was her job as his guardian ad litem, but also because she wasn’t going to be able to sleep at night if she didn’t.

* * *

Owning a toy store didn’t sound like a physical job, but when crates of wooden blocks and assorted toys needed to be carried around it sure felt like one. Grunting, Tyler lifted the last box of new inventory, feeling his biceps burn. Or course, he could have opened the big box in the storeroom and then carried the individual packages of blocks to the shelf one at a time, but that would have taken forever. And he still had the ego of a twenty-year-old, if not the back of one. Pushing thirty and some days it felt like fifty, but the work got done and that’s what mattered.

Lugging the load to the display shelves, he heard the bell signaling a customer had come in. Usually they were slow between lunch and when school got out, which was why he’d chosen to start stocking the shelves. Now he’d have to stop and hope he could get back to it before he was inundated with elementary-school kids looking to spend their allowance. Oh, well, that’s how it went some days.

“I’ll be right there.” He set down the box with a sigh, then made his way to the sales desk. Waiting for him, her fingers nervously tapping out a rhythm on the counter, was Dani. He hadn’t seen her since Saturday, and hadn’t expected to until the next outing with Kevin. Not that he minded the unexpected visit. A beautiful woman was welcome anytime, and she was looking especially attractive today. A green blouse with a scoop neck showed just a hint of cleavage and was tucked neatly into a charcoal pencil skirt that skimmed her hips and ended just above the knee. Black, lethal-looking spiked heels completed the outfit. Sexy but professional, she had him drooling like a kid at the candy counter.

Clearing his throat, he stepped behind the counter in hopes of hiding his sudden surge of arousal. “Hi, Dani. Can I help you find something?”

“Not unless you have a fairy wand stashed somewhere. The real kind that I can use to fix all of Kevin’s problems.”

“Fresh out, I’m afraid.” He searched her face, seeing sadness in the chocolate depths of her eyes. She’d bitten off most of her lipstick, too, a nervous habit he’d noticed the other day. Something was definitely up. “What’s going on with Kevin? Did he get in more trouble?”

“No, of course not!” She shoved a piece of hair back with one hand, only to have it swing forward again. “I told you, he’s a good kid. But I just talked to the Cunninghams, and they’re having some health problems. In fact, they’re moving into an assisted-living facility. Soon.”

He was pretty sure he knew the answer, but he asked anyway. “And where does that leave Kevin?”

“I don’t know—in some other foster home, or even the group home over on the mainland. No one knows yet. I talked to his social worker on the way here, and she said it could take a while to find an available foster family. They just have too many kids and not enough people willing to take them in.”

“Man, that’s rough. Kevin really liked the Cunninghams, from what I can tell.”

She nodded. “He did. They don’t have a lot of energy, but they’re kind to him. I get the feeling not everywhere has been so nice. I just wish I knew what to do about it.”

“I don’t think there is anything you can do, other than keep the lines of communication open. I’ll do the same. Other than that, it’s up to fate.”

Her eyes snapped with fire. “I don’t believe in leaving things up to fate. There has to be something we can do.” She paced, her heels making a clacking noise on the tiled floor. “Maybe you could try to get the charges dropped against him.”

“That’s not going to change anything, and besides, it’s too late. I couldn’t if I wanted to. Which I don’t.”

Dani’s mouth dropped open, but before she could launch into a new argument he continued, “Because he needs to know that his actions have consequences. Now, when he’s still young enough to learn from them. Otherwise he could end up thinking he can get away with stuff like this, and once he’s eighteen he’d face real jail time. He could mess up his life forever. Better he have probation now and change his ways than end up in jail a few years from now.”

“I don’t think that’s likely to happen.”

“Maybe not, but I’m not willing to chance it. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the wrong crowd, making bad decisions. Especially now that he’s going to be facing even more upheaval. Trust me. Probation, the mentorship program—those aren’t the problems. They’re the best way to help him until the real problem can be addressed.”

“And I suppose you have an answer to that, too?”

“Sure. He needs a home, a real home. We can try to help him, the counselors can, the social workers. But until he gets a home of his own he’s going to be fighting an uphill battle.”

Dani pursed her lips, her eyes distant as she appeared to think over his answer. Then she nodded, a smile breaking out over her face, her confidence back in spades. “You’re right.”

“I am?” He thought he was, but he hadn’t expected her to sound so sure of it.

“Yup. He needs a family. So I’ll give him one. I’ll foster him myself.”

* * *

“You’re going to what?” Tyler’s mouth dropped open, making him look a bit like one of the marionettes hanging slack-jawed on the display behind him.

