by Judy Duarte
Still, even though she was a property owner and had a small nest egg, she wouldn’t fit into the social circles in which Kieran and his family ran—nor would she even want to try. Not when her idea of a perfect afternoon was a trip to an antiques shop, where she scoured vintage photos, or a lazy walk through flea markets, where she searched for hidden treasures.
No, she’d feel completely uncomfortable hobnobbing with Kieran and his rich family and friends. Heck, she sometimes felt out of place in 2017 Austin, which was one reason she loved walking in her quaint, historical neighborhood.
So why complicate matters when she liked her life just the way it was?
“I’m finished,” Kieran said, as he reentered the kitchen yet again.
Dana was finished, too. Not just getting the food ready, but comparing the different lives she and Kieran lived. Besides, even if she ever did consider going out with a man like him, it would never work out. From what she’d heard, Kieran dated a lot of gorgeous women, and Dana would never agree to be one of many.
She had a good life—and a busy one. She wasn’t lacking anything other than a family of her own. And now that the Lawsons had invited her to come around more often, she’d be able to maintain and nurture the relationship she had with them.
It might not be the perfect setup for the holidays and other lonely days, but it was close enough to be a darn good substitute.
* * *
The call Kieran had been dreading came only a week after Zach’s funeral, while he was in his office at Robinson Tech.
“Sam’s in the hospital with angina,” Sandra said. “It’s pretty serious this time, and I’m not sure how long he’ll need to stay. They’re talking about surgery.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Kieran asked.
“I have a babysitter at the house with Rosie. The granddaughter of a neighbor. The girl is good with kids and responsible, but she’s only fourteen. She’ll be able to handle things for a while, but I have no idea how long I’ll need to be here with Sam.”
“Don’t worry about Rosie,” Kieran told her, even though his own concern about the child’s well-being, especially with him in charge of her, was mounting by the second. “I’ll pick her up and relieve the sitter. But if you don’t mind, since I’m not too far from the hospital, I’ll stop by to see you and check on Sam first.”
“Thanks, Kieran. He’d love to see you. He’s on the third floor, in room 312.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes—maybe less.”
Sandra paused a beat then asked, “What would we do without you, Kieran?”
He could ask her a similar question. How in the world will Rosie be able to get by without you?
“I’m happy to help out whenever and however I can,” he responded.
“Bless you, honey. I’ll see you soon.”
After disconnecting the line, Kieran told his assistant to cancel an afternoon appointment and to reschedule tomorrow’s board meeting. Then he left his high-rise office and drove to the hospital. The direct route he took reminded him of the times in weeks past that he’d traveled that same stretch of road on his way to see Zach in the ICU, hoping and praying that his friend would have made some improvement during the night, only to find that he hadn’t.
Kieran felt that same cold and heavy weight of dread and fear now.
Sam has heart trouble, Dana had said last week, and Sandra’s health isn’t very good. I’m not sure how long either of them will have the stamina to keep up with an active three-year-old.
He’d known Dana was right, but he’d hoped the older couple would be able to keep Rosie for another few years—maybe even until she graduated from high school.
Was it already time for him to step in and take full custody of Rosie, as unready as he might be?
Maybe Zach’s parents only needed him to provide temporary help and babysitting duties. Once Sam was feeling better and returned home, Sandra would want Rosie back again. Then Kieran’s life would go back to normal. He convinced himself that was the case.
It would only be for a few days. He could handle child care duties for that long.
“I got this,” he said out loud, hoping the sound of his voice would provide all the assurance he needed.
Yet those words, interlaced with the doubt that plagued him, were still ringing in his ears when he entered the hospital lobby. As he started toward the elevator, he spotted Dana coming out of the gift shop holding a yellow ceramic vase filled with brightly colored flowers.
She wore a simple black skirt and a white sleeveless blouse. Once again, her hair was pulled up in a topknot, with two turquoise chopsticks—or were they knitting needles?—poking out of it.
When she saw him, she broke into a smile that dimpled her cheeks. Again, he was struck by her simple beauty, something he’d failed to notice when she’d been with Zach.
“I take it Sandra called you,” he said.
“Yes, she did.”
“I guess this is what you meant when you told me you were concerned about Sam’s health.”
Dana blew out a soft sigh. “Yes, but I was hopeful that the doctors had his heart issues controlled by medication.”
Kieran had hoped that was the case, too.
“I just stopped by for a quick visit,” he said. “I told Sandra I’d relieve the babysitter and keep Rosie for a few days. Once Sam is released and ready to go home, I can take her back to the ranch.”
“You may need to keep her longer than that. The doctor mentioned surgery, and those ‘few days’ could end up being more long-term.”
“Yes, I know.” Kieran was trying to prepare himself for that possibility. He glanced down at his leather loafers, then back into Dana’s eyes. There was no need to lie or to pretend that he was ready to be a parent. “To tell you the truth, I’m a little nervous about being Rosie’s guardian. As much as I adore her, I’ve never spent much time with kids.”
