The Groom's Little Girls
She blinked at him, a wary respect replacing the look of disgust she’d worn only a few minutes ago. “Well, I hope that’s the truth. But you should know, he’s asked me to be there when he meets with you, and I intend to do just that. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” With that she spun on her high-heeled shoe and strode off.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said to himself, watching her retreat. No, he had no intention of keeping her from joining them; in fact he found he was almost looking forward to another meeting with the fiery lawyer. Ever since his wife’s death, his friends and family had treated him with kid gloves—always careful how they spoke, what they said. No one wanted to upset the grieving widower. He appreciated the sentiment, but a man didn’t want to be handled like a child.
Dani, on the other hand, had gotten in his face, telling him what she thought without holding back. That kind of forthrightness was refreshing and, he was shocked to realize, a bit of a turn-on. He hadn’t had a physical reaction to a woman in longer than he could remember. He’d had chances; plenty had been interested in stepping into his late wife’s place. But none of them had sparked the kind of attraction he’d felt just now.
Of course, it wasn’t going to lead to anything: he was already overwhelmed with running a business and caring for his daughters, not to mention the new responsibility of being a mentor to a troubled boy. The very last thing he needed was one more complication in his life—romantic or otherwise. But still, there was no harm in looking. No harm at all.
Chapter Two
Dani parked her red convertible, a gift to herself when she’d been hired at Whitehorn and Watts right out of law school, in the gravel lot in front of the Paradise Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Making the payments was a bit harder on her current, significantly lower salary, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to trade it in for something more economical. From the backseat Kevin peppered her with questions, anxious to see the animals, and probably equally anxious about coming face-to-face with Tyler Jackson. Dani had worried that the boy would balk at the idea of the shopkeeper being his mentor, but she’d assured Kevin that the man wasn’t looking to punish him, just help him. Hopefully that was the truth. She’d been up half the night wondering if she should have petitioned the court for a different mentor, one not associated with the case. But it was too late now, and with Kevin being so brave, she didn’t want to undermine his confidence by backing out.
“What about tigers? Do they have tigers?” A glance in the rearview mirror showed Kevin practically bouncing in his booster seat as he swiveled his head from side to side, trying to spy one of the animals she’d told him the center housed.
“Nope, no tigers. Remember, I told you they take care of native species, animals that live in Florida naturally. But they do have a panther, which is kind of a cousin to a tiger. His name is Simba.”
“Okay, that’s cool. Can I pet him?”
“Definitely not.” She got out of the car and opened the back door, leaning in to look him in the eyes. “You don’t touch any of the animals unless an adult says it is okay, got it?”
He nodded solemnly, his serious expression at odds with the sparkle in his eyes. Seeing him this excited, this happy, made her heart flip-flop in her chest. Rumpling his hair quickly, she backed out of the way so he could get out of the car, then led him to the main building, where Tyler was supposed to meet them.
The low-slung brown-and-green wooden building nearly blended into the woods around it. Groupings of native plants, many chosen for their attractiveness to butterflies, lined the path to the front door. Set on land designated as part of the Paradise Wildlife Refuge, the rehab center served a vital purpose. Injured animals were treated at the hospital on site, and then released when they were ready. Animals that couldn’t be released were allowed to live out their lives at the center, where they were cared for by the staff and a dedicated team of volunteers including Dani and her sister. Dylan Turner, the director, had become a close friend. Seeing how gentle the big surfer dude was with injured animals had put her at ease around him during a time when her defenses had been at an all-time high.
Opening the door, she spied him sitting at his desk, behind the big reception counter that separated the public area from the staff office. “Hey, Dylan! Working hard?”
Shaking his blond hair out of his eyes, he smiled wanly. “Always. You know how busy spring is...lots of babies being brought in this time of year.”
“Any we can see today?”
“Sure, I’ve got a possum back there to show you two, if your friend there would like to see it.”
“I’m sure he would.” She gestured between them and made introductions. “Kevin, this is Mr. Turner. He runs this place. Dylan, this is Kevin. We are meeting a new friend, and then we’d love a tour, right, Kevin?”
“Definitely!”