“Foster him.” She chewed her lip, thinking quickly. “I guess that would be the first step. You said it yourself—he needs a real home, stability.”

“You’re insane.”

“I am not.” Okay, so it was a bit impulsive, but there was no logical reason she couldn’t do this. “I’ve got a steady job, a two-bedroom apartment, and he likes me.”

Tyler laughed, a harsh, cynical sound. “And you think that’s all it takes to be a parent? An extra bedroom and a source of income?”

“No, but it’s a start.” She’d thought he’d be supportive, excited even, at the prospect of Kevin getting out of foster care. Obviously she’d misjudged him. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have come here. Obviously you don’t care what happens to him. Why should you? He’s just some punk kid who broke the law.” Anger and disappointment washed over her, threatening to coalesce into tears. And she never cried. Certainly not in public. Turning for the door, she bit her lip and reminded herself that Tyler’s opinion meant nothing to her. Why she kept trusting men when they kept letting her down, she had no idea. When it came to the opposite sex, her judgment sucked.

A hand on her arm spun her back, Tyler’s face only inches from hers. “That’s what you’ve got wrong. I do care, and that’s why I think this is a bad idea. You have no idea what you are getting into, taking in a kid like Kevin. It’s not going to be fun and games. It’s going to be hard and ugly. And when it gets to be too much you’ll leave him, and he’ll be worse off than before. So, sorry if I’m not going to be your biggest cheerleader when you treat fostering a child with the same amount of thought as an impulse purchase at the mall. He’s a human being, not a designer purse you can replace next season.”

She clutched her purse and narrowed her eyes. “I know that. And I have no intention of replacing him, or whatever it is you’re implying. I don’t quit, ever. If I start something, I finish it.”

“You do know Kevin isn’t a thing, or a task to be accomplished—he’s a person.”

“Of course I do.” Wasn’t that the whole reason she was doing this? To help someone who couldn’t help himself?

“For his sake, I hope so.”

“You have no idea who I am, or what I’m capable of.” She’d meant what she said: she wasn’t a quitter. At least she hadn’t been, until her life got turned upside down. In her own mind, she needed to still be the strong woman she’d always prided herself on being.

“I know that trying to parent a troubled kid isn’t in the same league as studying for entrance exams or getting through law school. Like I said, you have no idea what you are getting into.”

Frustration and something else fired through her. “Well then, why don’t you help me? If you’re such an expert, you can make sure I get it right.”

“Whoa, slow down. I’m not getting involved. This is your idea, not mine. I don’t want any part of this crazy plan.”

“All talk, no action, huh?”

He glared. “I’m just being realistic.”

She glared right back. She’d had plenty of practice handling alpha males in court and had no intention of letting this one intimidate her. “Realistic or cynical?”

A flash of pain illuminated his eyes before his expression hardened, locking out any trace of emotion. “In my experience it’s the same thing. Crap happens, and all the good intentions in the world can’t change that.”

“Of course not. But surely that’s a good place to start.” She’d been let down when people who should have helped had turned a blind eye. She wouldn’t do that to Kevin.

He stayed silent, as if weighing her words, before finally shrugging in half-hearted acceptance. “Maybe. But I’m serious—you can’t just go upending his life on a whim. You have to be sure. Being a single parent is the hardest thing there is, and that’s true even when it’s your biological child.”

She counted to ten silently. He wasn’t trying to make her mad, and he had some good points. But just because it was hard didn’t mean it wasn’t the right decision. Surely he could understand that. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. “I believe you. I can’t imagine what you or any single parent goes through. And I know this will be hard. But if I can do it, if I can keep him from going into a group home, and make things easier for him, then I should at least try.” She knew what it was like, to feel insignificant, as if you were at the mercy of a system you had no hope of changing. No one had stood up for her, but she could be there for Kevin. Her throat tightened with emotion. “Tyler, I can’t just watch his life be disrupted again, and not do anything about it. I can’t.”

Tense silence met her plea, and then he let out a labored sigh. “Damn it. You don’t make anything easy, do you?”

“Easy doesn’t mean right.” She’d taken the easy way out by coming home, and it kept her up at night. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

“No, I guess it doesn’t. Fine, then, let’s say you decide to do this. What do you have to do to be a foster parent?”