“I can understand that, but you’ll do fine. Zach wouldn’t have chosen you to step up if he’d had any concern about that.” Dana’s eyes, a stunning shade of blue, filled with something akin to sympathy. “Not that I’m an expert on child rearing,” she added.
“That’s just it,” Kieran said. “I’m great at giving piggyback rides and playing hide-and-seek for an hour or two. But being her legal guardian means choosing just the right preschool and knowing when she needs to see a pediatrician.” Damn. Just the thought of doctor visits brought on a whole new worry that filled his gut with dread. “What do I do if she gets a fever or a tummy ache?”
And then there was the whole idea of shots, immunizations and making her take liquid medicine that tasted nasty.
Worry and fear must have altered his expression because Dana said, “You’ll do just fine.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
She placed a soft and gentle hand on his shoulder, which sent a rush of warmth to his gut, chasing a bit of his fear away. “And remember, it’s just a few days at this point. There’s no need to borrow trouble.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” He offered her a halfhearted grin, although he really did appreciate her support.
“If it’ll make you feel better,” she said, “I’d be happy to stop by your place so I can visit Rosie and give you a break at the same time.”
Kieran would take all the help he could get, even if it was just an occasional visit. “I’d appreciate that, Dana. Before you leave I’ll give my business card, along with my address.”
The hand that had been resting on his shoulder slid down to his back, giving it a rub that suggested she wanted to provide him with comfort and understanding. But her touch, the trail of her fingers, triggered a spark of heat he hadn’t expected. Nor did he have any idea what, if anything, to do about it.
“You’ll do fine,” she sa
id.
God, he sure hoped she was right. But he couldn’t very well remain in the hospital lobby, talking to a woman who’d sent his thoughts scampering in an entirely wrong direction. So he nodded toward the elevator. “Are you ready to visit Sam?”
“Yes, let’s go.” Dana fell into step beside him, but they didn’t speak again until they reached the third floor.
As the doors opened up, Kieran said, “Here we are.”
They started down the corridor together, their shoes clicking and tapping on the tile floor. Still, they didn’t speak.
When they neared room 312, they spotted Sandra walking out the door and into the hall.
“How’s Sam doing?” Kieran asked her.
“About the same. The doctor has ruled out bypass surgery for the time being, and he’s responding to treatment. But Sam has a few other health issues they’d like to get stabilized before they dishcharge him. So it looks like he’ll be here for a while.”
“What about you?” Kieran asked. “How are you holding up through all of this?”
Sandra took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. “I’m a little tired, but I’m doing all right. My blood pressure is higher than usual, which is a little concerning. My doctor would like me to get some rest and stop worrying about Sam. But that’s not easy to do.”
Under the circumstances, Kieran didn’t suppose it would be. Not when Sandra had their granddaughter to worry about, too.
“I’ll plan on having Rosie indefinitely,” Kieran said. “Once Sam is feeling better, just say the word and I’ll bring her home.”
Sandra’s eyes filled with tears. What she couldn’t blink away, she dried with her index fingers. “As much as I hate to let Rosie go, especially when I fear it could end up being permanent, I really have my hands full with Sam right now.”
“I’ll take good care of her,” Kieran said. “And if it makes you feel better, Dana promised to help me.” He gave the attractive redhead a nudge.
Dana slipped her arm around Sandra and drew her close. “That’s right, Sandy. I know how difficult this must be for you, but don’t worry about anything or anyone except Sam—and yourself.”
“We’ll just be a phone call or a short drive away,” Kieran added.
“Thank you.” The older woman again swiped at her teary eyes. “That’s probably for the best.”
Kieran knew they’d made the right decision all the way around, although he still wasn’t sure about his capabilities as a guardian, let alone as a paternal role model. But he’d do his best by Rosie.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” he told Sandra, although his gut twisted at the thought of being on his own with Rosie.
But, hey. He’d just take it one day at a time.
“Sandy,” Dana said, “is there something I can do to help you? Do you want me to bring anything to you from the house? Or, if you give me a list, I can run errands or stop by the market and pick up groceries or whatever.”
“Since I don’t have to worry about being home with Rosie,” Sandra said, “I’d like to camp out here at the hospital for a while. So, yes. If you don’t mind, there are some things you can pick up from the house and a prescription that’s ready at the pharmacy.”
While the women continued to work out a game plan of sorts, Kieran looked up at the ceiling as if he could see through it and beyond, as if he could somehow connect with Zach and ask for his forgiveness. I’m sorry I lied to your mom. I have no idea how to provide for Rosie’s needs.
But he made Zach—and himself—a promise right then and there. He would do his best to provide everything Rosie needed—come hell or high water and damn the cost.
Chapter Three
Dana hadn’t planned to visit Kieran and Rosie until the weekend, but less than twenty-four hours after running into him at the hospital, she changed her mind.
