Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall
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needed time. Honestly, so did she. But she also didn’t want their relationship to lose momentum. She wanted to keep building on what they had between them because it felt so good.
She’d sworn she’d never get involved with a man who risked his life for his job ever again. And then along had come Officer Spencer. Noah was the first man to entice her in years, and ignoring such a strong ache was absolutely impossible. All she could do at this point was enjoy the ride because Noah was part of her now, no matter the red flags waving around inside her mind.
Lucy grabbed her cell and shot off a text. She kept it simple and to the point. If he answered, fine. If he didn’t, that would be fine, too. As much as she wanted to see him, she also had a life to focus on. Her semester was over and she only had one more to go before she had her master’s degree in psychology. Lucy figured she’d better get a start on those résumés and get them sent to potential employers.
But part of her loved the SPD and hated leaving. They’d been her family when Evan had passed. Between them and Kate and Tara, Lucy knew just how valuable a support team was in trying times.
As she headed out the back door toward the barn, she wondered who Noah’s support team was. He’d left everyone he’d known back in Texas, and as lovely as it was that he and Emma were so close, Lucy knew he needed more.
Lucy readied Gunner and headed out into the field. She just wanted to ride toward the mountainside and admire the vibrant colors of fall. Autumn had always been her favorite time of year, and Stonerock, with its beautiful landscapes, showcased the season like a star. Evan had always said the same and he’d traveled all over the world. To them, Stonerock had always seemed so welcoming and relaxing.
Rocking against the saddle and the gentle trot of her horse, Lucy tipped her head back and breathed in the fresh scent of the crisp air. This perfect fall day wouldn’t last. Winter would be here soon and snow would blanket the fields and mountains behind her house.
The afternoon transitioned into evening as she tended to both horses in the barn. She brushed them, sang to them—off-key, but they didn’t complain—and felt more relaxed than she had in months. Actually, she was calmer than she’d been since Evan’s death.
As she shut off the barn lights and headed back toward the house, the sound of a shutting car door caught her attention. Her heart kicked up in anticipation of seeing Noah.
Instead, Tara rounded the corner of the house, holding hands with her daughter, and a sliver of disappointment coursed through Lucy. She loved seeing her friends, but all afternoon she’d been waiting on Noah to bring Emma for a riding session. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable with having Emma around so much. That was understandable, but still… Lucy wanted to see him.
As Tara got closer, Lucy noticed her friend’s eyes were red rimmed. Instinct had her crossing the stone path a little quicker.
“I hope you don’t mind we just stopped by,” Tara stated as she held on to her daughter’s hand. “Marley and I were hoping we could hang here for a bit.”
“Of course.” Lucy bent down to Marley, who clutched her stuffed elephant. “Do you want to see the horses or go in and watch a movie?”
“A movie.” Marley smiled. “Do you have ice cream?”
“You know I always have cookie dough ice cream. Why don’t you go get it from the freezer and I’ll be right in to scoop it out.”
Marley let go of her mother’s hand and ran right up the porch steps. When the screen door slammed shut, Lucy focused back on Tara.
“What’s going on?”
Tara shook her head. “I hate him. I absolutely hate Sam Bailey with everything I have in me.”
Well, that didn’t sound good. Lucy figured those tearstains were from rage as opposed to sadness…or an unhealthy mix of both.
“What did he do?”
Tara started pacing on the walk. She muttered under her breath, throwing her arms to the side before spinning back around. “That jackass sent me a card in the mail. A damn card with a little handwritten note like old people do.”
Lucy bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Sam wanted his wife back. It was that simple. Tara kept fighting the fact, but Lucy hoped she’d realize what a great guy Sam was.
“What did he write?” Lucy asked.
Tara reached into her purse and jerked out the card that she’d shoved back into the torn envelope.
Lucy pulled the card out and opened it. The front of the card was a serene beach scene, but the inside was blank except for Sam’s writing.
I still remember.
Lucy glanced back up to Tara. “This is what has you so upset?”
Tara’s eyes widened. “Well, yeah. Before we were married we ran away to the beach for a weekend and didn’t tell anyone what we were doing.”
Lucy remembered that trip. Tara had been so in love and giddy.
“So why does this make you so mad?”
Tara ripped the card from Lucy’s hand. “Because he’s making things more difficult than they need to be. We’re divorced now and things need to stay that way.”
Lucy wished she knew what had truly broken them up. Tara had insisted that they’d married too quickly and for the wrong reasons, but Sam hadn’t agreed. They’d argued, they’d said some hurtful things, and in the end they’d split up. They did manage to get along in front of Marley, so that was something.
“Maybe you need some ice cream, too.” Lucy looped her arm through her friend’s. “Come on in and let’s see what junk food we can find.”
“I’d rather have a drink at Gallagher’s and dance,” she muttered.
Lucy mounted the steps and held the door open for Tara. “Well, right now we’re going to binge watch some kid shows and eat ice cream out of the carton.”
While Tara and Marley were getting spoons and taking the ice cream to the living room, Lucy checked her phone, which had been charging in the kitchen.
She’d missed three texts from Noah, so apparently he wasn’t ignoring her completely. Lucy opened the messages and was in the middle of reading them when she realized Tara was looking over her shoulder.
“So, getting closer with the new officer, are you?” Tara asked, raising her brows. “I’d much rather hear all about this development than discuss my messed-up life.”
“Your life isn’t messed up,” Lucy stated as she clicked her phone off. “And Noah and I aren’t developing.”
Well, that was a blatant lie, but Lucy wasn’t ready to share just how far she and Noah had gone. She wasn’t ready to comprehend it all herself, let alone be analyzed by anyone else.
“From the looks of those messages I’d say you are,” Tara retorted. “I saw something about his daughter. Are you sure you guys aren’t getting all cozy together?”
One side of Lucy wanted to jump at this chance to potentially find happiness again. On the other hand, there was that fear and guilt that seemed to be more present now than it had been in months.
“He brought Emma out to see the horses the other day,” Lucy admitted. “I simply asked if she’d like to come out and ride another time. I was heading out anyway, but apparently they were busy at a birthday party for one of her friends at the babysitters.”
Tara’s lips quirked as the television from the living room blared with some cartoon’s explosion. “You know an awful lot about Noah and his life for someone who isn’t getting closer.”
The back screen door opened and slammed shut. “He’s such a jerk,” Kate declared as she walked into the kitchen and headed straight to the fridge.
Tara raised