“I don’t know. Yet.” She pulled out her phone and did an internet search for “Palmetto County foster parent” and found the page for the Department of Children and Families. Scanning quickly, she found a section about emergency and temporary placements. “It looks like I might be able to get clearance more quickly, given that I already have a relationship with him. And I’ve been through most of the background checks as part of the guardian ad litem program. But I’ll call his social worker and see what she says. I want to have things in place before he leaves the Cunninghams.” She looked up at him. “I’ll make this work. I won’t let him go to a group home. I won’t let him down.” There was nothing worse than having the people you trusted turn their backs on you. She’d learned that lesson too well, and part of her would never be the same. If she could protect whatever hope Kevin had left, whatever belief he had in good winning out over evil, she would.

Tyler shook his head. “What scares me is, I’m starting to believe it. Now go. Make it happen before I come to my senses and try to talk you out of it.”

“Thanks!” Impulsively she leaned in and hugged him, then froze, expecting the panic to set in. Instead, she felt a pulse of lightning shoot through her, lighting up nerves that had lain dormant so long she’d forgotten what they were for. Heat and confusion filled her head, leaving her dizzy as she pulled back. “I’ve got to go...call the social worker.”

Tyler nodded, stepping away from her. “And I’ve got inventory to unpack. But, Dani?”

“Yes?” Her pulse sped. Had she overstepped with the hug? Had he read something in to it?

“Never mind. Just...good luck.”


Chapter Four (#ucaca4f14-8555-596a-a825-50a0758750d5)

Dani spent the car ride back to her office purposely not thinking about the hug. Or about the way her body had reacted. Or about how good he had felt. Heck, he’d even smelled good. But she wasn’t thinking about that. It was inappropriate, with him being Kevin’s mentor and her being his guardian ad litem. Instead, she should just focus on the fact that she hadn’t freaked out. That was a major breakthrough, and a sign that the therapist she’d been seeing was worth the time and stress of driving to the mainland every other week. Seeing one of the few therapists in Paradise was out of the question; inevitably someone would have seen her coming or going into the office and asked questions she didn’t want to answer. Or worse, would have asked her family about it, and she didn’t want them to know anything about what had happened. She was an adult, and it was her issue to handle. And if her reaction to Tyler was any indication, she was making progress.

But a fleeting attraction, as heartening as it was, wasn’t an excuse to get sidetracked. Right now she needed to focus on Kevin, and his situation. Which meant as soon as she got to her desk she needed to call his social worker. Pulling into the small parking lot, she spied several unfamiliar cars. Good, that meant her parents would be busy and wouldn’t want to chat about where she’d been or what she was up to. She’d fill them in on the Kevin situation once she had more information. After Tyler’s initial reaction, she didn’t want to risk any more negativity.

Once inside she blinked at the cool dimness, letting her eyes adjust from the bright tropical sun outside. Her mom, on the phone as always, waved hello, then pointed at her father’s office. Dani shook her head; she didn’t have time to schmooze a client right now. It wasn’t like her father needed her legal advice; he just liked showing off his eldest daughter to clients, taking pleasure in promoting the firm as a family affair. Cute, but today wasn’t the day for it.

She had almost made it to her own office when she heard a door open behind her. Crap. She was caught.

“Dani, there you are! I’ve got someone here I want you to meet.”

She turned slowly, forcing a smile to her face. Standing next to her father was a man about her own age, dressed in the Florida version of country-club casual: a golf shirt, neatly pressed khakis and boat shoes. Flashing her a brilliant smile that showcased perfect teeth, he stepped toward her, hand outstretched. “Hello, Dani. Your father’s told me a lot about you.”

He stepped into her space, and without thinking she stepped backward, her foot hitting the closed door of her office. Sweat trickled between her breasts. Damn it, and here she’d been congratulating herself on making progress with her fears. Clamping down on the adrenaline thrumming through her body, she shook his hand and reminded herself her father was in the room; she was totally safe. He’d done nothing wrong, other than to move in a bit too quickly, and a bit too close. But that was typical with alpha males, especially in the business world. “Nice to meet you, um—”

“Sorry, Richard. Richard Thompson. Your father’s helping me with a trust I’m setting up.”

“That’s great.” Unable to stand it any longer, she eased around him, moving into the center of the room, where she had space to breathe and an open view of the front door.

“Richard is setting up a charitable trust, as a matter of fact. Very praiseworthy for a single man his age, I have to say.”

The emphasis her father put on the word single sent a new kind of fear through her. Was her father playing matchmaker? Seriously?

“Your father told me about your work with the guardian ad litem program. It seems we share a common interest in philanthropy. Maybe we could have dinner sometime, and see what else we have in common.”

Well, at least he didn’t beat around the bush. It was definitely a setup. Too bad the offer held as much interest as an emergency root canal. “Sounds lovely, but I’m afraid I’m a bit swamped at the moment. In fact, I’m late for a phone meeting right now. If you’ll excuse me...” She moved purposefully back toward her office, forcing him to move out of the way.

