looking for a new place tomorrow.”
“It’s not that urgent,” he said and watched her over the rim of his cup. “The house needs some work done to it before it goes on the market if we’re to get the best price.”
She sighed. “I know I’ve let it run down since—”
“It’s not your fault. Nor was it
your
responsibility. But I don’t want to keep going on about what Doug
should
have done. I’ll fix the house up and hopefully it will sell quickly. Whatever money is left from the sale will go into trust for Oliver.”
She returned the barest nod and met his gaze. “Will...will I need to get DNA testing done to prove Oliver is Doug’s child?”
“You’re not serious?”
Color rose in her cheeks. “I thought you might want proof before you handed any money over.”
“No,” Tanner said gently. “I know whose child he is, Cassie. He has Doug’s eyes.”
“And yours,” she said.
“A family trait,” he said and smiled. “He’s a beautiful child and I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know him.”
“I’m glad, too.” She cradled the cup in her hands. “I know I’ve been a bit hot and cold about you being part of his life...but I am genuinely pleased that he has an uncle who cares about us.”
*
She hadn’t meant to say “us.” But the word slipped out and it was impossible to avoid the query in his gaze. He did care; that was obvious. He was a caring, kind man and she’d been naively deceived by Doug into thinking Tanner was some sort of closed-off, unfriendly loner who didn’t need or want any kind of familial relationships. He did want them... The way he’d bonded so effortlessly with Oliver was evidence of that.
“I’ll help you get the house ready,” she said and smiled. “Some of the rooms need painting and the backyard could do with an overhaul. And perhaps some new light fittings. It shouldn’t take long to fix up.”
“Sure,” he replied. “And don’t stress about moving. When the time comes we’ll find a place for you both.”
“And what about the safety deposit box?” she asked. “Did you find anything important in it?”
He shook his head. “No. It was empty.”
It seemed odd, but Cassie didn’t press the issue. She nodded and finished her coffee. “I think I’d like to walk for a while.”
“Want some company?”
Did she? Being around him was increasingly unsettling. And since the tense moment in the kitchen when he’d comforted her she’d done little else but think about him. She could have sworn he was going to kiss her...and not just on the hand as he’d done. Naive and inexperienced she might be, but there was heat between them and spending time with him only added fuel to the fire.
She should have sent him on his way.
Should have.
“Okay,” she said and got to her feet.
He stood and tossed their empty cups in the trash. “Lead the way.”
The beach was deserted and when they reached the sand she flipped off her sandals and shoved them into her tote. There were gray clouds rolling in from the sea and the wind whipped up around them. “I love it here on days like this,” she admitted as they started walking along the sand. “It’s got a mysterious mood about it when the clouds rumble and the wind howls.”
He laughed. “Cold wind and unswimmable seas...not exactly my idea of a great afternoon at the beach.”
“Wimp,” she said and laughed back. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
They walked closely together and Tanner quickly steadied her when she lost her footing and tripped.
“Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, gripping his arm. “I’m something of a klutz.”
“I bet you’re not. Doug told me you were a dancer when you were young.”
She grimaced. “Not exactly. I did ballet with Lauren when I was about ten. But I lasted only a few months.”
“Best I not take you to the upcoming Rosemount Rodeo, then,” he said and grinned. “There’s a cowboy dance being held in the evening. Don’t want you
“It’s not that urgent,” he said and watched her over the rim of his cup. “The house needs some work done to it before it goes on the market if we’re to get the best price.”
She sighed. “I know I’ve let it run down since—”
“It’s not your fault. Nor was it
your
responsibility. But I don’t want to keep going on about what Doug
should
have done. I’ll fix the house up and hopefully it will sell quickly. Whatever money is left from the sale will go into trust for Oliver.”
She returned the barest nod and met his gaze. “Will...will I need to get DNA testing done to prove Oliver is Doug’s child?”
“You’re not serious?”
Color rose in her cheeks. “I thought you might want proof before you handed any money over.”
“No,” Tanner said gently. “I know whose child he is, Cassie. He has Doug’s eyes.”
“And yours,” she said.
“A family trait,” he said and smiled. “He’s a beautiful child and I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know him.”
“I’m glad, too.” She cradled the cup in her hands. “I know I’ve been a bit hot and cold about you being part of his life...but I am genuinely pleased that he has an uncle who cares about us.”
*
She hadn’t meant to say “us.” But the word slipped out and it was impossible to avoid the query in his gaze. He did care; that was obvious. He was a caring, kind man and she’d been naively deceived by Doug into thinking Tanner was some sort of closed-off, unfriendly loner who didn’t need or want any kind of familial relationships. He did want them... The way he’d bonded so effortlessly with Oliver was evidence of that.
“I’ll help you get the house ready,” she said and smiled. “Some of the rooms need painting and the backyard could do with an overhaul. And perhaps some new light fittings. It shouldn’t take long to fix up.”
“Sure,” he replied. “And don’t stress about moving. When the time comes we’ll find a place for you both.”
“And what about the safety deposit box?” she asked. “Did you find anything important in it?”
He shook his head. “No. It was empty.”
It seemed odd, but Cassie didn’t press the issue. She nodded and finished her coffee. “I think I’d like to walk for a while.”
“Want some company?”
Did she? Being around him was increasingly unsettling. And since the tense moment in the kitchen when he’d comforted her she’d done little else but think about him. She could have sworn he was going to kiss her...and not just on the hand as he’d done. Naive and inexperienced she might be, but there was heat between them and spending time with him only added fuel to the fire.
She should have sent him on his way.
Should have.
“Okay,” she said and got to her feet.
He stood and tossed their empty cups in the trash. “Lead the way.”
The beach was deserted and when they reached the sand she flipped off her sandals and shoved them into her tote. There were gray clouds rolling in from the sea and the wind whipped up around them. “I love it here on days like this,” she admitted as they started walking along the sand. “It’s got a mysterious mood about it when the clouds rumble and the wind howls.”
He laughed. “Cold wind and unswimmable seas...not exactly my idea of a great afternoon at the beach.”
“Wimp,” she said and laughed back. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
They walked closely together and Tanner quickly steadied her when she lost her footing and tripped.
“Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, gripping his arm. “I’m something of a klutz.”
“I bet you’re not. Doug told me you were a dancer when you were young.”
She grimaced. “Not exactly. I did ballet with Lauren when I was about ten. But I lasted only a few months.”
“Best I not take you to the upcoming Rosemount Rodeo, then,” he said and grinned. “There’s a cowboy dance being held in the evening. Don’t want you
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