Rekindling The Widower's Heart. Glynna Kaye
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Travis and the youth group this summer, it might be worthwhile to get to know her better. A parent had to be proactive these days when it came to who you allowed to influence your kids. Delaney was awfully young to be taking on responsibility for the group.
He cleared his throat. “So, how would tomorrow afternoon work for you to retrieve the rest of your belongings?”
She tilted her head. “You’re sure?”
“I’m good with it. After lunch? I could pick you up at one o’clock.” If Garrett couldn’t tag along to help with the sofa, he’d get one of his friends in the neighboring town to assist, then recruit another family member back here to unload.
“I’ll be ready. And thanks.”
“No problem. But I guess I’d better finish up and get on out of here so you can get settled in.” He turned away, intending to head to the loft, then tensed as he glimpsed a colorful flier atop Delaney’s luggage by the door. He motioned toward it. “Where’d you get that?”
“What?” She turned to see what he was referring to. “Oh. I found that tucked in my door. Haven’t even looked at it yet.”
She picked it up. Flipped it over. “It looks as if someone plans to run for town council. There’s a preliminary campaign gathering Monday night.”
Someone intended to run for an opening on the town council all right. Sunshine Carston. An outspoken young woman who settled in town a couple of years ago and rallied a growing number of local artists to take a more active role in the community. She’d been a thorn in the side of quite a few longtime Hunter Ridge residents.
He slipped the flier from Delaney’s fingers and glanced down at the photograph of the woman who would be his mother’s probable opponent this coming fall. An attractive, eloquent young woman but, oh, what a pain in the neck at times.
“One word of advice, Delaney.”
The blonde stared up at him with a slight frown. “And what would that be?”
“If you want the kind of summer you’re hoping for, steer clear of local politics.”
A dimple surfaced in her smooth cheek, the frown evaporating. “That bad, huh?”
“Could be.” He returned the flier and she folded it in half before tossing it back to the top of the suitcase.
“I assure you that while I do my civic duty at the polls, I’ve never been interested much in politics. However...” She flashed him a smile that forced his heart rate up a notch. “Should you decide to run against Miss Sunshine there, I might consider joining your team.”
Warmth heated the back of his neck. Was she only teasing? Flirting again? He was so out of practice with that sort of stuff. Local ladies had long ago given up the chase, which suited him fine. He had no intention of sticking around Hunter Ridge much longer anyway.
He took a step back. “Thanks for the vote of support, but no politicking for me.”
She didn’t look surprised at his statement, only amused. With effort, he drew his gaze from hers.
“Guess I’ll get things checked out here and be on my way.”
But he’d barely started up the stairs to the loft when a dog barked from the open door behind him and a much-loved voice called out.
“We found you, Daddy!”
With a grin, he reached the bottom of the staircase before eight-year-old Chloe, raced forward to launch herself into his arms for a welcoming hug. He laughed as he scooped up the dark-haired girl and she planted a kiss on his cheek. It was the highlight of his day. “You’ve missed me?”
“Uh-huh. This much.” With a giggle he never tired of hearing, her arms tightened around his neck and she gave him another kiss.
That’s when he caught sight of Delaney standing off to the side, an uncertain look coloring her expression.
“Delaney? I want you to meet my daughter, Chloe.” He didn’t try to keep the pride out of his voice. “Chloe, this is Delaney Marks. She’s going to be living in here this summer.”
“Good to meet you, Chloe.” Delaney reached out her hand and his little girl shyly shook it.
Then, a frown puckering her forehead, Chloe looked around the open space. “Why don’t you have furniture?”
Delaney laughed, catching his eye. “I’ll have furniture just as soon as your dad helps me move it in.”
Chloe looked at him solemnly. “You’d better get busy, Daddy.”
“I guess so. And I guess we’d better get going as soon as I check a few things out upstairs.” He lowered his daughter to the floor and set her on her feet. “Homework tonight?”
She shook her head, not meeting his gaze.
Likely story. “Homework tonight?”
She started to shake her head again, then giggled and nodded, reaching out to clasp his hand in both of hers as she looked up at him mischievously.
“You don’t need to check the appliances upstairs,” Delaney said, drawing his attention again. “Despite recent evidence to the contrary, I’m perfectly capable of poking plugs into outlets.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “So you say.”
“If I run into any unforeseen difficulties, I know where to find you, right?”
Her words sounded flirtatious enough, but had the interest he thought he’d recognized earlier diminished somewhat since the arrival of his child?
“That you do,” he confirmed, irritated that he longed to ignite the spark in her gaze once again.
“Well, then?” She made a sweeping motion toward the door. “Be on your way.”
Yes, on his way. And the farther he stayed from Delaney Marks the better.
Daddy. The next morning when she crawled out of her sleeping bag in the loft, Delaney was still chiding herself for being surprised her new landlord was a parent. Luke was older than her and an attractive, seemingly nice man. It wouldn’t be unexpected for him to have been in a serious relationship. To have a kid.
But the no ring thing had thrown her off.
Was he a widower? Divorced? Either could account for the apparent sadness she’d glimpsed earlier in his eyes—a look that evaporated with the arrival of Chloe.
Even now, chatting on the phone with her closest friend early Sunday evening while awaiting the arrival of the youth group, Delaney couldn’t stop thinking about Luke Hunter. About how he’d scooped the squealing child into his arms with a smile that transformed his already handsome features. Brought him to life.
“Actually, I’m not too swamped with wedding preparations to keep me from popping over to see your new place.” Paris Perslow’s voice carried over the phone with a surprisingly carefree lilt for someone who was only weeks away from her wedding day. Most brides were a bundle of nerves at this point. “Like I said, we’re keeping things simple, which is why you’re my only attendant this time. Too bad Cody’s best man is married.”
“Believe me, that’s for the best.” Delaney’s relationship with coworker Dwayne Moorley, like her job in Sacramento, had expired only weeks ago. This morning when drying her hair, she’d firmly reminded herself that although the outcome of their time spent together the past two years was disappointing, another unforeseen loss in her life, she wouldn’t look back. In retrospect, she’d stayed in the relationship much too long, for reasons she was only now coming to fully understand.
“You’re well rid of that guy,” Paris continued