Perfect. When she’d talked to Tyler on the phone to discuss possible outings, he’d suggested the ice-cream parlor on Lighthouse Avenue. Which probably would have been fine. But this seemed so much cooler for a kid, and she’d convinced Tyler it was the better choice.
The bell over the front door rang, cutting off her mental self-congratulations. Looking more casual but just as intimidating, Tyler walked in wearing cargo shorts and a plain white T-shirt, dark glasses hiding the piercing blue eyes she remembered from the courtroom. Beside her, Kevin crowded closer. Clearly uneasy, she had a sense that only his pride was keeping him from hiding behind her.
Dylan, picking up on the sudden tension, left his desk and came to stand between Kevin and Tyler. “Everything okay?” His words were for Dani, but his eyes darted between the obviously scared little boy and the man that seemed to be the cause of his fear.
“Everything is fine.” She laid a hand on Kevin’s shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture, and forced a smile. “This is Tyler Jackson, and he’s here to have some fun with Kevin and me, right?”
Kevin made the barest of nods, but Tyler, to her surprise, broke into a grin and crouched down at the boy’s level. “That’s right. As long as that’s okay with Kevin. Can I come with you guys?”
The boy’s eyes widened. He clearly hadn’t expected to be consulted. “Um, yeah, it’s okay I guess.”
“Thanks, I’ve been looking forward to it.” He straightened and offered a hand to Dylan, who smiled and returned the gesture. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too. I’m Dylan, by the way. If you want to wait a bit, I can give you a guided tour myself. Otherwise Dani knows the place pretty well, and I’m sure she can show you around.”
Dylan was famous for getting caught up in his work; if they waited for him they might never get to see anything. “I think we can manage on our own, right, guys?”
“Sure,” Kevin agreed, no doubt eager to get on with it. She glanced at Tyler, who nodded his assent.
“All right then, let’s get started. Dylan, where would we find that baby possum you were telling us about?”
“In the main treatment room, in one of the cages on the back wall. Just don’t take him out—he’s little but his teeth are sharp.”
“We’ll start there then, thanks.” She opened the half door that led to the office, then led the way through the back door into the heart of the rehab center. Kevin trotted at her heels, with Tyler bringing up the rear.
“Wow, this is like a real doctor’s office.” Running over to the long stainless-steel table, he eyed the tubes and dials of an anesthesia machine. “Do they do surgery on alligators and stuff here?”
“Um, maybe?” Dani usually helped with the fund-raising side of things, not the hands-on, messy stuff. “We can ask Dylan on the way out, or I can call my sister later. She’d know. She volunteers here a lot. In fact, she even trained that panther I was telling you about.”
“Cool!”
“That is pretty cool,” Tyler agreed, making his way toward the bank of cages Dylan had said the possum was in. “I’ve never seen a panther close up.”
“Dani says panthers and tigers are cousins. Do you think that’s true?”
“It is. All cats are related in some way, even house cats.” Tyler had Kevin’s full attention now. “My little girls have been begging me for a kitten. Maybe I should ask if they have a spare panther here. What do you think?”
Kevin giggled, his nostrils crinkling. “Not a good idea.”
Tyler scratched his head in mock confusion. “No? Not the same thing?”
“Uh-uh. You had better get them a regular kitten.”
“You’re probably right. Oh, well.” Dylan pointed to a cage just to the right of where they were standing. “Hey, I think I found that baby possum.”
Kevin rushed over, his earlier nervousness forgotten. “Oh, wow, look how small it is! He’s really funny-looking!”
Dani joined them, peering over Kevin’s head at what looked like an overgrown rat with an extralong pink snout. “Whoa, he is pretty unusual. But he’s just a baby. Maybe he’ll get better looking when he grows up.”
“How come he’s all alone in there? Where’s his mom? Is she in another cage?”
Dani winced. “No, it’s just the baby that is here. That happens sometimes. But they’re going to take good care of it, don’t worry.”
“But what happened to his mom?” His voice rose in pitch. “What happened to her?”
“I don’t know for sure, honey, but she—she probably died. Most of the baby animals they get here are brought in because the parents aren’t there to care for them anymore.”
“So he’s an orphan?”