“Of course.” Mr. Charitable Trust graciously nodded and moved back to her father, who looked puzzled by her behavior, but was too polite to say anything. Meanwhile her mother had finally gotten off the phone and was watching the entire scene like it was her favorite telenovela. So much for keeping business business.

Closing the door behind her, she locked it for good measure, and then leaned heavily against the cool wood, waiting for her breathing to return to normal.

She’d definitely panicked out there, but she’d stayed in control, and she’d handled it. Her therapist would be proud.

It was strange, though, how different her reaction was to Tyler. Of course, she knew Tyler. He wasn’t a stranger. And she’d initiated the contact. That was probably why.

Thinking of the encounter with Tyler reminded her of Kevin, and the reason she’d rushed back to the office so quickly. Moving to her desk, she grabbed a fresh legal pad and picked up the phone.

“Hi, this is Dani Post. May I speak to Elaine, please? Tell her it’s about Kevin. I think I’ve found a foster home for him.”

* * *

Tyler threw his energy into unpacking the boxes of wooden blocks that he’d started to unload earlier, hoping to quiet his mind with some good old physical labor. But no matter how fast or how hard he worked, he couldn’t get Dani off of his mind. She was infuriating, that was for sure. So sure she knew what was right, and full of self-righteousness. But as annoying as she could be, that wasn’t what was bothering him. No, it wasn’t her words or her attitude haunting him; it was the way she’d felt in his arms. One impulsive hug shouldn’t have gotten under his skin, into his head. But it had.

His body had reacted immediately, which on its own wasn’t that surprising. She was a beautiful woman, sexy in a high-class, dressed-up kind of way. But it wasn’t just a moment of lust that had him still thinking about her, wondering if she’d worked things out with the social worker, wondering what she did for fun or what her favorite way to relax was. That was...interest. And he couldn’t afford to be interested in a woman.

As if to reinforce that thought, the front bell rang out, followed by twin voices calling, “Daddy!” Setting down a box of brightly colored building blocks, he scooped one girl up in each arm. They were in full-day kindergarten now, but as far as he was concerned they were still his little girls. Even if they were big enough to ride the bus and have homework.

“Hey, monsters. How was school?”

“Great!”

“Boring.”

He laughed and set them down. For twins, they sure had a hard time agreeing on anything. “All right, Adelaide first. What was great?” Maybe if he focused on the positive first, Amy would, too.

“We got to play kickball in gym class today, and I kicked the ball so hard it went a mile!”

“No, it didn’t go a mile. A mile is really, really far.” Amy frowned in annoyance. “You just kicked it to the edge of the field.”

Adelaide tossed her head, pigtails flying. “You’re just jealous because you struck out.”

“I am not. It’s a stupid game, anyway.” Amy was a bookworm who would much rather read than play sports. It wasn’t that she wasn’t as talented or athletic as her sister; she just truly didn’t see the point of sports.

“Maybe they’ll play something you like better tomorrow. In the meantime, I picked up some muffins for you at the Sandcastle Bakery. They’re in the break room if you’re hungry.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Finally in agreement about something, they blew past him, their small feet echoing on the tile floor. Following at a saner pace he found them seated at the child-size table he’d made for them, all grins and crumbs. The entire space had been designed with them in mind. He’d purchased the toy store when Jennifer was pregnant, and the idea had been that the shop would be a place where the whole family was welcome. Initially that had meant high chairs and playpens, but now the room held a reading nook with beanbag chairs and a small bookshelf, a play area complete with an indoor tent and the table where they could eat, draw or do homework. There was also a couch and a kitchenette: basically all the comforts of home. After Jennifer’s death the girls had spent even more time here, preferring to be close to their father than at the house with a babysitter. Maybe it was selfish of him but in his grief he’d needed them, too. So they worked out a routine where they spent the afternoons together at the shop, and he hired someone to close up so they could go home and have dinner together.

So far it was working out well. Of course, what kid wouldn’t want to spend their days in a toy store? Not to mention, as cute as the girls were, every customer ended up spending as much time with them as they did shopping. His mascots, he called them, and they’d worked out a pretty good routine together. Which was why he wasn’t going to risk what they’d built by even thinking about adding a romance into it. These two girls were more than enough female for him. They were his whole life, and he’d make any sacrifice to make sure they grew up secure and happy.

Amy finished her muffin first, and looked up at him. “Are we going to get our kitten today?”

His heart sunk. “No, not today. I’ve got to finish unloading the rest of the new stock today, and then it will be time for dinner and bed.”




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