He’d admitted to being nervous and uneasy about his ability to fill Zach’s shoes. In spite of the assurance he’d given Sandy, Dana suspected that he wasn’t feeling nearly as comfortable taking care of a three-year-old as he might want everyone to believe.
So after putting in a full day at the history center, she drove across town to the high-rise building in which Kieran lived. She and Zach had once attended a party here, where they’d hobnobbed with socialites, techies and corporate types.
They’d moved about the well-dressed group, holding their drinks in hand and making small talk. Zach might have appeared to be a simple cowboy, but his wit, humor and charm had carried him through the evening, and he’d fit right in. Not so with Dana.
Sure, everyone had been kind and gracious to her, even when the only things she could think to say had to do with a new exhibit at the history center. She’d smiled and nodded, as if all was right in her world, but she’d felt lost, like a street urchin on the snowy lanes of eighteenth-century London.
Okay, so it really wasn’t that bad. But she’d felt out of place among the rich and successful crowd.
And now, after parking across the street in the public lot next to a busy Starbucks, she began to have second thoughts about her surprise visit.
What had she been thinking? She shouldn’t just drop in uninvited. Maybe she should head to the popular coffee spot instead. She could purchase a venti green tea and call it a day.
Then again, Kieran had said to come “anytime.” She sat in her parked car, pondering her options.
What if he wasn’t home?
Maybe she should give him a call. She reached into her purse, pulled out the business card he’d given her yesterday and read the personal contact information he’d written on the backside. Then she dialed his cell.
He answered on the third ring, although his voice sounded a little...tired. Or was he stressed?
“Are you up for a visitor?” she asked.
“If the visitor is you—and if you’re talking about coming over now—I wouldn’t mind a bit.”
“Actually, I’m standing outside your building.”
“Then come on up. I’m on the tenth floor, number 1014. My condo is on the east side, just to the left of the elevator doors.”
“All right. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” She grabbed her purse and locked the car. Rather than jaywalk, she strode to the corner, waited for the green light and crossed the street to the impressive, curved building of glass and steel.
The doorman, a dapper, uniformed gentleman in his mid to late fifties, stood at the entrance. He must have been expecting her because he knew her name and greeted her with a smile. “Good afternoon, Ms. Trevino. Mr. Fortune said to send you right up.”
She thanked him, then headed to the elevators. Once inside, a flutter started in her stomach and continued to build on the ride up to Kieran’s luxury condominium, reaching a peak by the time she rang the bell.
The door swung open almost immediately, but when she caught a look at the handsome man, who appeared more than a little haggard, her momentary nervousness dissipated.
His mussed hair suggested that he’d just woken up from a long winter’s nap, although she suspected he’d been raking his fingers through it more often than usual. He wore a black T-shirt and a pair of gray gym shorts, but she doubted he’d been working out. At least, not in the usual way. And even though his current appearance wasn’t the least bit stylish, nor was he as impeccably put together as she was used to seeing him, it didn’t make him any less attractive.
“I’m glad you’re here.” He stepped aside for her to enter. “Come on in.”
She might have complied, but it looked as if an entire toy store had exploded in his living room. In fact, there was so much clutter on the floor she could hardly take a step for fear of tripping over something.
“What’s all this?” she asked.
“Stuff I bought for Rosie.”
Dana su
rveyed the results of his shopping spree—a blue-and-white doll house, a tiny pink kitchen setup along with plastic food items and a little red shopping cart. Puzzle pieces, crayons, books and a variety of stuffed animals littered the room.
Five different dolls of various hair color, skin tone and sizes were lined up on his dark leather sofa, each with a pink teacup in her lap.
“Where’s Rosie?” Dana asked. “Or is she somehow lost in this mess?”
“She’s been running on full throttle all day and finally went to sleep five minutes ago. But I have to tell you, I probably need a nap more than she does.”
Dana furrowed her brow. It was after five o’clock. “Why’d you put her down for a nap this late in the day?”
“I didn’t plan it that way. Every time I asked if she was sleepy, she told me no. Finally, she crashed on her own. I found her curled up on the floor in the guest room, next to her new toy box. I was afraid she’d wake up, so I covered her with a blanket and left her there.”
Dana had no idea what to say. Kieran had admitted that he didn’t know anything about kids, and she’d had no reason to doubt him. But she’d never expected anything like this, and she couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing.” At least, not anything she wanted to actually say out loud. Poor Kieran looked as though he was ready to drop in his tracks, too. “Apparently, you’ve had a busy day.”
He rolled his eyes. “You have no idea.”
Dana continued to scan the room, just now noticing a pink motorized kiddie car parked in the dining area. Seriously? Kieran had purchased a big, outdoor plaything like that when he didn’t even have a yard?
“This is mind-boggling,” she said. “What’d you do? Take Rosie shopping and let her have free rein with your credit card?”
“No, I picked this out myself, along with some new clothes for her and a toddler bed. That’s all in the guest room, which is where she’ll sleep while she’s here.”