Tears filled his eyes, and Dani felt her own welling up in response. What on earth had she been thinking, bringing him to see orphaned animals? “Yes, he is. But he’s going to be okay. Dylan and the other workers will make sure of it. And as soon as he’s big enough they’ll let him go, back in the wild.” Maybe knowing there was a happy ending waiting for the possum would help smooth things over.
“They’re going to abandon him? On his own? That’s mean. Mean, mean, mean!” Kevin stomped his foot with each word, his face scrunched up to the point his freckles were running together. “I hate this place. Take me home. Now!” And with that he ran out the nearest door.
* * *
Tyler grabbed Dani’s arm as she started to chase after the boy. “Is it safe out there? All the animals are in enclosures, I mean?”
She tugged, trying to break his grip. “Yes, of course it’s safe. But he’s upset. I need to go to him, and explain—”
“Fine, but let him have a minute to himself first. He’s upset, yes, but he’s going to be even more embarrassed for crying in front of us. Give him a little time to calm down. Trust me.”
She kept her eyes on the door, but stopped trying to pull away. “One minute, but then I’m going after him.”
“We’ll both go.”
Dani ran her hands through her shoulder-length dark hair, frustration and regret clear as day on her face. “I can’t believe I was such an idiot. I just thought he’d like to see cute baby animals. Everyone likes baby animals, right?”
It seemed like a rhetorical question, but he nodded anyway.
“It never occurred to me that he’d focus in on them being orphans. Of course, it should have.” She began pacing, her walking shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor with every step she took. “How could I be so stupid? So heartless? Bringing him here would be like taking a burn victim to a bonfire, for heaven’s sake.”
“Now, it’s not quite like that...”
“Yes, it is. He’s an orphan. He lost his mother not that long ago, and his father might as well be dead. And what do I do? Take him to see a bunch of orphaned animals. Then, to make it worse, I tell him all about how they’ll be let loose. ‘Abandoned,’ I think is what he called it.”
“Hey, you couldn’t have known he’d take it that way. We’ll talk to him, make sure he knows that no one is going to abandon him.”
“It was still insensitive. I should have known better.”
“News flash, princess. You can’t always have all the answers, or get it all right. Not when it comes to kids. Yeah, you screwed up. You’ll fix it. And then probably do something else to mess up, and then fix that. It’s how the whole thing works.”
She stopped pacing just a foot away from him and stared at him. She was close enough that he could smell the scent of whatever fancy shampoo she used, something girly.
“You know, I’m not sure if I want to thank you or smack you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not trying to make you feel better, just telling you the truth.”
“Which is that I screwed up, but it’s not a big deal because I’ll probably do it again?”
“Something like that, yeah.”
She cocked her head, as if trying to judge if he was serious. Which he was. If he’d learned anything since his girls were born, it was that it was impossible to predict what would set them off. And that making mistakes was par for the course. That they were doing okay was more a statement about their resilience than his own parenting skills.
“Fine. But can we go get him now?”
“Sure, but don’t push him, okay? He’s a guy, and he’s going to feel dumb about crying. Don’t make it worse by fussing over him too much.”
“Isn’t he a little young to be worried about all that macho stuff?”
“Nope. Boys his age want to be seen as fearless. I’m not saying you can’t talk to him about it, but just let him take the lead, okay?”
“Fine, let’s just go.” Moving past him she went out the same door Kevin had used.
Tyler followed her onto a mulch path that ran alongside the building and out toward what must be the animal enclosures. To the left was an enclosed space similar to a barn. To the right were open pens ringed with chain-link fencing. At the farthest one, with his back to them, was Kevin.
Dani’s footsteps quickened, but at least she didn’t run up and hug the kid. Instead, she positioned herself next to him, looking into the enclosure. Tyler joined her, flanking Kevin’s other side. For a minute the three of them just stood there, watching what seemed to be a very relaxed, very large panther grooming itself in the sun.
Dani spoke first. “That’s Simba, the panther I was telling you about. You’d never know it now, but he used to be really nervous—in fact, he was terrified of strangers. My sister Mollie’s done a lot of work with him to help him build up his confidence.”
Kevin blinked in surprise. “The panther was scared of people? Doesn’t he know he could just eat them if he wanted?”
