shirts on top of baby pants, she headed toward Mickey’s room.
Trace sat on the couch to make his call. He met his son’s gaze across the room. “Whatever you do, don’t leave us alone tonight.”
Every day her attraction for the handsome Sheriff grew stronger. The sooner father and son connected and she could move on the better. For them. And for her. Nikki watched through the kitchen window as the boys “grilled.”
Trace had changed into a sky-blue polo shirt that emphasized the width of his shoulders, and a pair of khaki shorts that came to his knees but left his muscular calves on display. He made one fine view.
While he wielded the spatula, he instructed Mickey on the finer points of barbecuing. Mickey listened and chewed on a teething biscuit.
Male bonding at its best. Just as she’d planned. Not scheduled was the joy she took in the family moment.
For a man who held himself aloof, who claimed to have no capacity for emotion, he was amazingly insightful and compassionate. Nikki suspected it wasn’t that Trace didn’t acknowledge his feelings, it was that he felt things so deeply, and if he allowed himself to feel he couldn’t do the work he did without being torn apart inside.
He looked up and met her gaze through the window. He smiled, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Not a good sign.
“Steaks are ready,” he called.
She waved an acknowledgment, gathered the baked potatoes and salad bowl and joined the boys outside.Under the shade of the umbrella the summer air felt warm against her skin, but the breeze gave the evening a balmy feel.
“This is nice.” Trace set the platter of steaks on the table. “Good idea.”
Easy conversation followed while they ate. She found out they shared a taste for action movies and biographies, but couldn’t be further apart when it came to music and Chinese food. His growing sense of humor delighted her.
They talked briefly about the big announcement made at the community meeting. Nikki had been babysitting the kids, but her sister had filled her in on the Anderson endowment, gifting funds and property to Paradise Pines for community development.
“Is it true the men already have plans drawn up for a new sports complex?”
“It’s no more aggressive than the women hiring an architect for a museum.”
“Please. The cultural significance of a museum over a sports park couldn’t be more blatant.”
“Kids want to go to the park. They have to be made to go to a museum.”
“That doesn’t make the need for culture any less important in their development.”
“So you’re siding with the women?” Even he heard the sarcasm in the question.
She gave him an arch stare. “I am a woman, and I help shape young minds as a living. I can’t believe you don’t see the value of learning over play.”
“Statistics show kids in team sports are more socially adept and less likely to get involved in drugs, alcohol and gangs. I see the value in that.”
“Yes, but we already have a sports park. We don’t have a museum.” Already seeing the argument forming on his lips, she cut herself short. “Never mind. We have to work together. It’s best we accept we’re on opposite sides of this issue.”
“Good idea. Too bad the whole town can’t agree to disagree. I see this getting ugly before it’s over.”
“Keeping the peace.” She grinned at him. “That’s why you get the big bucks.”
“Ha, ha. The big bucks came from my dad’s life-insurance policy. And I inherited my wife’s trust fund that she got from her maternal grandmother. I didn’t want any of it.”
Wow. The emotional outburst was so unlike him she stumbled for a response. “It must have helped, though, to allow you to make the move to Paradise Pines and to buy this place.”
His fist tightened around his glass. “I can afford to provide a home for my son.”
Okay, that hadn’t been the right thing at all. Stupid, in fact, with his pride all wrapped up with his
Trace sat on the couch to make his call. He met his son’s gaze across the room. “Whatever you do, don’t leave us alone tonight.”
Every day her attraction for the handsome Sheriff grew stronger. The sooner father and son connected and she could move on the better. For them. And for her. Nikki watched through the kitchen window as the boys “grilled.”
Trace had changed into a sky-blue polo shirt that emphasized the width of his shoulders, and a pair of khaki shorts that came to his knees but left his muscular calves on display. He made one fine view.
While he wielded the spatula, he instructed Mickey on the finer points of barbecuing. Mickey listened and chewed on a teething biscuit.
Male bonding at its best. Just as she’d planned. Not scheduled was the joy she took in the family moment.
For a man who held himself aloof, who claimed to have no capacity for emotion, he was amazingly insightful and compassionate. Nikki suspected it wasn’t that Trace didn’t acknowledge his feelings, it was that he felt things so deeply, and if he allowed himself to feel he couldn’t do the work he did without being torn apart inside.
He looked up and met her gaze through the window. He smiled, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Not a good sign.
“Steaks are ready,” he called.
She waved an acknowledgment, gathered the baked potatoes and salad bowl and joined the boys outside.Under the shade of the umbrella the summer air felt warm against her skin, but the breeze gave the evening a balmy feel.
“This is nice.” Trace set the platter of steaks on the table. “Good idea.”
Easy conversation followed while they ate. She found out they shared a taste for action movies and biographies, but couldn’t be further apart when it came to music and Chinese food. His growing sense of humor delighted her.
They talked briefly about the big announcement made at the community meeting. Nikki had been babysitting the kids, but her sister had filled her in on the Anderson endowment, gifting funds and property to Paradise Pines for community development.
“Is it true the men already have plans drawn up for a new sports complex?”
“It’s no more aggressive than the women hiring an architect for a museum.”
“Please. The cultural significance of a museum over a sports park couldn’t be more blatant.”
“Kids want to go to the park. They have to be made to go to a museum.”
“That doesn’t make the need for culture any less important in their development.”
“So you’re siding with the women?” Even he heard the sarcasm in the question.
She gave him an arch stare. “I am a woman, and I help shape young minds as a living. I can’t believe you don’t see the value of learning over play.”
“Statistics show kids in team sports are more socially adept and less likely to get involved in drugs, alcohol and gangs. I see the value in that.”
“Yes, but we already have a sports park. We don’t have a museum.” Already seeing the argument forming on his lips, she cut herself short. “Never mind. We have to work together. It’s best we accept we’re on opposite sides of this issue.”
“Good idea. Too bad the whole town can’t agree to disagree. I see this getting ugly before it’s over.”
“Keeping the peace.” She grinned at him. “That’s why you get the big bucks.”
“Ha, ha. The big bucks came from my dad’s life-insurance policy. And I inherited my wife’s trust fund that she got from her maternal grandmother. I didn’t want any of it.”
Wow. The emotional outburst was so unlike him she stumbled for a response. “It must have helped, though, to allow you to make the move to Paradise Pines and to buy this place.”
His fist tightened around his glass. “I can afford to provide a home for my son.”
Okay, that hadn’t been the right thing at all. Stupid, in fact, with his pride all wrapped up with his
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