“I guess not.” Dani shrugged. “He used to be a pet, sort of. A mean man kept him locked up all the time in a small cage, and it wasn’t very nice. When he was rescued and brought here, he didn’t know if the new people he met were going to be mean to him, like the place he came from. It took time, and lots of people being nice to him, before he was able to relax and enjoy his new home.”
Tyler watched Kevin take that in, no doubt relating it to his own experience moving from foster home to foster home. “That makes sense. I’m glad the people here are nice to him.”
“Me, too.” Relief flooded Dani’s face. “Now, do you want to see the rest of the animals? Some of them have had hard times, like Simba, so if that makes you sad, we could do something else.” She glanced over at Tyler and smiled. “Like go get ice cream or something.”
Kevin looked at Simba for another minute before speaking, his voice so soft Tyler could barely hear it. “Are the other animals happy now?”
She smiled. “Yeah, buddy, they are.”
“Okay, I’d like to see them then. I like happy endings.”
* * *
After seeing all the other animals, which were thankfully deemed happy by Kevin, they ended up at the ice-cream parlor after all. It wasn’t like she could say no, not after how badly she’d messed up earlier. She’d half expected Tyler to veto the idea, but he’d readily agreed and had even insisted on treating them all. Every time she thought she’d started to figure him out, he’d change things up on her.
In court he’d been cold and distant, almost clinical in his description of what had happened. In the park he’d been patient but firm in his convictions. At the rehab center he’d surprised her by letting her take the lead while he mostly observed. And now he was chatting casually with Kevin, each arguing the merits of their preferred ice-cream flavor. Dani hadn’t been able to get a word in edgewise. Which was fine; it was good that they were starting to bond. And Kevin was smiling, which was awesome. She had a feeling she’d feel guilty about the incident with the orphaned possum for a long time, but he seemed none the worse for it.
The real reason she couldn’t seem to relax had nothing to do with Kevin and everything to do with the man sitting across from him, extolling the virtues of mint chocolate-chip ice cream. Not that he was doing anything wrong. He was just...confusing. She couldn’t get a read on him, and that was making her crazy. As a lawyer she had taught herself to be good at reading faces, at knowing what people were thinking even when they weren’t saying it and be able to grasp what was going on inside someone’s head. But with Tyler, she was at a loss. And damn if it didn’t make her want to spend more time with him, if only to satisfy her own curiosity.
And curiosity was all it was. No way was she ready to date. On her good days she felt like she’d made a lot of progress since she’d come home, but she couldn’t kid herself: she was gun-shy and with good reason. Besides, he wasn’t her type. She tended to date lawyers and bankers, men who wore suits and read the stock report. She wasn’t a snob; she just found that she enjoyed dating men who had similar goals and interests, ambitious men who understood her own drive and dedication to her career. Tyler Jackson was a small-town shopkeeper and single dad who drove a minivan, of all things. So if she couldn’t take her eyes off of him, it was just because she was trying to figure him out. That’s all.
Kevin stood up abruptly, nearly knocking his soda over in the process. She grabbed the cup as he waved at someone behind her. Turning, she spotted his foster parents walking through the door. She’d called earlier and arranged for them to pick up the boy here. Tyler followed her gaze and then stood, offering his seat to a tired-looking Mrs. Cunningham.
“You must be the Cunninghams. I’m Tyler. Can I get you anything? A cold drink, or some ice cream?”
“No, thank you, but we won’t be staying. I’ve got dinner to make still, and need to be getting home. I would have stayed in the car, but I wanted to thank you personally, and apologize on behalf of Kevin for what he did. My husband and I were so upset when we found out. I still don’t know what got into him...”
“Now, Nora, let’s not get into it again. What’s done is done. If Mr. Jackson here can see past things, I suppose we can, too.” He held out a grizzled, arthritic hand to Tyler. “I’m Tom Cunningham. Nora and I appreciate the time you’re spending with Kevin. We adore him, but two old people like us aren’t much fun, I’m afraid.” He turned to Kevin. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, sir.” He shoved the last bite of his chocolate-waffle cone in his mouth and swallowed. “’Bye, Dani. ’Bye, Tyler. See you next week?”
Tyler nodded. “You bet.”
“And can Dani come again?”
Uh-oh. That hadn’t been part of the plan. She looked at Tyler, who nodded good-naturedly. “Um, sure, I guess. If that’s what you want.”
“Cool. ’Bye!”
Dani sighed, and sank back into her chair. “Well, that was quite the day. Sorry about him inviting me along for next time. I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
Tyler sat beside her and took a sip of his drink. “It’s fine. Having his energy level back up can only be a good thing.”
“Good point.” She sobered. “Speaking of which, I’m starting to worry he’s too much for the Cunninghams. They’ve done foster care for a long time, but they look more tired than I remember. More...well, old. I’m not sure how much longer they’re going to be able to do this.”
Tyler frowned. “I don’t know what they were like before, but given how energetic kids Kevin’s age are, I understand what you mean. I’d hate for him to have to move to yet another foster home, but it might be inevitable.”
Dani’s stomach clenched, the ice cream that had seemed such a good idea earlier now a cold weight in her gut. “I just want to make things easier for him, you know? But I have no idea how—I couldn’t even schedule an outing without upsetting him.”
Tyler reached across the table, laying his hand on hers. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You were trying, and he knows that. That’s what counts. That’s what he needs, people that care enough to try.”
Her hand tingled, a warm feeling where his skin touched hers. Tugging it back, she fisted her hands in her lap. “I just wish I could do more, something to really help him.”
“Well, if you mean that, you could talk to his case worker about getting him some counseling. A therapist could help him work through his feelings about his mom, and help him with any transitions that might come up.”
Hell, why hadn’t she thought of that? “You’re right. I’ll call her as soon as I get home, and see what she can set up. I’ll drive him myself to the appointments if need be. Thanks. I’ll call you and let you know how it turns out.” Finally, she had something concrete to do. Just knowing she had a plan chased away a bit of the restlessness that had been plaguing her. Grabbing her purse, she started for the door, feeling more confident than she had since this whole thing started. Funny how the man she’d been convinced was ruining Kevin’s life just a few days ago was the one giving her an insight into how to help him. Remembering how she’d treated him at the park that day, she felt her cheeks heat. She never had apologized for that. She stopped, her hand on the door, and turned back to him.
“Listen, about the other day... I’m sorry if I jumped to conclusions about you. I just—”
“You just wanted to protect Kevin. I get that.” He smiled. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Dani. I just want to do what’s right.”
“I believe you.” Which was somehow sexier than a power suit or a fast car. Who’d have guessed?
Chapter Three
Dani knocked on the door of the Cunninghams’ small but well-built home and waited. The couple had called earlier, asking to meet, and she’d skipped lunch in order to stop by. The house itself was in one of Paradise’s older neighborhoods, built in an old Florida style with stucco exteriors and large windows to take advantage of the sea breeze. Most had well-kept yards, but a few weeds were beginning to take over the flower bed around the Cunninghams’ mailbox, and the paint was peeling on the door. Small things, but it made her wonder again about their health.
Muffled footsteps from inside were followed by the creak of the door opening. “Dani, thank you for coming so quickly.” Mrs. Cunningham waved her in, and then led her into the kitchen. “Have a seat and I’ll get us some iced tea.”
Dani sat at a scarred wooden table, where a bowl of fresh-cut gardenia blossoms floated in water. “Gardenias are my favorite flower. My parents have a big bush that grows right under my old bedroom window. I used to love falling asleep with that smell in the air.”
“They do make the house smell good, don’t they? Kevin picked those for me yesterday. He’s such a sweet boy.” She set down a full glass of amber tea, condensation already forming on the side. “Full of energy, though. The poor bush looks half-scalped now.” She sat, sighing as she did so. “But his heart is in the right place, I think.”
“I agree. But after a day with him yesterday, I know what you mean. I imagine that’s normal, though, for a boy his age.”
“Oh, it is. We’ve had fifteen different foster children over the years, plus our own kids, of course, and they all have more energy than sense at times. Kevin’s no different. The problem isn’t Kevin, it’s us.” She folded her hands in front of her, and grimaced. “The truth of the matter is, I’m getting old. No, I am old. And so is my husband, even if he won’t admit it. We’ve both got some health issues, nothing too serious, but I’m probably going to need a knee replacement sooner rather than later. And Tom’s blood pressure is getting harder to control. The doctor says he has to start taking it easy or he’s going to end up having a heart attack one day.”